Productivity Benchmarking in the Gaza Strip Construction Industry

Abstract

Construction productivity is one of the most important issues that affect the progress of any contractor as well as the whole construction field anywhere. One of the most significant problems in construction projects inPalestineand all over the world is the poor construction productivity. Many authors and researchers have attempted to measure and improve the productivity of construction projects. This research aimed at investigating potentials for productivity improvement in the local construction industry as well as establishing the use of benchmarking concept in the Gaza Strip construction projects. A structured literature review has been achieved through investigating the most important factors affecting construction productivity with regard to their geographic locations. In addition, other local factors have been added as recommended by local construction experts. The questionnaire was piloted through distributing a sample consisted of 30 questionnaires to ensure both of reliability and validity. A questionnaire survey was conducted to identify eighty three productivity improvement factors, distributed in eleven major groups. 90 questionnaires were distributed to the target group which was represented by local construction companies whereas the number of valid questionnaires received was 73 ones. On the other hand, a comprehensive literature about benchmarking concept was reviewed including accurate definitions, steps, types of the benchmarking and its applications in construction industry in order to establish for implementing a practical case study through which construction labor productivity could be measured using benchmarking technique. The survey revealed that the external circumstances group represented by economical and political factors was considered the most significant group influencing construction productivity. A highly ranked factor among the overall eighty three factors was "Closure and Economical difficulties". Management group was ranked secondly among the eleven groups. Both of "Field Management" and "Office Management" factors were ranked fourth and fifth respectively among the overall eighty three factors. Also "Planning" factor was ranked seventh whereas "Scheduling" factor was ranked ninth among the overall eighty three factors. In addition, the survey indicated that the material group included two leading productivity improvement factors; namely are "Delivery on Time" and "Material Availability" while labor group included only one potential factor which is "Crew Arrangements". The case study implemented in this research, benchmarked masonry labor productivity in ten construction projects located in the Gaza Strip. The benchmarks that have been studied in this case study are baseline productivity, disruption index, performance index, project management index and coefficient of variation. The baseline productivity of masonry works in the Gaza Strip construction projects ranged from 0.3012 to 0.6716 workhour per square meter, the disruption index ranged from 0.10 to 0.50, and the project management index ranged from 0.158 to 0.603. The results indicated that a round 40% of the studied projects performed poorly, 60% of overall the studied projects were performing well. The study concluded that construction productivity can be enhanced while maintaining effective management tools like benchmarking, proper planning and scheduling, successful procurement system and influential field management. At the end, construction organizations are advised to create structured remedy procedures in order to minimize the effect of continuous closure and bad political situation. In addition, it is recommended to adopt established productivity measurement techniques such as benchmarking model. It is imperative also for construction organizations to have a monitoring role on labor agreements as well as highlight the significant contribution of safety in construction projects thus, minimize the conflict between labor and contractor and enhance construction productivity. On the other hand local contractors are recommended to allocate qualified staff, maintain proper management tools such as planning, scheduling and material management and establish effective productivity measurement methods. These recommendations could contribute effectively in enhancing construction productivity.