A post-contract project analysis of material waste and cost overrun on construction sites in Abuja, Nigeria

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Date
2017
Authors
Saidu, Ibrahim
Shakantu, Winston
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: Material waste and cost overrun have been identified as common problems in the construction industry. These problems occur at both pre- and post-contract stages of a construction project. As a result of a dearth of empirical research and low level of awareness, the majority of managers of construction projects in Nigeria pay hardly any attention to material waste issues that affect cost overrun. This article examines the material waste issues that affect cost overruns at the post-contract stage of building projects. The study covers building construction projects in Abuja, Nigeria. In-depth interviews were conducted with professionals using purposive sampling technique. It is purposive, because only building professionals handling projects that are worth over eight million USD are consulted/interviewed. The professionals included 15 project managers, nine quantity surveyors, five site engineers and one senior technical officer of a waste management department/unit. The interviews were on issues relating to material waste and cost overruns at the post-contract stage of a project. The collected data were analysed manually, using the deductive approach. This involves constant comparative analysis of the data to generate common patterns on material waste and cost overrun. The research found that poor quality-of-procurement management, construction management, and site management would cause material waste, which contributes to project cost overruns. A good-quality procurement management entails procuring the appropriate materials, at the right time and in accordance with specifications. Rework, site accidents, inadequate site security/fencing, poor site organisation and discipline, construction-site disputes, lack of experience, and lack of co-ordination among the parties all contribute to material waste and cost overruns. It can be concluded that proper attention to material waste issues has the potential to minimise the rate of cost overrun at the post-contract stage of a project. It is recommended that careful attention should be paid to the issues identified in this study, as they would help reduce the rate of material waste and cost overrun for projects.
Afrikaans: Materiaalafval en koste-oorskryding word geïdentifiseer as algemene probleme in die konstruksiebedryf. Hierdie probleme vind plaas in beide voor- en na-kontrakstadiums van ’n konstruksieprojek. As gevolg van ’n gebrek aan empiriese navorsing en lae vlak van bewustheid, gee die meeste bestuurders van konstruksieprojekte in Nigerië min aandag aan materiaalafvalkwessies wat kosteoorskryding beïnvloed. Hierdie artikel ondersoek die materiaalafvalkwessies wat koste-oorskryding in die na-kontrakstadium van bouprojekte beïnvloed. Die studie dek boukonstruksieprojekte in Abuja, Nigerië. In-diepte onderhoude met professionele persone is gehou met behulp van doelgerigte steekproefnemingstegnieke. Dit is doelgerig omdat slegs professionele persone wat projekte hanteer wat meer as agt miljoen dollar werd is, geraadpleeg/ondervra is. Die professionele persone het 15 projekbestuurders, nege bourekenaars, vyf terreiningenieurs en een senior tegniese beampte van ’n afvalbestuursafdeling/-eenheid ingesluit. Die onderhoude het gegaan oor die kwessies wat verband hou met wesenlike afval en koste-oorskryding by die na-kontrakstadium van ’n projek. Die versamelde data is geanaliseer deur die deduktiewe benadering te gebruik. Dit behels konstante vergelykende analise van die data om algemene patrone op materiaalafval en koste-oorskryding te genereer. Die navorsing het bevind dat swak gehalte-van-verkrygingsbestuur, konstruksiebestuur en terreinbestuur materiaalafval tot gevolg sal hê, wat bydra tot die koste van die projekkoste. Goeie gehalte-verkrygingsbestuur behels die verkryging van toepaslike materiale, op die regte tyd en in ooreenstemming met spesifikasies. Herstelwerk, terreinongelukke, onvoldoende terreinbeveiliging/-heining, swak terreinorganisasie en dissipline, geskilpunte op die bouplek, gebrek aan ondervinding en gebrek aan koördinasie tussen partye dra alles by tot materiaalafval en koste-oorskryding. Daar kan tot die gevolgtrekking gekom word dat behoorlike aandag aan materiaalafvalkwessies die potensiaal het om die koers van koste-oorskryding in die na-kontrakstadium van ’n projek te verminder. Daar word aanbeveel dat deeglik aandag gegee word aan die probleme wat in hierdie studie geïdentifiseer word, aangesien hulle sal help om die hoeveelheid afval en diekoste-oorskryding vir projekte te verminder.
Description
Keywords
Cost overrun, Construction industry, Material waste, Post-contract stage
Citation
Saidu, I., & Shakantu, W. (2017). A post-contract project analysis of material waste and cost overrun on construction sites in Abuja, Nigeria. Acta Structilia, 24(2), 77-105.