A Study of Plant and Equipment Utilization on Selected Construction Sites in Lagos State
Loading...
Date
2015-04-08
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
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.
Description
Keywords
Utilization of plant on site operations, Utilization of equipment on site operations, Concrete batching operation, Soil stabilization operation, Asphalting operation, Construction sites