Assessment on the Barriers to Application of Lean Principles at the Construction Stage in Bauchi Metropolis

Abstract

Material waste has been a great nuisance in the construction industry. It is the major cause of the high cost, low value and poor service delivery in the construction industry. The purpose of this study is to provide data that will increase knowledge on waste minimization in construction sites by identifying sources and causes of avoidable waste on construction sites and valuation of level of knowledge of the lean concepts among construction specialists and recognizing obstacles to effective application of the lean concept in construction. Data for the study were obtained through site visitations, interviews and the administration of 1000 questionnaires. Respondents included all the major professionals in the construction industry. Ratios and Simple percentages were used to analyze the data. Data from the analyses indicated about 10 % to 33 % of total construction materials are wasted on site. Results also revealed that method of operation, storage and handling of construction materials, procurement methods, record keeping and design were the major sources of waste on construction sites. It also revealed the presence of some degree in knowledge of lean construction among the construction experts.