Assessment of the factor affecting the productivity of earthwork equipment in Addis Ababa city road authority projects

Abstract

Construction is one of the major economic sectors through out the world. The sector consists different mega structures in which varaitey of heavy duty machines and equipments are used during the course of the construction. Construction of road projects is one of the sector where different heavy duty equipments is utilized for execution of the work. However, the construction of many road projects is refrained due to multifaceted problems encountered in the course of construction. Equipment productivity is one of the significant factors affecting the successful completion of a project. Though the factor affecting equipment productivity in road construction cannot be avoided, they can be minimized by adequately identifying the factors that cause loss of equipment productivity in road construction projects. We all dream of a road construction project completed with the specified scheduled time and budget, but usually, it is not achieved due to several factors that affect the project. The general objective of this study is to assess the factors affecting the productivity of earthwork equipment in Addis Ababa City Roads Authority. The research works briefly to determine the factors affecting earthwork equipment productivity in Addis Ababa City Roads Authority Projects by checking the efficiency of earthwork equipment productivity. Moreover, it assesses the effect of earthwork equipment efficiency on the progress of a road project. The research method used is a purposive sampling. Questioners, critical observation, and focal group discussion are the tools used in collecting the data. Based on the collected data and the analysis made, the research identified the following factors as the factors affecting earthwork equipment productivity. These are Environmental Factor, Management Factor, Operator Factor, Equipment Factor and Technical Factor Moreover, efficiency of the equipments is calculated to check the productivity of the equipments and to identify the factor for loss of productivity.In the research, inorder to enhance equipment productivity proper supply of spare parts for the equipmentst, providing of trainee to the management staff and operators, providing of incentive and recognition to the project staff , updating technical knowledge of the operator ,and systematic organization of the garage and the equipment adminstrtation is recommeneded.