Improving Construction Productivity Estimation Techniques Through Realistic Labour Productivity Determinants: Fid-Bau Portal

Improving Construction Productivity Estimation Techniques Through Realistic Labour Productivity Determinants

Lefoka, Mochelo / Windapo, Abimbola

The lack of accurate and reliable techniques used to estimate labour productivity expended on construction projects has largely contributed to the poor levels of construction productivity. This is from a cost and time perspective. The lack of such techniques, contribute to the abysmal performance of construction organisations in South Africa. Previous studies provide significant evidence of the crucial need for a standardised or a formal matrix that can evidently express the imputation of resources and the equitable output produced. This study investigates the current techniques used in the construction industry to determine the level of labour productivity on site and how this subsequently contribute to the project performance. The study employs a quantitative research approach. The three kinds of projects that we assessed were building projects, road projects and infrastructure projects. A structured questionnaire survey was sent to 117 industry practitioners working for companies listed in Grades 2–9 on the cidb Register of Contractors. The data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results reveal that environmental factors, management factors, work complexity and social factors relating to labour productivity are not considered during labour estimation process, which have an overall impact on estimate reliability. The study intended to assess the estimation techniques used in the estimation of labour productivity across concrete, masonry and plastering trades. And the results revealed that experience from past projects is prevalent across the trades. The study recommends an exhaustive assessment of more trades and consideration into the adjusted productivity estimation techniques of labour.