Abstract:
Construction materials constitute about 60% of the total cost of construction of most building
projects. Significant reductions in the cost of projects can be achieved through effective materials
management. The aim of the study was to develop a decision-making matrix for effective materials
management practices on construction projects in Ghana using analytical hierarchy process (AHP).
The specific objectives were to; assess the current construction materials management practices of
large-scale construction firms (D1K1 and D2K2) in selected regions in Ghana, determine factors
that militate against effective decision making in relation to construction materials management in
the Ghanaian construction industry, develop a decision-making matrix for effective materials
management practices on construction projects in Ghana using Analytical Hierarchy Process
(AHP). The study adopted a cross sectional survey design. The target population of the study was
site managers/engineers and supervisors employed by D1K1 and D2K2 construction firms.
Systematic random sampling was used to select the construction firms whilst purposive sampling
technique was used to select the survey respondents and interview participants. The findings of
the study revealed that the construction materials management practices adopted by the D1K1 and
D2K2 construction firms included; training people on how to reduce waste, daily recording of
materials usage on the project, buying efficiently and wisely, obtaining by an ethical means the
best value for every money spent, controlling over-ordering and purchasing and tracking materials
ordered. In addition, the main factors that militate against effective decision making in relation to
materials include; storage, procurement and personnel management issues/factor, inventory and
quality control issues/factor, supplier and manufacturing default factor, and communication and
system implementation factor. The findings of the study suggest AHP as a promising strategy for
addressing challenges to materials management and ensuring significant waste reduction.
However, construction firms need to have the requisite human resource and financial resources to
bolster the adoption of analytical hierarchy process in materials management within the large-scale
construction firms studied. The research recommends optimal training to people in prioritize
decision making process and information support systems to effectively and efficiently support
material management practices in terms of planning, procurement, storage, usage and waste
management in the construction industry.
Description:
A Dissertation in the Department of CONSTRUCTION AND WOOD TECHNOLOGY
EDUCATION, Faculty of TECHNICAL EDUCATION, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies, University of Education, Winneba in Partial fulfilment of the
requirement for the award of Master of Philosophy (Construction) degree.