Theses and Dissertations

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Theses and Dissertations (Building)

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    Open Access
    A Study of Plant and Equipment Utilization on Selected Construction Sites in Lagos State
    (2015-04-08) Akinola, Joseph Aderemi
    The study examined the level of utilization of plant and equipment and its impacts on site operations in Lagos State with a view to optimising output levels on construction sites. One hundred and twenty (120) construction companies were selected from a population of two hundred and eighty five (285) construction companies that were registered with Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) in Lagos state. Primary data were obtained on plant and equipment acquisition methods, selection factors, extent of mechanization of site operations and effect of plant and equipment on performance with the use of questionnaire. The results revealed that construction companies acquired plant and equipment through hiring (64%) and leasing (17%) respectively. Using the Relative Importance Index, the selection criteria were identified to be technicality involved (RII = 4.20; N = 6), output required (RII = 4.10; N = 6), complexity of job (RII = 4.00; N = 6), site characteristics (RII = 3.60; N = 6), job accessibility (RII = 3.40; N = 6), and cost of procurement (RII 2.80; N = 6). The frequency of plant and equipment usage was significantly related to the level of output achieved. (x2= 7.990; P < 0.05). The utilization of plant and equipment significantly affected output rate on each of the selected operations; namely: excavation operation (t = 14.717; P < 0.05); soil stabilization operation (t = 4.027; P < 0.05); concrete batching operation (t = 3.883, P < 0.05), and asphalting operation (t = 4.116; P < 0.05) respectively. The study concluded that the level of utilization of plant and equipment by construction companies were below average, however the use of plant and equipment led to higher output levels except where low scale of operations such as site clearance was considered.
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    Open Access
    An Evaluation of the Use of Mechanical Plant in Construction: A Case Study of Selected Number of Sites.
    (Obafemi Awolowo University, 1985) Lasabi, Babatunde Tajudeen; Nwoka, N. I.
    The study focuses on the practice of managing construction plants as a pre-condition for their affective utilization in the Nigerian construction industry. It shows that the economic life of a plant depends on adequate maintenance and that appropriate education and training for the plant operators enhances the efficiency of plants and equipments. It also discusses the issue of costing in relation to construction operations and hence highlights the consequences of inadequate computation of costing items. The research methodology includes the examination of plant use management taking cognizance of the contractors' organizational set up as a basis for operation. The research concludes with a set of recommendations such as adequate training of operators, restricted choice of brand of plants and adequate managerial personnel in order to enhance the productivity of contractors.
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    Open Access
    An Evaluation of Cost Control Measures Applied to Selected Small and Medium Sized Construction Firms.
    (Obafemi Awolowo University, 1986) Ademoroti, Gbadebo; Kyere, D. K.
    The research determined suitable and effective cost control measures to forestall overrun of contracts by using available resources in Nigerian small/medium sized construction firms. The research data were derived from a survey of seven completed projects and nine selected on-going projects. The questionnaires were divided into four parts. The fit directed to client/financier/ consultants of completed projects determined whether the projects were overrun in terms of time, cost and quality. The second directed to Head office determined cost control measures. The third to supervisors discovered material wastage on site while the fourth to site workforce collected data on labour stability. An observational technique was used to collect additional information about wastage of building materials on the site. An in-depth analysis was carried out on weather data collected from meteorological services. The analysis of the data showed that projects overran either in terms of cost or time. The main cause of cost overrun was attributed to inflation in cost of building materials and time overrun was due to delay in stage payment by the client and bad weather. Based on a model of different sizes of construction firms derived from literature review, observation revealed that small and medium sized construction firms could manage projects up to N250,000.00 and N2,000,000.00 respectively. Emanating from this study, it is recommended that there should be pre-contract arrangement whereby all materiel needed for the project are purchased and kept in a store. The manufacturing of locally produced building materials should be intensified. The contractor should make use of meteorological service reports for the purpose of estimating, planning and control of construction projects. An establishment of an insurance policy bound should be encouraged to protect the contractor from client's failure to honour certificate of payment.
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    Open Access
    A Multipurpose Computer Package for Medium Sized Construction Firms in Nigeria
    (Obafemi Awolowo University, 1986) Osibodu, Anthony B.; Olateju, O.; Akinde, Bayo
    The purpose of this study is to examine how the computer can be of assistance in the management of medium sized construction firms in Nigeria. The first part of the investigations was undertaken by carrying out extensive literature reviews on the uses of computer in the management of the construction industry with particular reference to medium sized construction firms in Nigeria. The second part was carried out using questionnaires administered to construction management personnel and computer vendors in various parts of the country, to ascertain the current uses of the computer in the Nigerian Building Industry. These investigations revealed that accounting and estimating procedures in medium sized construction firms could be improved if computerized. In the third part computerized samples of these procedures were presented. In order to facilitate the uses of these computerized procedures it was finally suggested that computer training be given to construction management personnel; that in the selection of computer vendors, the user must be assured support for maintenance of both hardware and software; and that the government's attitude should change towards the computer which it regards as imported goods and not technology.