Towards Construction 4.0: A Conceptual UML Model for Enhancing Procurement and Inventory Management in Conventional Construction Projects

Construction projects frequently encounter delays and budget overruns, primarily due to inefficiencies in inventory and procurement processes. Addressing this critical challenge, this paper introduces an innovative Unified Modeling Language (UML) model tailored to enhance materials procurement and inventory management in construction projects. Developed from expert insights within a consortium handling both medium and mega projects, this model innovatively combines centralized and decentralized management strategies. Unlike traditional approaches that rely solely on site engineers for material ordering, our model integrates real-time tracking and dynamic dashboards, facilitating unprecedented data-driven decision-making capabilities. This allows for project-specific procurement autonomy while significantly enhancing operational efficiencies. The detailed description of the UML model encompasses use case, activity, and class diagrams, illustrating a sophisticated framework that not only aligns with but also advances the principles of Construction 4.0. This work sets a new standard in the field, providing a scalable and adaptable solution ready for empirical validation in future case studies.