Productivity Of Construction Projects Research Articles

Reducing non-value added (NVA) activities through lean tools for the precast industry

Lean management is a strategic approach that is used in construction industry, specifically aims at minimizing and ultimately eliminating non-value-adding activities, commonly referred to as waste, within construction projects. However, an increase in non-value added (NVA) activities within the precast industry has the potential to diminish both productivity and efficiency. The aim of this paper is to investigate the use of lean tools for minimizing NVA activities in the construction industry. A comprehensive literature review, the study identified Unnecessary Inventory (UI), Waiting Time (WT), Overproduction (OP), and Unnecessary Movement (UM) as major NVA activities that affect the precast industry. A structured questionnaire was designed and conducted among precast industry professionals and lean experts to collect data. The data was then analyze using partial least square test–structural equation modelling, including reliability and validity tests, to ensure data quality. Results indicated that the precast industry professionals widely utilized Just-in-time (JIT), Continuous Improvement (CI), and Total Quality Management (TQM) as lean tools to reduce NVA activities. A conceptual path model was developed to assess the impact of Lean tools on NVA activities. The results of the analysis reveal a strong positive relationship between Lean tools and NVA activities, with a β value of 0.654. The findings of this study can be used for improving the productivity of construction projects by focusing on how to minimize NVA activities using lean tools in precast industry.

Evaluating the impact of internet communication quality in human resource management on the productivity of construction projects

This research endeavors to examine the intricate relationship between human resource management and communication management in Iraqi construction projects, exploring their impact on project productivity. Beyond its primary objectives, the study aims to identify key challenges and limitations in implementing effective communication and human resource management practices in the Iraqi construction sector. Understanding these challenges provides valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers, informing strategies to overcome obstacles and enhance project productivity. The research methodology involves an initial survey using a main questionnaire, focusing on three key areas: internet communication in human resource management, the influence of internet quality on construction project management, and factors affecting work productivity. The sample size, determined using Morgan's Table, requires a minimum of 248 participants. The questionnaire is distributed to engineers, managers, and technicians, with the number of respondents meeting the required sample size. Data analysis utilizes the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), conducting Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) for each variable to identify underlying factors. A first-order confirmatory factor analysis is performed using the Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) program, creating a structural model incorporating three variables and their associated factors. Out of the initial 64 factors, 21 are included in the final model, refined based on modification indices (M.I) output to improve fit. Results indicate a significant positive effect (0.92) of internet communication quality on labor productivity, while the impact of labor resource management is relatively negligible (−0.07). The size effect of variables on human resource management is 0.05, suggesting a small but non-zero effect. Overall, the findings underscore the importance of internet communication quality in enhancing labor productivity in construction projects and emphasize the need for effective human resource management practices in the industry. This study contributes valuable insights for project managers and practitioners in construction sector.

Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the productivity of construction projects in Sri Lanka

Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the productivity of construction projects in Sri Lanka

Improvement of Productivity in Buildings Construction

Abstract Improving productivity in construction projects has long been a major concern, and much research has been carried out to try to ameliorate construction productivity. To this end, this study aims to improve and increase the productivity rate of flat slab formwork used in residential construction projects. A survey consisting of 150 questionnaires was undertaken to identify the factors that influence on the productivity. Based on the relative Importance Index (RII), data on eleven factors deemed to affect productivity were selected. A collection of 100 data points from various sites were utilized to develop two models. Firstly, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model was employed, and secondly, a parametric approach was investigated. The data were divided into two sets, with 70% of the data used for training and the remaining 30% used for testing. The models’ performance was evaluated using the Mean Squared Error (MSE) and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) values. In the test phase, the artificial neural network model yielded an MSE value of 2.6610e−4 and a MAPE value of 4.9227, whereas the parametric model produced an MSE of 0.040 and a MAPE of 9.525. It was found that the artificial neural network model provided reliable prediction accuracy compared to the parametric model. However, the artificial neural network approach can be selected as a robust model in predicting and controlling the productivity rate in local construction projects by using the developed model based on the identified factors.

Development of a program for automatic identification of productivity of construction workers

In the Japanese construction industry, work environment and productivity data of construction projects are collected and analyzed by on-site engineers as individual data based on attendance and performance records. Therefore, productivity data are not uniformly collected and cannot be considered as highly reliable. Therefore, in this study, a prototype of a system is developed that automatically collects data regarding the workers’ activities using sensors and analyzes the working environment and productivity of construction projects. Although image analysis is typically employed for capturing workers’ activities, it is extremely costly and time-consuming for collecting and discriminating data. In addition, it is not practical because it requires adjusting the system to suit the changing environment of the construction site each time. Accordingly, we have conducted motion-detection using accelerometers, gyro-sensors, and GPS that can be attached to individual workers. We have constructed a hierarchical system that combines a phase to detect large acceleration changes that trigger motion, a phase to discriminate periodic motion, and a phase to classify motion by machine learning. The system classified motions into three productivity types: “direct work,” “support,” and “delay.” As a result of applying this system to the sensing data of workers performing road pavement construction-related works, the system discriminated with an overall accuracy rate of 42%. Furthermore, because of the wide range of behaviors that correspond to each productivity behavior category, a large amount of data must be read from the site adopting the system for obtaining training data to perform final behavior classification by machine learning based on the sensing data. Therefore, a system relying on machine learning may not be able to achieve a higher accuracy; thus, in the near future, we aim to automatically discriminate the nine categories of productivity behaviors shown in previous studies.

Relationship among Safety, Quality and Productivity in Construction Projects

Construction is thought to be the most dangerous business due to its unique nature. To reduce risks and boost productivity in the construction industry, quality and safety management is required. The research examines productivity, quality, and safety in terms of their participation in and effects on the execution of building projects. Safety is given first priority throughout construction, with a focus on hazard detection and the prevention of workplace injuries and accidents. There is an examination and provision of the legislation requiring safety programs, training, and obligation to safety standards. Underlined the significance of safety issues at the design stage. The research also discusses safety of building and the importance of building codes in preventing structural failure, as well as factors that influence building failure and techniques for preventing them. The paper introduces quality through the lens of recent total quality management. Quality control, quality management, quality assurance, and Six Sigma concepts are addressed with examples in relation to building quality and structural integrity. Finally, concepts of productivity are provided, with an emphasis that good project management reduce productivity losses and the use of lean construction and lean Six Sigma methods to complement them. Finally, the report summarizes the relationship among safety, quality, and productivity.

Barriers to the adoption of digital technologies for sustainable construction in a developing economy

ABSTRACT Existing studies have described the construction sectors in developing countries as lagging in the implementation of digital technologies (DTs) and still have some way to go to achieve digital transformation. The study was therefore construed to explore the barriers affecting the adoption of DTs for construction sustainability in Nigeria. A scoping literature review was conducted through which 23 barriers to the adoption of DTs were identified, which helped in the formulation of a questionnaire survey. Data was obtained from construction professionals including architects, builders, engineers, and quantity surveyors. Retrieved data were analyzed using several statistical tools such as percentages, frequencies, mean item scores, and exploratory factor analyses. Factor analysis revealed five clusters that are categorized as organizational, management, technical, regulatory, and economic. This study has the potential to guide researchers and industry practitioners on the need to develop an awareness of the need for innovation to foster the efficiency and productivity of construction projects. The evaluation of the key barriers facing the adoption of DTs would be beneficial to construction organizations, professional bodies, and the government with the view of achieving digital transformation of the sector. A major contribution of this study to the body of knowledge is that it describes how developing economies such as Nigeria where the adoption of DTs is slow can mitigate the identified barriers to achieving digital transformation. Thus, the findings of this study can serve as a basis for construction organizations in Nigeria and similar countries seeking the digital transformation of their activities.

Assessing Factors Affecting Construction Equipment Productivity Using Structural Equation Modeling

The performance of the construction industry can be improved by understanding the factors that affect the productivity of its equipment. A hypothetical framework was used to analyze six vital construction equipment parameters to understand how they affect productivity in construction projects. Data collected through a survey of 110 respondents in the construction industry were analyzed using an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM). The final model obtained using SEM consisted of 31 attributes from six construction equipment productivity factors, namely management (MG), materials (MT), human (HM), technical (TN), environmental (EM), and other factors (OT). Construction equipment productivity was found to be significantly influenced by MT and OT in construction projects. This was mainly because of their corresponding subfactors, such as operating life and equipment age, and the occurrence of accidents during construction. Consequently, based on survey feedback from various construction professionals, present gaps in construction equipment productivity were analyzed, and recommendations were made to overcome the main limiting factors under MT and OT. This study identified and quantified the interrelationships between various construction equipment productivity constraints. Therefore, the results can help experts and specialists better comprehend how to overcome delays due to idle time and improve construction equipment productivity.

A Review on the Strategies of Lean Planning in Malaysia Construction Industry

The impact of the construction wastes results in project delay, low productivity of construction projects, construction cost overrun, and disputes among construction players. The lean construction offers enormous advantages to reduce construction waste. However, lean construction in Malaysia is still new and not fully adopted. This is due to lack of effective strategy in adopting lean construction at construction phase. The aim of this study is to provide planning strategies for the reduction of construction waste. In conclusion, for a wide range of the implementation of lean construction to be successful, a good push by the government alone is inadequate. All the other teams in the construction sector defined must be well aware of their roles in the development of lean construction at the construction sites.

Key Factors Employers Look for In Hiring Construction Managers for Public and Private Construction Projects

The construction industry is one of the world's most important economic activities, and research in this area has found a positive correlation between project management skills and construction project success. However, it is becoming more evident that success in the role of a construction manager cannot be attained with a technical skill set alone. Excellent soft skills are also necessary requisites for success. The aim of the paper is to discuss the benefits of project management skills and what skills employers of labour expected when hiring construction managers in the construction industries. In recent years, several construction projects have steadily failed due to engaging incompetent construction managers with no technical and soft skills. This failure has affected the rate of productivity in the construction industry. Several companies have closed due to the poor performance of their construction managers. Despite the construction industry's significant contribution to economic growth in developed and developing countries, there are still great hindrances in construction project productivity due to the poor performance of construction managers. However, this gap significantly delays much-needed productivity gains, as it is difficult to fully overcome the associated disruptions and choose the best remedy to minimize their impacts on every Nation's Economic Development. Therefore, this investigation is required to close these gaps. This study employed a qualitative research methodology. A combination of primary and secondary sources was used to achieve the main research objectives. Interviews were conducted with 8 vibrant employers in the construction industry. The interview question was made open to enable the employers to air their views on the skills they expected construction managers to possess before engaging them to manage a construction business. The interviews were done face-to-face. Each employer was interviewed separately to avoid copied responses. The outcomes of the interview were noted and listed. However, the benefits of possessing those skills demanded by employers were explained. These benefits were discovered through a systematic literature review. The findings from this study will not only benefit all employers of construction managers in the construction industry but will also be beneficial to all other employees in a company who seek career growth and better job opportunities in the future. It will help eliminate the issue of unnecessary company closure and disputes among the project team due to project failure. Both professionals and future college and university graduates, whose intentions are to proceed to the working field after graduation, will also benefit from the findings. The construction industry is still doomed unless it addresses the issues of construction managers’ attributes. The value of teamwork in the workplace is obvious, and it is frequently directly influenced by effective construction managers’ attributes. Effective construction managers help to save money and boost their company’s reputation. Using a technology-knowledgeable construction manager can greatly help improve the project delivery and a good team working environment saves money and time on projects.

Analysis of Factors Affecting Safety Outcomes in Construction Projects: A Field Study in One of the Large Construction Projects in Iran

Background: In addition to detrimental effects on economy and people, safety consequences could negatively affect the efficiency and productivity of construction projects. This study aims to analyze the factors affecting safety consequences in construction projects.
 Method: This was a descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study conducted in 2020 in a large construction project (a sewage treatment plant) in Tehran. The 250 people working in this construction project participated in this study. Data for this study were collected based on a safety parameter assessment checklist. Independent variables in this study were age and work experience, education, daily working hours, harmful physical and ergonomic factors, and unsafe practices. Analytical variables included Accident Frequency Rate (AFR) and Safe-T score. A multiple linear regression model and SPSS version 22.0 were used for data analysis.
 Results: Age and working experience of the participants were 35.8± 9.8 and 3.4± 1.7, respectively, and nearly half of them had high school diploma (47.6%). AFR for two consecutive years of 2019 and 2020, were 5.16 and 4.43 accidents, respectively. Safe-T-Score was calculated as – 0.011. The results of regression analysis revealed a significant relation (p<0.05) between Safe-T-score and working experience, daily working hours, unsafe practices, noise and thermal stress exposure, carrying and moving loads, and safety risk factors variables.
 Conclusion: Results of this study indicated that although safety performance at the studied construction site was relatively favorable, several variables had an impact on the safety consequences of the project. Hence, the safety consequences of construction projects might benefit from the results of this study. 

Determining the Causes of Fluctuation in Productivity in Construction Projects

Construction projects are sophisticated in nature and require close attention and project management techniques to complete projects on time by monitoring and controlling the project resources. Productivity is one of the significant factors affecting the project life-cycle in terms of time and cost. In this study, actual productivities of construction tasks such as gypsum board, suspended ceiling, ceramic, gypsum plaster, satin plaster, paint and thermal insulation board were determined at one of the Research and Training Hospitals in Istanbul. The site records were obtained from the daily reports reported in February, March, April and May. The laborers working for the concerning tasks worked 8 hours a day. Afterwards, the actual unit man-hour data for each activity obtained from the project reports were compared with the planned man-hours and unit man-hour data provided by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization. In the wake of the comparison of planned, actual and ministry data, the factors affecting productivity were examined and necessary suggestions were made in order to improve productivity domain in the practice

PENGARUH PENGAWASAN KERJA DAN PENERAPAN PROGRAM KESELAMATAN DAN KESEHATAN KERJA TERHADAP PRODUKTIVITAS PEKERJA PROYEK KONSTRUKSI

In general, the construction project development process contains anelement of danger in every operational activity. One of the focuses of the contractorcompany is to create good occupational health and safety conditions on the project.The performance of construction service companies can be improved by identifyingthe factors that influence the performance improvement and analyzing how muchinfluence these factors have on the company's performance. The purpose of thisstudy is to analyze and determine the effect of work supervision and theimplementation of occupational safety and health programs on the productivity ofconstruction project workers. The population is workers who work in constructionservice companies that are carrying out 18 construction projects, especiallyfacilities and infrastructure by a General Contractor, a company in Surabaya.Samples were taken as many as 100 workers. The results of the study prove to betrue that work supervision and the implementation of occupational safety andhealth programs determine the productivity of construction project workers.

Leveraging Quantity Surveying Data and BIM to Automate Mechanical and Electrical (M & E) Construction Planning

Despite the great potential of LPS and BIM to improve construction project productivity, the full integration of these modern production and information management systems at the data processing level is not yet achieved. After matching the literature to empirical studies in a Constructive Research Approach, it emerged that very few studies have investigated how buildings’ data could be preserved and continuously evolve during the project lifecycle. Accordingly, we underline the potential role of data warehousing in rendering operational data as a strategic asset for decision making. These findings motivate the present research, which aims to capitalize on quantity surveying data in order to automate the generation of M & E installation schedules. This paper first introduces the system functional requirements. Then, it proposes a conceptual scheme for the planning data mart (a data warehouse subset dedicated to planning subject area). Furthermore, we shed light on the M & E fragnet standardization procedure and how data have been processed. Finally, we present the current software developments to demonstrate the feasibility of this concept.

Relationship between delay and productivity in construction projects

This study is conducted to recognize the major delay factors, the major construction productivity factors, and to establish the relationship between productivity and delay in construction projects in Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire survey is performed to achieve study objectives. Fourteen-time overrun factors and 13 construction productivity factors are listed in a questionnaire form. Fifty contractors consultants are asked to rank the identified factors according to their importance. The study also addresses the relationship between labor productivity and time overrun based on data collected from 34 building projects implemented in Saudi Arabia. Results conclude that the top factors affecting delay in construction projects are: poor labor productivity, poor coordination between construction parties, lack of adequate manpower, bid award for lowest price, and mistakes in design. It also indicates that the major labor productivity factors are: payments delay, lack of labor experience, frequent change orders, rework, and financial conditions of the contractor are ranked overall as the top 13 factors affecting labor productivity on construction sites. Regression analysis for data collected from 34 building projects indicates a strong correlation between the delay and labor productivity. It is hoped that the results of this study will be helpful for construction parties and researchers in Palestine and other developed and developing countries.

Construction logistics in a multi-project context: coopetition among main contractors and the role of third-party logistics providers

As a part of supply chain management (SCM) initiatives to improve performance and productivity in construction projects, the use of construction logistics setups (CLSs) operated by third-party logistics (TPL) providers have increased. CLSs are often used in complex multi-project contexts, such as urban development districts, where extensive coordination of actors, resources, and activities is needed. The purpose of this paper is twofold: to investigate how main contractors engage in horizontal relationships with each other when coordinating activities and resources within and across projects in a multi-project context, and to investigate what role a TPL provider assumes when engaging in relationships with main contractors in a multi-project context. The findings are based on a case study of an urban development district with a mandatory TPL-operated CLS, and we apply the industrial network approach. In this multi-project context, the main contractors engage in coopetitive relationships, coordinating activities and resources within and across projects. The TPL provider coordinates actors, resources, and activities, facilitating smoother production by managing logistics and mediating coopetitive relationships. This can be understood as a multi-project coordination role and extends the role SCM can play in construction. In that role, a TPL provider can minimise tensions between coopetitive actors across a multitude of horizontal relationships and projects.

Methods for identifying non-value-adding activities in construction processes

Construction projects are characterized by low productivity due to many wasteful activities in construction processes. Wasteful or non-value-adding activities result in quality and profit loss in many construction projects. Consequently, construction needs more effective strategies for process innovation at all stages of the construction project life cycle. Analysis of the current state has shown the possibilities of improving construction processes through the implementation of technologies, methods and procedures of lean construction. Such improvements can help increase the efficiency and productivity of construction projects. Therefore, it is necessary to promote more effective construction waste management by identifying the causes of non-value-adding activities during the construction phase, and apply the gained data to eliminate wastes during the planning phase. The paper presents the most appropriate technologies and methods for collecting data on non-value-adding activities.

Productivity Metrics and Its Implementations in Construction Projects: A Case Study of Singapore

Although some studies have used or developed different types of metrics to assess construction productivity in the existing literature, few of them investigated those metrics systematically and the differences between assessment results. This study examined the various types of metrics used in the assessment of the productivity of construction projects. First, a literature review was conducted first to identify prevailing productivity metrics at four levels, namely trade, project, company, and industry. Then, the questionnaire was developed and disseminated to 53 Singapore-based construction companies for data collection. Subsequently, non-parametric statistical tests were conducted to analyze the data collected by the questionnaire. Results showed that the top five metrics in terms of usage frequency and relative importance were “constructability score”, “buildable design score”, “square meter of built-up floor area per man-day”, “square meter per dollar”, and “output per worker.” In addition, results showed that differences existed in the assessment results when productivity metrics at different levels were used to conduct the same measurement. This is the first study to explore the most widely used metrics in productivity assessments of construction projects and investigate possible differences in assessment results. This study could help the authorities to review, evaluate, and modify the productivity metrics used in practice. Thus, this study is beneficial to the practice as well.

Hybrid Model for Assessing the Influence of Safety Management Practices on Labor Productivity in Multistory Building Projects

The occurrence of accidents at construction sites has negative effects on labor productivity. Conversely, the implementation of good safety management practices (SMPs) can increase productivity. Thus, to enhance productivity, it is essential to assess the implementation levels of safety practices and analyze their effects on productivity. This study aims to develop novel models for assessing the implementation levels of SMPs and for the prediction of labor productivity in multistory building projects. Data regarding safety management practices, projects’ start dates, and projects’ completion dates were collected from 39 multistory building projects across Melbourne, Australia. The quantitative data were analyzed and a scoring tool to measure, plan, and monitor the safety practices influencing the productivity of construction projects was developed. Further, linear and logistic regression models were developed to predict labor productivity when a score of SMPs is determined. By integrating the models and the scoring tool, a user-friendly instrument for assessing the impact of SMPs on the productivity performance of a building project was developed. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by providing tool and models that aid construction project managers to make appropriate decisions regarding the implementation levels of the safety practices influencing building projects’ productivity.

Addressing specialization and fragmentation: product platform development in construction consultancy firms

Construction product platforms provide the opportunity to improve productivity in construction projects while maintaining heterogeneity of output. The growing literature on construction product platforms describes how product suppliers develop product platforms either top-down or bottom-up, independently from project delivery. Through a single case study of a consultancy firm, this paper shows how a specialist consultancy firm operating in the construction sector developed their own product platform on projects while iteratively developing and augmenting their delivery capabilities. Distinguishing between activity integration, coordination, and consolidation, the platform development process highlights how vertical and horizontal consolidation of capabilities within the engineering phase of delivery enables early resolution of both product and process specifications. This means that vertical coordination between engineering and manufacturing phases can be managed by a fully specified contract, rather than acquisition. The analysis of the case shows how construction can be more closely aligned with the linear and sequential models found in manufacturing through clarifying and distinguishing the roles of engineering, manufacturing, finishing and sub-assembly.