Empirical Determination of Labour Outputs for Block Laying in FCT, Abuja and Nasarawa State
Chapter One
Researchย Aimย and Objectives
ย Researchย aim
This study aims to empirically determine the outputs for laying hollow sand crete blocks in F.C.T., Abuja and Nasarawa state construction industry.
Objectivesย of theย research
Theย research intendsย toย address theย followingย objectives;
- To identify factors and operations affecting block laying operation in construction sites
- To identify the possible block laying operations as relate to BESMM and construction
- To analyze the effect of productivity factors on labour
- To empirically determine the labour outputs of some selected block laying work
CHAPTERย TWO
ย LITERATUREย REVIEW
In Nigeria, the construction industry plays a dominant role in the economic activities of theย country and this is because it generates employment and income for the people (Field andย Oferi 1988). The industry is regarded as an essential and highly visible contributed to theย process of growth. According to Arditi and Mochtar (2000) cited in Abdullahietal., (2010),ย this implies that construction has a strong linkage with many economic activities andย whatever happens to the industry will directly or indirectly influence other industries andย ultimately, the wealth of a country. Also, Hillebrandt (2000) added that the effects ofย changes in the industry on the economy occur at different levels and in virtually all aspectsย ofย lifeย (Hillebrandt 2000).
It is therefore important that the understanding of changes in construction productivity orย site outputs cannot be achieved without site information. This information should relateย bothย toย theย calculationย ofย labourย outputย andย toย theย siteย environmentย inย whichย theย productivity hasย beenย achieved.ย Adoptingย a standard labourย outputย forย preparationย ofย construction estimates require an understanding and quantification of the major factors thatย affectย labourย output.ย Unfortunately,ย manyย ofย theseย factorsย areย notย quantitativelyย understood. The complexity and sheer number of these factors are enough to discourageย even the most passionate researcher. Therefore, this chapter is to review literature onย overview of construction industry in Nigeria, overview of block laying measurement asย relateย toย BESMM3,ย factorsย affectingย productivityย blockย layingย operatives,ย unitย rateย estimating,ย conceptย ofย productivity,constructionย productivity,ย establishmentย ofย labourย outputย standard in Nigeria, labourย outputย inย Nigeriaย and work study.
Overviewย of theย Constructionย Industry
Theย constructionย industryย isย asย oldย asย natureย itselfย andย unlikeย manyย manufacturingย industries, is concerned mostly with one-off projects. The sector covers a wide range ofย loosely integrated groups and organizations involved in the production, renewal, alteration,ย repairs and maintenance of certain capital projects (such as building, civil and industrialย engineering works) (Ibironke, 2005; Barrieand Paulson,1992).The sector makes significantย contributionsย toย theย socio-economicย developmentย processย ofย anyย nationย especiallyย inย expanding economy like Nigeria. Construction industry has effect on the economy becauseย the industry is used as an economic regulator because of its size, provision of investmentย goodsย andย governmentย beingย theย largeย client.ย Itย alsoย contributesย immenselyย toย theย employment, gross domestic product and gross fixed capital formation (Ibironke, 2005andย Enekwachi,ย 1996).
Construction is a combination of organizations; engineering science, studied guesses andย calculated risks. By the very nature, construction operations must be performed at projectย sites. Construction is a dynamic, restless and compelling business (Ibironke, 2005); theย construction industry also involves a large number of varieties, the labour intensive work,ย the unique character and occurrence of unpredictable events (Abdel-Razeket al., 2007; Ng,ย Skitmoreet al., 2004; Zayed and Halpin, 2004). Construction industry is risky, that isย industry with uncertainties. The risk in construction industry may be derived from externalย factors which have more influences on construction industry than internal factors. In recentย years,ย construction industry suffered from rapidย decline in theย growthย of productivityย (Abdul-Kadirย etal., 1995).
Overview of Sources of Estimating Standard in Nigerian Construction Industry
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Theย buildingย industryย hasย comeย aย longย wayย sinceย theย worldย wars,ย upย toย 1960,ย itย hadย beenย Britishย orientedย bothย inย designย andย operationalย modusย (NIQS,2008).Theย influenceย ofย British colonialism in Nigeria is still having impact in all sphere of economic development,ย ofย which,ย constructionย industryย isย notย leftย ย Itย isย obviousย mostย ofย theย constructionย contractย procurementย andย administrativeย processesย areย clearย reflectionย ofย Britishย standardsย andย practicesย inย theย Nigerianย constructionย industry.Thefollowingย standardsย andย practicesย areย an offshootย ofย Britishย sourceย still in use inย Nigerianย construction industry:
CHAPTERย THREE
RESEARCHย METHOD
Research is a diligent and systematic investigation intended to provide acceptable answersย to questions by following logically designed procedures (Abdul-Maliq, 2006). Ibrahim andย Abdullah (2008) referred toย research methodology as the way a researcher goes aboutย doing the research, unfolding a particular style and employing different techniques forย collection. It therefore follows that research methodology is an expression of detailedย research plan to provide an acceptable answers to questions in a logical design procedureย and sequence.This chapter depictsevery detail of how the research was conducted, that is researchย design/Approach,ย study population, research sample and sampling techniques, validationย andย reliabilityย ofย theย instrumentsย used,ย pilotย survey,ย procedureย forย dataย collection,ย instrumentย used forย dataย collection, andย instrument forย data analysis.
ย Researchย Design/ย Approach
The term โResearch Designโ is a strategy that will guide the collection and analysis of data (Madi, 2003). Research design is an action plan for getting from โhereโ to โthereโ where hereโ may be defined as the initial set of questions to answer and there is some set of conclusions (answers) about the questions (Mostafa,2003)The research design is the logical sequence that connects the empirical data produced by researcher to the study initial research questions and ultimately to its conclusion (El Sawalhi, 2002). The research design for this study is a descriptive form of research design aimed at collecting data for the purpose of describing and interpreting the existing conditions regarding the productivity of workers on sites. It involved the survey of hundred construction sites to identify the operation of ten block work items. This research design method was adopted for ย this ย study ย due ย to ย the ย nature ย of ย the ย research ย was ย purely ย โquantitativeโย ย developed ย to study the natural phenomena of the productivity level of construction operatives.Therefore,ย absolute numerical quantitative data were collected through site observation and structuralย questionnaire and statistically analyzed through deductive approaches to draw conclusions.ย Researchย sequenceย can beย presented simplyย in theย chart indicatedย below.
ย Studyย Population
The research population is described as โall conceivable elements, subjects or observations relating to a particular phenomenon of interest to the research that is, it is a totality of items objects, persons issues or observations who share at least a common attributes or characteristics on which the research is centered (Abdul-Maliq, 2006). The main objective of a study population is to define the scope of the proposed study (olufemi, 2007). The research population of interest considered in respect to this research study is the constructionย sitesโ engaged in block laying operatives. The construction sites considered for this study are small, medium and large constituted mostly of building projects of residential, industrial and commercial for both public and private owners in Nasarawa state and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The research also captured the age distribution, gender, educational background, and experience of workers, mode of employment and all other relevant information of the population of interest.
CHAPTERย FOUR
ย DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
Thisย chapterย seeksย toย reviewย theย approachesย employedย inย theย presentationย andย analysisย ofย theย dataย collectedย forย theย ย Itย describesย theย sourceย andย natureย ofย theย dataย collectedย andย alsoย presentsย theย findingsย andย analysisย ofย theย productivityย levelย inย termsย ofย output/unitย measurement.ย Theย chapterย evaluatesย theย outputย valueย ofย workersย onย generalย basisย settingย downย fiveย (5)ย majorย parametersย ofย theย productivityย influencingย factorsย ofย workersย onย siteย operations.Descriptiveย andย inferentialย analysisย toolsย wereย usedย toย analyzeย theย data.ย Theย centralย tendencyย andย measuresย ofย dispersionย wereย usedย inย describingย theย natureย andย commonย characteristicsย ofย theย dataย andย allย testsย wereย atย 0.05ย significantย levelย unlessย whereย otherwiseย stated.
CHAPTERย FIVE
ย CONCLUSIONย ANDย RECOMMENDATIONS
This chapter presents the conclusion of the results relating to the research problem propounded and the hypotheses postulated. It unveils the effects of the findings. The chapter also relates the output data obtained from previous research works with those obtained in this study to deduce its conclusion. It also highlights the areas of contention especially as relate to BESMM3 compliance between the results obtained and those of previous work. The chapter concludes by giving general recommendation as to how the findings of the research can help in the production of fair and accurate Bills of Quantities which is non-detrimental to either party. However, directions for future research are recommended.
Conclusion
The aim of the study was to empirically determine the outputs for ten hollow sand creteblockย laying work items in F.C.T., Abuja and Nasarawastate construction industry. The study was ableย to achieve the aim through accomplishing the stated objectives; the first objective was toย identify factorsย and operation affecting block laying. Criticalย examination of masonryย sectionย ofย BESMMย asย relateย toย constructionย implicationย ofย workย itemsย onย workersโย productivity reviewed that certain factors such as locational factor, work in compartmentย presumablyย toย haveย beenย includedย inย theย masonryย section,ย butย noย specificย referenceย orย guide as where to locate them in the section Locational factor and work in compartmentย have productivity effects on the outputs of workers. Previousย researchers never takenย BESMMย intoย cognizanceย orย complyย withย operationalย sequenceย orย techniquesย inย constructionย sites prior to theย determination ofย outputย constant.
The second objective was to identify the possible block laying work items as relate to BESMM and construction site. 125 possible work items as relate to block laying operation were identified of which 44 items were not specified in BESMM. Certain work items measurable under block work were distinctly identified from the masonry. The identification was based on distinct operation techniques and approaches which could not be executed under the same techniques. Also, certain possible work items operational in construction site which are not captured in the masonry trade as relate to block work were identified. These work items are presumably to have been captured in the trade, but there isย no definite step as where to locate them in themasonry section of BESMM. It is imperativeย that all possible work items of distinct execution in construction site be clearly defined inย BESMMย henceย it isย a standard document uponย which BoQ is reliablyย prepared.
The third objective was to analyze the effect of productivity factors on labour output. The test of difference conducted in order to analyze and investigate the extent of influence of the productivity factors revealed aconsistent significant difference in output of workers on the period of observation, shape of the building and mode of employment in the ten work items analyzed while experience of workers revealed in eight and age of workers in two work items respectively.It was concluded that negotiated workers were always most productive in the ten work items observed than other workers employed in different agreement.This is a clear indication that negotiated workers instillthe spirit of self motivation to maximize effort in order to maximize payment.
Workersย withย longย workingย experienceย produceย moreย outputย thanย workersย withย lowย working experience especially where the age group of the worker is within 20-35 years.ย The study concluded that complexity of the design features also affect the productivity asย workersย onย straightย blockย wallingย requireย higherย outputsย thanย theirย counterpartsย onย irregular walling operations.It was concluded that educational qualification of workers hadย no significant impact on output determination of block laying operatives provided that theย workers undergo apprenticeship training. The age category of workers 20-35 had highestย output than those of below 20 years and 36 years and above categories and there was noย significantย differenceย amongย theย ageย categories.
The fourth objective was to determine the empirically the labour outputs of ten selectedย block laying work items. The outputs of workers for ten work items were determined asย statedย inย theย tableย 4.14bย andย 4.15.ย Theย outputsย wereย determinedย inย complianceย withย BESMMย asย wellย asย takenย cognizanceย ofย theย locationalย factorย andย workย inย compartment.ย Theย threeย locationalย considerationsย were;ย blockย workย inย foundation,ย blockย workย inย superstructure and block work in superstructure overhand. However, in estimating practice,ย Bills of Quantities are notย reliably prepared on the three locational considerations, inย construction techniques, these have effect on the outputs of the workers as it was observedย onย 150mmย andย 225mmย thickย blockย aย sharpย differenceย betweenย superstructureย andย foundationย orย superstructureย overhand inย differenceย operational location.
The determined outputs were compared with the B.S., professional based experience andย those of previous research and there were clear evidence of sharp differencesand theirย application were not sequences to BESMM. The study therefore finally concludes thatย SMM takes cognizance of productivity impact associated with labour and it is imperativeย for reliability and accuracy in block work estimate to empirically determine labour outputsย onย the basis of work itemsย as stated in BESMM3.
Recommendations
Based on the findings of this research the following recommendations are put forward forย implementation:
- Ablock layer shouldย layย aย minimumย output ofย theย followingย workย itemsย perย day;
Theย researchย suggestedย theย followingย additional recommendations:
- The forty-four (44) block work items not captured in BESMM should be incorporated and adopted in BESMM3 for productive and cost implication.
- The contractors should exploit the output figures determined as relate to productivity factors so as to optimize the productivity of their workers.
- Foroptimumย productivityย inย blockย layingย operations,ย workersย withinย theย ageย category of 25- 45ย years, 6 years of experience and above and of educationalย qualificationย ofย S.C.E./NABTEBย andย aboveย should be employed.
- For exigency reason, employer should employ workers on the term of negotiated
- Workersonย blockย layingย ofย straightย wallย shouldย beย capableย ofย producingย 10%ย aboveย the expected outputs levels.
- Contractors/clientsshouldย takeย cognizanceย ofย constructionย costย implicationย ofย abandoning block operation before superstructure overhand especially where theย agreementย is to execute theย entireย block laying
- The NigerianInstituteย of Quantity Surveyorsย (NIQS)ย isย advisedย toย review theย BESMM so as to reflect some indispensable factors that have impact on labourย productivityย andย alsoย incorporateย thoseย possibleย workย itemsย operationalย inย construction
- In compliance to BESMM, the NIQS in collaboration with NJIC should sponsor aresearchย onย determinationย ofย labourย outputsย inย allย tradesย asย aย wayย toย ensureย uniformity in estimating and enhance professional integrity rather than resorting toย mere guesstimates.
Suggestionsย forย Further Study
Theย followings areย areas recommendedย forย furtherย researchย andย study;
Similarย works inย complianceย withย BESMM beย conductedย onย allย otherย trades.
Outputsย shouldย beย investigatedย onย theย basisย ofย standardย gangย sizeย formationsย usingย activityย samplingย techniques.
A study on investigating into the adequacy of work items in BESMM as appliedย toย construction sites should be conducted.
Anย evaluationย ofย theย relationshipย betweenย theย outputย ofย anyย ofย theย groupedย factorsย andย anyย of theย studied factors of productivity.
Comparativeย analysisย of labourย outputsย ofย variousย totalย heightย ofย building.
Comparativeย analysis of the qualityย of work ofย various modeย ofย employment.
Contributionย toย Knowledge
Theย followingย knowledgeย isย expectedย toย be gainedย fromย this study;
Theย studyย hasย providedย thatย BESMM3ย shouldย beย aย basisย forย determinationย ofย blockย layers outputs inย theย Nigerianย constructionย industry.
Theย studyย hasย providedย thatย withinย theย trade,ย thereย areย differentย workย itemsย thatย requireย different outputs as stated in BESMM3
Theย studyย alsoย providedย thatย theย Britishย outputsย cannotย provideย aย realisticย basisย forย block workย estimates in theย Nigerian construction industry.
REFERENCES
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- Abdul-Maliq, O.Y. (2006). Research methodology in business and the social sciences. Al-ย Maliqย andCompany, ย Garki ย Abuja.
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