1 INTRODUCTION
Construction logistics comprises planning, application, coordination and supervision of material flow to,
within and from construction sites as a self-contained management function (Portatius 1997). Several parallel
and independently existing supply chains cross on sites and interact. The higher-level planning and
coordination is a difficult challenge, because companies are only interested in their own supply chains on
sites.
Superordinated control and optimisation are not considered, which might take advantage of positive
interdependencies between several supply chains. Traditionally in most companies, construction logistics
tasks are performed by several different persons, of whom only a few are also occupied by the construction
process itself. Insufficiently planned and noncoordinated logistic processes are the consequence and
reasons for the high amount of non-productive actions and consequently disturbed work flow on construction
sites. In consequence disorganized material storage causes extra time for the search of material or to
rearrange storage areas.
Several studies on German construction sites pointed out, that approximately one third of the total execution
time is consumed by logistic processes (Guntermann 1997). Boenert and Blömeke (2006) estimate
the deducible optimization potential by well-planned and coordinated construction logistics up to 10
percent of construction time or 4 percent of building costs in outfitting processes.
To consider all logistic network elements (e.g. loading zones, builder's hoist, storage areas) and
processes (e.g. store, transport, handle) on site and their influencing factors as a superior logistic network
is a necessary challenge.