Albert, I (2020) A lean production approach to materials management in the Nigerian construction industry. PhD thesis, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa.
Abstract
The Nigerian Construction Industry faces a problem of poor materials management that leads to, among other things, materials waste, poor quality of work, poor materials flow, project delay and cost overrun. Overcoming these challenges, requires the rethinking the current modus operandi of the Nigerian construction industry. One such method that has been espoused as having potential to improve materials management, and associated challenges is ‘lean production’. This research aimed at deciphering the lean approach to production management with a view of extracting its utility in enhancing materials management in the construction industry. The qualitative method of research inquiry that is rooted in the phenomenological paradigm was employed. The research activities included a comprehensive review of the related literature and study of selected cases. Abuja, the Federal capital territory of Nigeria was the selected geographical scope of the research. Ten case studies were purposefully selected for the study. The research instrument was a tick box used for direct observation. The study revealed that poor materials management has a negative effect on the materials management plan. Moreover, mixing of waste at the site, negates the effort for identification of materials waste streams, and makes it difficult to account for materials waste, as well as implementing a materials waste management policy on sites. The research also found that poor materials management has a significant effect (high, moderate or low) on materials waste, quality of work, materials flow, productivity, project delay, project profitability and accounting for materials. The research has developed a conceptual model for a lean production approach to materials management based on the results and informed by the theoretical framework. The study has achieved its aim of establishing an understanding of the lean production approach to materials management in the Nigerian construction industry. The study recommends that construction professionals should be well informed on the effects of poor materials management.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | cost overrun; lean production; materials management; policy; waste management; Nigeria; productivity; case study; direct observation; professional |
| Index terms: | direct observation, accounting, productivity, cost overrun, construction professional, profitability, case study, project delay, Nigeria, waste management, production management, stream, lean production, paradigm, materials management, face, qualitative method, Abuja, materials flow, construction industry |
| Subjects: | operations management, data collection methods, project controls, management, psychology, economic analysis, industry analysis, waste management, manufacturing engineering, project delivery, research design and methodology, water management, education and knowledge transfer, professional development, financial and cost management, material science and engineering, Geography |
| Topics: | Information Management, Site Management, Sustainability, Engineering Principles, Time Control, Geographical Context, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Cost Management, Project Management, Research Practice, Construction Materials |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here