Strategies for effective materials management towards sustainable construction enhancement

Abstract

Despite the significance of the construction industry in developed and developing nations, construction activities tend to have adverse impacts on environmental and socio-economic aspects of society. This paper aims to evaluate the impact of construction materials management on materials usage efficiency towards the enhancement of sustainable building construction in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The study adopts a quantitative research approach. Closed-ended questionnaires were administered to seventy (70) construction professionals in different construction companies in the Western Cape. The data obtained were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Strategic planning before procurement at design stage, procurement strategy considered for materials purchase, enforcing the adoption of Green Building Councils of South Africa (GBCSA) policy in every construction projects in the country and evaluating the life-cycle analysis (LCA) of materials proposed for use were acknowledged as the predominant factors of materials management that enhance the construction of sustainable buildings. This study was delimited to construction professionals (project managers, procurement officers, engineers, and architects), contractors and company suppliers in the construction industry in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The adoption of sustainable materials management principles during construction will have the following implications: increased competition amongst material manufacturers, leading to a reduction in material cost which will facilitate economic advancement; and a reduction of material wastage during construction by ensuring availability of material when required on site. Effective materials management during sustainable construction remains a significant attribute of a successful project which ensures waste reduction, cost profitability optimization and government participation in sustainable development through policy implementation related to construction.