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Construction terms, defined for the people who use them

Muthari glossary · vendor-neutral definitions for specialist contractors

Most of these terms have a textbook definition and a site definition, and they are not the same. A GRN is not just paperwork — it is the moment three departments should agree and usually do not. A WIR and an MIR are routinely called the same thing until an inspection is rejected. Each entry here defines the term plainly first, without reference to any product, then says what the record should actually update if it is doing its job. Where Muthari OS handles it a particular way, that is stated separately and marked as such.

Material and procurement

MTO — material take-off

A material take-off lists what a piece of work needs, by quantity and specification. Who prepares it, what it feeds, and how Muthari OS records it per zone.

GRN — goods receipt note

A GRN records what a supplier actually delivered against a PO. What it should update — stock, PO balance, QC — and how Muthari OS records it line by line.

Quality and inspection

WIR — work inspection request (and WIR vs MIR)

A WIR asks the consultant to inspect completed work; an MIR covers material before it is used. The difference, and how Muthari OS records both.

NCR — non-conformance report

A non-conformance report records work or material that fails its requirement: root cause, corrective action, closure. How Muthari OS records NCRs.

Commercial and systems

BOQ — bill of quantities

A bill of quantities lists the priced items of a contract. Why specialist contractors break it into zones for execution, and how Muthari OS records it.

Project operating system

A project operating system is where the project’s work happens, so status is computed from records. How it differs from an ERP, a scheduler and PM tools.

Elsewhere on Muthari

What is construction project management software? · What is construction operations software? · Why specialist contractors are different · Guides — ten longer field notes on submittals, stage gates, traceability, zones and claims · The modules — how the parts of Muthari OS connect · Comparisons — beside Excel, an ERP, Primavera P6 and general construction platforms · Pricing

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