The Critical Success Factors of building materials availability at construction sites : a qualitative approach

Abstract

The availability of building materials is one of the most important elements for the successful implementation of a project. Any failure to maintain the status of availability of materials at the construction site results in the workers experiencing a demotivated status and delays in the construction project being handled. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to identify the critical success factors of the availability of building materials at the construction site. A qualitative study which is a structured interview was conducted with thirty-eight (38) construction contractors as well as fifteen (15) suppliers. The results of the analysis found that as many as six (6) critical success factors have been successfully revealed from all the factors that affect the availability of building materials at the construction site. These critical success factors include 1) Current financial status of the contractor; 2) Relationship (tolerance) between contractor and supplier; 3) Work Planning and Scheduling; 4) Good communication of the main contractor and sub-contractor, and suppliers; 5) Availability of building materials in the suppliers' storage; and 6) Availability of machine, machinery, and trucks. These critical success factors can be used as a useful basis in ensuring the availability of building materials.