Abstract:
It is long established in literature that materials management is a factor in time and cost
overruns. However, research on the influence of materials management on construction
project performance is often not comprehensive and, at best inconclusive. The aim of the
study was to explore current material management practices and its influence on building
construction projects in the Upper East Region in Ghana. The specific objectives of the
study included; to investigate the current practices on materials management, to identify
the root causes of ineffective material management, and determine the influence, if any of
materials management on construction project delivery. The study adopted a cross
sectional descriptive survey design. The target population of the study consists of
construction professionals in construction industry in the Upper East Region in Ghana.
Purposive sampling technique and snow ball sampling were used to select ninety-eight
respondents. The response rate achieved was 41%. The findings of the study revealed that
key material management practices include; construction material needs are generated
before work commence on site, availability of materials in local supplier shops is checked,
availability of materials in the company’s warehouse is checked, procurement department
is informed to plan the procurement of materials, vendor or vendors is/are selected from
an approved list, and indents or purchase orders are generated. Also, the findings suggest
that the causes of ineffective material management included; problems in materials
identification, issues relating to vendor selection, procurement problems, and other
problems experienced at the construction phase. The study’s respondents agreed that
ineffective materials management negatively affected construction project performance.
Over half of the respondents indicated the percentage of cost overrun caused by ineffective
materials management experienced in projects ranged from 5% to 15% whilst the extent
of delay caused by ineffective materials management experienced in projects ranged from
one month to one year. The study concluded that over ordering of materials, worker’s
mistakes, imperfect planning of construction and lack of waste management plan are the
major causes of material wastage on construction sites. Based on the findings of the study,
it was recommended among others that contractors should apply the concept of material
management effectively in order to reduce the occurrence of unplanned cost which may
arise as a result of improper material management. Additionally, contractors to opt for
proper storage of aggregates where treated ground will be used instead of the normal bare
untreated ground.
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 requirements for award of the Master of Technology (Construction Management)
degree.