Supply Chain Management (SCM): The Extent of its Application and Features in the Successful Delivery of Construction Projects

This study specifically sought to identify the extent and level of awareness of and adoption of the concept of SCM, identify and evaluate key features of SCM for successful construction project delivery in Nigeria. The study adopted an exploratory research design method of investigation consisting of the quantitative and qualitative methods. A purposive and convenient sampling was deployed in selecting the sample size. A semi-structured interview, case study, personal observation and questionnaire survey was carried out in a construction firm located in Abuja. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics; Relative Importance Index (RII) and Cronbach's Alpha reliability test. The studies found out that majority of the respondents have not heard about the SCM concept, while a few of them have heard about it. The study further revealed the following features as key, they include; level of awareness/adoption of SCM was abysmally low. Findings from the 8 key features for successful SCM construction project delivery revealed the following; disseminating quality information across the various chains, deploying web based and other software and portals as well as the application of internet in improving the effectiveness of construction, ensuring that the level of service and price of suppliers are better, applying activity based costing and management as a performance measure via the elimination of non-value adding activities across the chain, top management needs to continually implement policies that would stimulate the interests of all and sundry, relationship management and trust building, communication and environmental pressures from specialists and other professionals about the benefits of SCM, and outlining trade finance as a pre-condition for successful supply chain finance

Delineating Supply Chain Management (SCM) Features in Construction Project Delivery: The Nigerian Case

This study sought to delineate SCM features using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) with a view to incorporating it into the delivery of construction projects in Nigeria. The study adopted an exploratory research design (quantitative and qualitative) methods. A purposive and convenient sampling technique was deployed with the aid of semi-structured interview, case study; questionnaire survey in a construction firm in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Questionnaires were used to collect primary data after being pre-tested via a pilot study for validity and reliability. The data collected were analysed using the AHP. Findings from the study shows that the following features are key; Instituting trust and long term relationships amongst supply chain partners (ITP), supply chain finance (SCF), supply chain and continuous performance measurement (SCCPM), information technology (IT), quality management (QM), supply base management (SBM), senior management’s commitment (SMC) and supply chain orientation (SCO). In delivering construction projects to success using the SCM approach, adequate attention and emphasis should be accorded to the aforementioned important features in the order they appear as they would aid in effecting the much needed success. It is also expected that the features would further be beneficial to construction firms as it would enable the firms to manage, measure and evaluate the gains ensuing from the deployment of SCM techniques

AWARENESS, USE AND BENEFITS OF LEAN TECHNOLOGIES ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN NIGERIA

The Nigerian construction industry is confronted with numerous challenges, including poor performance and waste generation during construction. Lean, to a greater extent, has been able to improve quality, minimize waste generation, and ensure value for money on delivered projects. Hence, this paper aims at identifying the extent and level of awareness of lean technology;311assessing the benefits of adopting lean technologies on construction projects in Imo state, Nigeria. A total of about 200 self-administered questionnaires were purposely distributed to practitioners within Imo state. Of the 200 questionnaires, 132 were completed and returned, while 6 were found unfit, and the rest (126) were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0. The result indicates that the level of awareness of lean construction technology use is still at a moderate level, while the benefits of lean technologies adoption include allowing for the maximum use of equipment and materials on construction sites. This paper recommends that workshops and seminars by professional bodies be organized from time to time to help in enlightening practitioners on the needs and benefits derivable from the adoption of lean construction technologies