ASSESSMENT OF STAKEHOLDER’S PERSPECTIVE TO LEAN CONSTRUCTION IN THE NIGERIAN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

ASSESSMENT OF STAKEHOLDER’S PERSPECTIVE TO LEAN CONSTRUCTION IN THE NIGERIAN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

ABSTRACT

This research examines the level of stakeholders awareness and their perspective of Lean Construction in the Nigerian building construction industry; it identifies the driver’s of its adoption, the sources of the information on LC, the benefits of LC techniques used in project execution over the Nigerian traditional method, benefits of LC in the building construction industry, identifies some of the techniques adopted in lean construction, the militating factors against LC implementation and also proffers some solutions to the militating factors to lean construction in Nigeria. The aim is to give a qualitative assessment of stakeholders in the Nigerian building industry about LC and the objectives are to analyse the stakeholders’ view, to identify the benefits of LC, to identify the factors militating against the adoption of LC and to proffer solutions to the militating factors.  The accuracy of this research is the results of the information gathered from stakeholders in the Nigerian building construction industry through a well structured questionnaire. It also discusses the techniques, benefits, militating factors and the solutions to the factors of Lean Construction adoption in the Nigerian building construction industry – an industry which is currently characterised by delays in project completion, cost overruns and poor quality work. The findings from this research also reveal the level to which clients within the industry are aware of the lean principles and techniques. However, the existence of drivers of LC adoption in the Nigerian building construction industry further shows that the respondents rated availability of well trained professionals and contractor’s adoption for LC projects as the most important drivers of LC adoption. It is therefore recommended that proper awareness through education and training be inculcated as part of LC implementation due to the changes it brings in an organisation. This research also recommends that further studies be centered towards ensuring providing ways of incorporating LC training in the curriculum of tertiary institutions offering any building construction related programmes; and further research should be conducted to establish the readiness levels of all other sectors of the Nigerian construction industry for the adoption of LC techniques concepts.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

There has been a great concern on the lack of effective productivity in the building construction industry worldwide before now, and this has been attributed to so many factors, among which, are the fragmented process of design, lack of experts and delayed project delivery, among others (Khalfan & Anumba, 2000). The need for continuous improvement to the conventional design and construction methods in the industry has been well documented in the literature. Several studies and government reports have enunciated the desire for the construction industry to improve and change the way it performs its primary activities. In building construction industries today, the generating speed of waste and other factors is becoming a major setback to the successful implementation of lean and this research dig deep into finding ways of bringing in the knowledge, benefits and the potentials in the practice and the need to embrace lean thinking in the Nigeria construction community (Ohno,2000).

Although this concept seems delayed in its implementation to many building construction stakeholders, previous studies showed that cost reduction using lean techniques can be effectively compared to the usual project management approach (Ballard & Reiser, 2004). According to Ballard & Howell (2003), countries like UK, Australia, USA and Brazil have gained significantly by the adoption of lean construction concepts. Waste can take on many forms within the building construction process e.g. building ahead of demand and time, waiting (people, material, information, for the next operation), unnecessary transport (double handling), inappropriate processing (larger machines, unnecessary steps, faulty machines, over design), material stocks (early deliveries, storage space, and deterioration), unnecessary motions (bending, reaching), building defective parts/sections, waste of untapped human potential.

However, there are still debates about whether the productivity of the building construction industry is increasing or declining; the performance of the building construction industry is widely seen as unsatisfactory when compared with many other industries. Lean construction is a production management strategy for achieving significant, continuous improvement in the performance of the total business process of a contract through the elimination of all wastes of time and other resources that do not add value to the product or service delivered to the customer (Womack & Jones, 2003). The lean concepts have resulted into improvements in manufacturing, and the principles behind lean have also been successfully applied in construction.

 1.2. Research Questions

1. What are the stakeholder’s assessments of lean construction concept?
2. Is the building construction industry familiar with lean construction techniques?
3. What are the currently used lean techniques in the building construction industry?
4. What are the benefits to the effective implementation of lean construction?

1.3 Statement of Research Problem

The Nigerian building construction industry has been criticised severally from various angles for its poor performance and lack of capacity to deliver its project due to inefficiency, lack of improvement policies, poor professional knowhow, prolonged delivery date and poor service delivery amongst other problems (Olusegun & Micheal, 2011). Lean construction been identified as one of the most promising improved developments in the building construction industry which has brought a great shift in the overall construction processes and provides the much needed efficiency in project delivery (Kolo & Ibrahim, 2010).

Many countries have adopted the concept of lean construction and it has contributed immensely to the development and the sustainability of construction in their various capacities (Aibinu & Jagboro, 2002). Building construction has been one of the leading industry supporting the economy aside oil & gas, in this present day Nigeria. However, despite the documented benefits that lean construction has to offer, not much has been reported regarding its implementation in the Nigerian building construction industry. It is therefore not clear whether the industry is prepared to adopt the lean concept. Thus simply put, for lean to be well implemented in Nigeria, there is need to know the factors responsible for its implementation and its non implementation, and also know the stakeholders preparedness to embrace the idea of lean into the Nigerian building construction system (Ballard & Howell, 2003).

1.4 Aim & Objectives

The aim of this research is to evaluate the stakeholder’s view of lean construction in the Nigeria building construction industry.

The objectives are:

1. To analyse the stakeholder’s view of the practice of lean construction in Nigeria.
2. To identify the economic benefits of the practice of lean construction.
3. To identify the factors that militates against the practice of lean construction in Nigeria.
4. To proffer solutions to the factors that militates against the practice of lean construction in Nigeria.

1.5. Justification of this Study

There has been a serious concern on the need for the Nigerian building construction industry to improve on its performance and deliver projects effectively (Oyewobi et al; 2011). Lean construction is one of the innovative and improved solutions to the need for improved performance and efficiency in the building construction industry worldwide (Eastman et al; 2011). The problems of building construction in the past are well defined, among which are low productivity, wastage in materials, waste of time and resources, poor safety conditions, insufficient quality materials, unskilled workmanship, and poor working condition. Several case studies have shown how lean construction has contributed to the performance improvements in the building construction industries of countries like U.S.A, U.K, Australia, Netherlands, Singapore, etc (Ballard, 2000).

Lean Construction have a lot of benefits to all professionals involved in the building construction process, clients and facility managers in terms of increasing building performance, reducing financial risks, obtaining reliable and accurate cost estimates and optimizing facility management and maintenance, (Eastman et al; 2011). Many solutions have been offered to relieve this problem which was seen as one direction of progress. This research thus give an account of the stakeholder’s assessment of lean thinking in the building construction industry in Nigeria, and the need to remove waste in the construction process, to the client’s satisfaction, and further develop the industry as compared to the traditional way of construction However, this implementation can only be achieved when there are structured guidelines or framework of implementation, which requires adequate information on the factors that may hinder its adoption, and the things that must be put in place to achieve it without delay (Olatunji et al;2008).

1.6 Scope and Limitation to Study

1.6.1 Scope:

I view the Nigerian building construction industry with reference to the members of a typical building construction professional team, which include the architects, structural engineers, quantity surveyor, land surveyor, services engineers (mechanical & electrical), quantity surveyors, and the contractors. The area covered are Abuja, and Kaduna state.

1.6.2 Limitation:

The totality of this research finding is affected by two factors. First, the research involved only building construction firms based in Abuja and Kaduna state. Secondly, the challenges faced as a result of reaching out to respondent.

1.7. Research Methodology

Method	Chapter	Achieved Result
Literature review (Journals, library books, publications and articles on lean construction) Interview: face-to-face & e-mail	Chapter 1 This consist of an introduction to the study which includes the Background of study, research questions, aim and objectives, significance of the study, the  scope and limitations in carrying out the study on the assessment of stakeholder’s perspective on lean construction in the Nigerian construction industry. Chapter 2 This focuses on the review of relevant literature on the assessment of stakeholder’s perspective on lean construction in the Nigerian building construction industry. Chapter 3 Focuses on the methodology of carrying out the study on the assessment of stakeholder’s perspective to lean construction in the Nigerian construction industry. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 consists of the analysis and discussion of the results obtained from the survey made on the assessment of stakeholder’s view of lean in the Nigerian construction industry, using a questionnaire. Chapter 5 This consists of the Conclusion reached and recommendations from the stakeholder’s perspective to lean construction in the Nigerian construction industry.	Objective 1 To analyse the stakeholder’s view of the practice of lean construction in Nigeria Objective 2 To identify the economic benefits of the practice of lean construction Objective 3 To identify the factors that militates against the use of lean construction in Nigeria. Objective 4 to proffer solutions to the factors that militates against the use of lean construction in Nigeria.