Assessment of construction materials management practice on building construction project sites in jimma town

Abstract

Construction Material management is a function that significantly contributes to the success of a project in the construction industry. There are many issues which contribute to poor construction materials management in construction projects such as wastage of construction materials, transport difficulties, improper handling on site, misuse of the specification, lack of a proper work plan, inappropriate materials delivery and excessive paperwork etc. This research considers the management practice of construction materials on building construction project sites. The study of this research was analyzed using descriptive statics including mean index score method and frequency analysis and the principal tool used for collection of data is questionnaires for field survey, interview and site observation to make the study strong. The identified major problems such as weather conditions, management of surplus materials and slow response from company to site about submittals, major wastages, such as design change, lack of proper work planning and scheduling and in adequate supervision in usage of materials, major effective measurements such as training people on how to reduce waste, usage of packaging in an efficient way and getting samples for materials approved.The result also indicated that some ICT activities such as Progress Reports and Project Drawings, ICT applications such as Spreadsheets, Presentations and ICT softwares such as AutoCAD and Eagle point, were identified as the major computer activities, ICT applications and Softwares respectively. Generally the study conclude that , major activities on construction materials management which is Problems related with construction material management, Wastage in building construction project sites, measures for effective on construction material management and usage of ICT tools and applications were identified. Finally the study of this research recommend that Contractors, consultants, clients and other professionals working in the construction industry should increase their resource commitment to staff training and development in construction materials management so as to develop the necessary skills, update their knowledge, and enhance new product development for the reduction of problems and wastages as well as to increase efficiency of ICT to working with.