Examining the influence of materials management practices on building construction project delivery in the Upper East region of Ghana

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.