Office Supply Package

            At the start of a new project, some builders give the jobsite superintendent access to office supplies from the main office for the construction trailer, or ask the superintendent to buy the necessary supplies and then get reimbursed. 

            Other builders might have an account at a local office supply store, at which the superintendent can purchase these supplies and charge the purchase to the builder.

            Another option is to order office supplies online and have them delivered to the construction office trailer.

            The problem to avoid here is a reinvent-the-wheel, individualized approach for every new housing construction project. 

            The builder should have a standardized list of the minimum items needed in the field to equip and supply the field office. 

            A suggestion I offer here is for the main office to assemble the package of varied supplies needed…boxed-up and labeled according to a standardized list…and order the equipment and furniture, all ready for use soon after the construction trailer is delivered and set-up on the jobsite.

            This approach eliminates the possibility that some superintendents will under-supply the construction trailer because of an inadequate list, or the mindset that economizing in this area will be favorably looked upon by their supervisors.

            Another suggestion is to assign someone from the main office who is an expert in organizing the filing system and the file cabinet, to come out to the jobsite during the construction trailer set-up phase to get this area of field operations up and running smoothly from day one. 

            This should be a non-negotiable, required company activity using the same repeat office person performing this activity, with interim feedback and project close-out evaluation to improve this important field information management function.

            A minimum list of office supplies, stationary, and equipment might include:

ball point pens                          

mechanical pencils & lead                     

scratch pads 8-1/2×11

scratch pads legal size             

colored highlighters                              

colored pencils

paper clips                               

correction tape                                     

fluid white-out

push pins                                 

pencils                                                

transparent tape holder

transparent tape                       

erasers                                                

adhesive stick-on notes

file cabinets

file folders                                

file labels                                             

stapler & staples

architectural scale                    

engineering scale                                 

drafting triangles & templates

plans holders                           

key rings                                             

key box

keyed padlocks            

calendars                                            

business card holders

business cards                         

scissors                                              

paper hole punch

spray paint                               

upside-down spray paint                       

trash cans & bags

paper towels                            

first-aid kit                                           

fire extinguisher

water dispenser           

coffee machine                       

copy paper standard

copy paper legal                      

copy paper 11×17                                 

copy machine toner

computer laptop           

11×17 printer                                       

fax machine

land-line telephone with conference call capacity                       

safety books

building code books