) Critical Factors Influencing Construction Labour Productivity in Carpentry and Steel Fixing in North Central Nigeria

Abstract

This paper evaluate productivity factors influencing the output of steel fixer (iron bender) and carpenter in North- Central Nigeria with a specific objective to identify critical a factors influencing steel fixers and carpenters labour productivity on site, ranking the seventy level of the influence of these factors on their output. The research adopted a triangulation method (mixed method) of data collection into achieve the set objectives. These involved the use of structured questionnaire and direct observation on site. The analysis of data uses Relative Importance Index (RII) and direct calculation of productivity using the labour productivity formula. From the result of the analysis, the average daily labour productivity for steel fixers and carpenter in the North-Central Nigeria was found to be 377.8kg and 3.02m2 with an average variation of 20.05kg and 0.35m2 respectively. These were in line with the previous studies. The study identified 21 factors that are critical to the performance of steel fixers and carpenters in North – Central Nigeria. Among these factors, designed shape and size, alteration of drawings and specification during execution and lack of experience were ranked as the most critical factors for carpenters while designed shape and size, alteration and working at high places were ranked the most critical factors for steel fixers. The study concludes that the labour productivity of steel fixers is slightly below average while that of carpenter is slightly above average.