Assessment on the Housing Development Construction Materials Management System: Case Study in Addis Ababa housing construction Projects

Abstract

This paper considers the management of materials in building construction in Addis Ababa housing construction projects. Construction industry has complexity in its nature because it contains large number of parties as owners, consultants, contractors, stakeholders and micro and small enterprises. Material management was a process of planning, executing and controlling field and office activities in housing construction projects. In housing construction project the main problem was material management system obstacle to achieve the goal of housing. However, here was a problem of inefficient material management and procurement, unnecessary material on site, delay material delivery, inadequate material storage and poor material control on site. In this study, construction material management can be viewed as four categories which are assess the method of material procurement practices in construction projects, compare the planned materials with the actual materials utilized Addis Ababa housing construction projects, identify the mechanism of material management system in construction projects and its challenges and identify the factors affecting effective material management system. The study was limited to Addis Ababa housing construction projects because it’s a government project. Low cost houses built for the low income people and also the owners all construction material suppliers by itself except sand supply by contractors. Data collection was used including observation, documentation and questionnaire with interviews. The structural questionnaire prepared based on literature review and seventy questionnaires were distributed to the owners, consultants and contractors, fifty-five questionnaires were received and analyzed. The main result in this thesis material procurement was open bid and procures materials for construction sites by head office provisions with site requisition; according to the three parties all material used as per planned and also used some mechanism with challenges of delivery at the wrong time which interrupted the work schedule and failure to order on time which delays the projects and factors affecting effectiveness of material management system was inefficient work force All parties interested in using some techniques of managing construction materials such as creating and updating data base for materials price and provided listing of materials with computerized form. The most challenges of material managements system was delivery at the wrong time which interrupted the work schedule and failure to order on time which delays the projects and factors affecting effectiveness of material management system was inefficient work force. A researcher recommends owner should be to develop human resource in construction industry through proper and continuous training program about material management system and should be create Awareness and accountability within the organization Consultants should be awareness creation how to stacking and storage materials as per specification for contractors Contractors should ensure the use of skilled craftsmen for their works and provide efficient supervision with professionals to ensure effective material management on building construction sites