On-site Labour Productivity of New Zealand Construction Industry: Key Constraints and Improvement Measures

Abstract

Productivity is key to the survival and growth of any organisation, industry or nation. Some factors constrain the achievement of the set project objectives in the New Zealand building and construction industry and are responsible for the reported steady decline of productivity and performance. This study aims to identify the key constraints to on-site labour productivity and improvement measures. Using the descriptive survey method, views of some project managers, contractors and subcontractors in New Zealand were canvassed via pilot interviews and questionnaire surveys at the qualitative and quantitative data gathering stages, respectively. Multi-attribute technique was used to analyse the quantitative data. Results showed that the key external constraints to on-site labour productivity comprise, in order of decreasing impact, statutory compliance, unforeseen events and wider external dynamics. The internal constraints were found to have much higher impact on onsite productivity than the external factors. In order of diminishing levels of impact, the internal constraints comprise reworks, level of skill and experience of the workforce, adequacy of method of construction, buildability issues, and inadequate supervision and coordination. . The factors underlying each broad category of external and internal constraints are reported. The relative levels of impact of the identified constraints are expected to guide the project team in addressing the constraints in a cost-effective manner.

Sustainable Construction Industry in Cambodia: Awareness, Drivers and Barriers

“…This study adopts a mixed-method approach, which includes an in-depth analysis of previous studies on the subject (a qualitative approach) for the identification of the drivers and barriers [6]; a descriptive survey method (Appendix A) for the data collection (a combined qualitative and quantitative approach) from industry stakeholders in Cambodia [44]; and statistical methods that are consistent with the nature of this study, which were used to quantify the collected data in order to prioritise the drivers and barriers in terms of their levels of impact [2].…”

Causes of Payment Problems in the New Zealand Construction Industry

“…Kadir et al (2005) are of the opinion that payment delays cause slippages to material delivery which in turn impacts on labour productivity in the construction industry. With a similar opinion, Durdyev and Mbachu (2011) explained that delayed payment poses significant internal constraints to onsite labour productivity on construction projects in New Zealand. The construction industry in New Zealand is noted for its low labour productivity rates, being the fourth lowest among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries (Constructing Excellence in New Zealand, 2008).…”

Key Factors Affecting Construction Safety Performance in Developing Countries: Evidence from Cambodia

“…Considering the labour-intensive nature of construction projects (Durdyev and Mbachu, 2011), labourers perform a great diversity of construction project activities and are directly exposed to the associated risks of each activity (Pinto, Nunes and Ribeiro, 2011). Therefore, the safety of construction labourers is a significant issue during the project implementation process.…”