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Publication date: 13 September 2022

Adefemi Aka, Abdulkabir Opeyemi Bello, Adebisi Abosede Bamgbade and Abdulquadri Ade Bilau

Age is one of the critical factors used by many organizations to determine employees' performance. It is being considered in the retirement process of construction professionals…

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Abstract

Purpose

Age is one of the critical factors used by many organizations to determine employees' performance. It is being considered in the retirement process of construction professionals. However, age as a critical factor is not considered in the recruitment of a specific set of workers in the construction industry. Therefore, this study investigated the significant relationship between the ages of tradespeople and their performance in construction projects. The study also explored the age at which performance begins to decline and proposes strategies that can be used to sustain their effectiveness before the official retirement age.

Design/methodology/approach

Mixed methods research designs were adopted in the study. To be precise, physical observations, interviews and questionnaires were the instruments used for data collection in the mixed methods research design.

Findings

The outcomes of the study revealed that the age groups of tradespeople in the Nigerian construction industry are 16–30 (group one), 31–45 (group two) and 46–58 (group three) respectively. Group three is the prevalent age group. It was also discovered that performance begins to decline at 53 years. The age-performance decline of tradespeople in Nigerian construction projects can be delayed through certain strategies such as regular strength training exercises and an adequate nutritional lifestyle.

Research limitations/implications

The study enables construction managers to have an adequate understanding of the negative influence of old age on the performance of tradespeople in construction projects. This will enable construction firm managers to recruit from the age range of 16–52 and stop retiring employees within this age bracket, consequently curbing the skills gap which is prevalent in the study context and the global construction industry. The study is limited to tradespeople performance in construction firms in Abuja, Nigeria where there are several ongoing projects on a daily basis.

Practical implications

The study enables project managers to estimate the number of tradespeople required for a particular task and consequently save the aged tradespeople from health risks associated with excessive workloads.

Originality/value

This paper is the first of its kind to be conducted in the study context, to establish the specific age at which performance begins to decline among construction tradespeople.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 31 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

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Article
Publication date: 31 May 2019

Adefemi Aka, Abosede Adebisi Bamgbade, Ibrahim Saidu and Oladimeji Moses Balogun

Non-value adding activities or waste have been a major challenge for the construction industry. Researchers worldwide have investigated how such activities can be reduced or…

262

Abstract

Purpose

Non-value adding activities or waste have been a major challenge for the construction industry. Researchers worldwide have investigated how such activities can be reduced or overcome in the industry. However, much has not been done regarding waste in the production process of building blocks. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the various waste in sandcrete blocks production process (SBPP). The study also aims to find out the causes of the waste and their impacts on the factory performance.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the aims of this study, a qualitative study was conducted in five sandcrete blocks firms in Minna. Physical observation and interviews were the main instruments used for data collection. The data obtained were analyzed through content analysis. Samples of blocks (low standard only) were also taken to the laboratory for compressive and porosity tests. Thereafter, questionnaires were administered to other sandcrete blocks producers in six firms. The essence of this was to investigate the applicability of the identified waste in other factories in the study context and for further data analysis.

Findings

Typical forms of waste in SBPP are excessive stocking of sand and cement, long distance covered from the store to the mixing or production location, excessive quantity or over design of materials and over vibration or compaction of the newly produced blocks. It is anticipated that adoption of lean concepts, tools and techniques in the production of sandcrete blocks will help to eradicate the identified waste in the process and stimulate a future state value stream mapping (VSM). The practicality of the expected future state VSM is presently being investigated by one of the five firms in the study context.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of the study mainly provide further insights on the various process waste in Nigerian sandcrete blocks production.

Practical implications

The study provides knowledge on how lean thinking can be adopted to identify and reduce waste in SBPP. Such knowledge may be beneficial to the present and prospective sandcrete blocks producers. The study also provides insight on how the overall cost of production of sandcrete blocks and the quantity of CO2 that is being released into the atmosphere in the production process can be reduced. The VSM in the proposed framework also serves as a tool that can be globally adopted for waste identification by producers of other forms of blocks such as bricks.

Originality/value

This paper satisfies all the tenets of originality as it has not been previously published and all the information obtained from other studies have been duly referenced. The study is also original as it is first in the study context to propose for a lean framework that can be used to reduce waste in SBPP.

Details

Construction Innovation, vol. 19 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1471-4175

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