scholarly journals Labor Productivity on Construction Sites: A Case Study of Biological Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction

Author(s):  
Burcu Balaban Ökten ◽  
◽  
Yaprak Arıcı Üstüner ◽  
Anıl Aksoy

The production efficiency of labor on construction sites is an important factor for the success of projects. Skills, experience, and training are among the critical factors affecting labor productivity on construction sites. Especially in construction sites where a new construction technique is used, the teams' efficiency is affected by the learning processes. Laborers' unfamiliarity with the new technique can cause time delays and, accordingly, cost overruns. This research examines laborers' challenges in building an unfamiliar structure at construction sites through a case study. With a comprehensive literature review, interactions between laborers' learning process for new structures and construction time estimation were examined, and the case has been evaluated accordingly. It was observed that the time estimation could not be predicted during an unfamiliar construction form such as examined in the field study. This study is aimed to set an example for the construction sites where new productions take place.

2018 ◽  
Vol 162 ◽  
pp. 02032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tareq Khaleel ◽  
Yasser Nassar

Productivity is a very important element in the estimation process in construction management. The objective of this research is to identify and analyze the factors which affect labor productivity in construction projects. In this research, 42 effective factors were collected from site survey, interview with engineers and experts, and previous research in the Arab world. These factors are grouped into Nine categories “Workforce, Leadership, Motivation, Supervisors, Safety, Project, Time, Material, and External”. A survey questionnaire of 70 respondents was distributed among different experts. A statistical analysis was done using SPSS and EXCEL packages. The Relative Importance Index was used to find out the most significant factors affecting the labor productivity in construction sites. The results accomplished from the survey revealed that the major factors negatively affect the labor productivity (ranked from the worst factor with Relative Importance Index values, respectively) namely, Availability Material (88.571%), Climate status “Weather” (88%), Religious occasions (86.29%), Number of working groups (86%), Ganger experience (85.714%), Workforce surveillance (84.857%), Ganger Age (84%), working at height (82%), Drawings and specifications alteration during execution (81.69%), and Sequence of floor (80.571%). Based upon these findings, this can help the construction professionals to improve the productivity and project performance in Iraq.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 353-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinh Tuan Hai ◽  
Nguyen Van Tam

Background: In the rapidly-developed construction industry, labor productivity has improved to a great extent, still, it is low compared with many other industries. The enhancement of labor productivity has become important that attracts much attention and focus from researchers in Vietnam and around the world. Aim: This paper focuses on key factors affecting labor productivity of construction sites in Vietnam by introducing a regression model to evaluate the extent of each factor’s impact on the labor productivity of construction workers. Methods: Ten groups of impacting factors were identified as factors relevant to construction worker, factors relevant to site operation and management, factors relevant to motivation, factors relevant to working time, factors relevant to labor working tools, factors relevant to labor working conditions, factors relevant to working safety, factors relevant to project informations, factors relevant to natural environment, and factors relevant to socio-economic conditions. Results: By referring to research results, Vietnamese construction contractors will be able to come up with workable solutions towards a better performance of construction workers. Conclusion: On that basis, the productivity of construction firms and the workers will be improved correspondingly.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Famiyeh ◽  
Charles Teye Amoatey ◽  
Ebenezer Adaku ◽  
Collins Sena Agbenohevi

Purpose In Ghana, the duration of construction projects from inception to completion is becoming a great concern, recently, especially among clients and beneficiaries, because of the rising interest rates, inflation, development plan targets, among other factors. Hence the need to understand the causes of delays and cost overrun in the construction sector has become more important than ever. This study therefore aims to identify the major factors underlying time and cost overruns in projects related to the education sector in Ghana to proffer practical solutions in addressing them. Design/methodology/approach The study conducted a survey among clients’ consultants and representatives of the contractors working on about 60 government school projects. A relative importance index was used to determine the relative effects of the factors causing construction time and cost overruns. Findings The key factors causing construction time overrun were: financial problems, unrealistic contract durations imposed by clients, poorly defined project scope, client-initiated variations, under-estimation of project cost by consultants, poor inspection/supervision of projects by consultants. Other factors were underestimation of project complexity by contractors, poor site management, inappropriate construction methods used by contractors and delays in the issuance of permits by government agencies. Factors affecting cost overruns were financial difficulty by client, delays in payments of completed works, variations in designs, lack of communications plans, poor feasibility and project analysis, poor financial management on site and material price fluctuations. Research limitations/implications The research was limited to only the educational sector projects. Practical implications Practically, this study highlights for the construction sector the critical factors causing project time and cost overruns in Ghana. Identification of these factors provides the basis for pragmatic solutions to enhance the chances of project success. Social implications The identification and solutions to project time and cost overruns, especially for educational sector projects, contribute toward making public goods more affordable and accessible to most citizens, particularly in developing countries. Originality/value This study contributes to the debate on factors causing project time and cost overruns in the construction sector especially from a developing country’s perspective.


2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 93-94
Author(s):  
Eng. Nasr Ahmad Eng. Nasr Ahmad ◽  
◽  
Dr. Mihai Iliescu
Keyword(s):  

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