FACTORS MILITATING AGAINST EFFECTIVE BUILDING MATERIALS MANAGEMENT (EBMM) IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Abstract

Building construction projects are carried out using various material resources. These materials have to be managed to enhance value, minimize waste and ensure that time and cost related goals are attained. The research looked at the factors militating against effective building materials management (EBMM) in order to identify major factors leading to material wastage in construction project delivery in the FCT Abuja, Nigeria. The study adopted purposive sampling method to distribute 100 copies of survey questionnaire to some selected professionals from both consulting and contracting firms in the study area. 86 copies of questionnaire retrieved were analyzed to know the implication of these factors on the process and delivery of construction projects. 25 identified factors militating against EBMM were ranked using RII. The finding of the study revealed that lack of compliance to materials specification and standards (RII=0.81), little knowledge on materials specifications and standards (RII=0.80), poor communication system (RII=0.79), were the top factors militating against materials management. The findings further indicate that delay and abandonment of project (RII=0.82), cost overrun (RII=0.81) and ineffective allocation of materials (RII=0.79), were the three major implications these will have on EBMM. The study concluded that for the EBMM, professional involved in building production processes should understand the importance of specifications and standards to avoid disastrous effects on building materials usage and management in the construction projects delivery.