Effect of Material Management on the Delivery of Building Construction Projects in Minna, Niger State

Abstract

Studies revealed that improper materials management can affect the general performance of construction projects in respect to cost, time, quality and productivity. This study evaluated the effect of material management on the delivery of building construction projects in Niger State with a view to improving the cost and time performance of construction projects. Data were collected from professionals in four (4) Government Ministries in Minna who are in-charge of the execution of housing and construction projects with the use of questionnaire which was administered to 86 professionals with a response rate of 81.4%. Data analysis was done using percentage, Mean Item Score (MIS) and Relative Importance Index (RII). The study found that Lack of proper Work Plan, Transport Difficulties, Waste, Improper handling on Site, Inappropriate Material Delivery, Management of Surplus Materials and Misuse of the Specification (RII = 0.81 – 0.84) are the most important barriers to effective material management in building construction projects; the most significant impact of material management on the cost delivery of construction projects are Better cash flow Management and Reduction in Material Surplus (MIS = 4.31 and 4.30 respectively); Reduction in Energy Consumption and Availability of Material (MIS = 4.43 and 4.39 respectively) are the most significant impact of material management on the time delivery of construction projects; and Planning the Project Budget (MIS = 4.61) is the most effective cost control technique for improving material management in construction projects. It was concluded that cost control techniques for improving material management in construction projects are effective and therefore, material management has significant effect on the delivery of building construction projects. It was thus recommended that Government should ensure total implementation of the cost control techniques for improving material management in construction projects in order to have continuous improved material management in construction projects.