Assessment of transportation efficiency for the delivery of construction material in north-central Nigeria

Abstract

In Nigeria, knowledge on the management of construction material logistics system, especially in transportation, is inadequate. This  article assesses construction material manufacturers’ transportation efficiency for the delivery of construction material, in order to improve manufacturers’ transport operation in North-Central Nigeria. A total of 32 construction material manufacturers delivered their material to 42 distribution centres/warehouses and retailer stores, and 30 construction sites were purposely selected. The selected construction materials manufacturers produce six types of materials, namely cement, reinforcement bars (steel), ceramic tiles, crushed
stones, masonry hollow sandcrete blocks, and sand (fine and coarse). A case study research design method was used, in which  quantitative data were collected and analysed. An observation (quantitative) guide was used as the research instrument. The  quantitative data collected were analysed, using descriptive statistical tools such as frequencies and percentiles. The results revealed
that transportation efficiency levels are low in their vehicles’ dwell time, loading and off-loading vehicles at the warehouses, retailer stores, and construction sites. It was also revealed that no technology was used in the transport system to integrate the manufacturers’ warehouses with the other logistics partners in the supply chain. The article concludes that manufacturers should address  transportation operations along the delivery nodes to help ensure that the construction material arrives at its final destination at optimal quality, time and cost.

Keywords: Construction material, efficiency, manufacturer logistics, technology, transportation

In Nigerië is kennis oor die bestuur van die logistieke stelsel vir konstruksiemateriaal, veral in vervoer, onvoldoende. Hierdie artikel evalueer die doeltreffendheid van die vervoer vir die aflewering van konstruksiemateriaal deur konstruksiemateriaalvervaardigers,
ten einde die vervaardigingsvervoer in Noord-Sentraal Nigerië te verbeter. Altesaam 32 konstruksiemateriaalvervaardigers wat hul materiaal by 42 verspreidingsentrums/pakhuise en kleinhandelaarswinkels aflewer, asook 30 konstruksieterreine is doelbewus vir hierdie studie gekies. Die gekose konstruksiemateriaalvervaardigers vervaardig ses soorte materiaal, naamlik sement, wapeningstawe (staal), keramiekteëls, gebreekte klippe, messelwerk, hol sandbetonblokke en sand (fyn en grof). ’n Gevallestudie   navorsingsontwerpmetode is gebruik, waarin kwantitatiewe data versamel en ontleed is. ’n Waarnemingsgids (kwantitatiewe) is as navorsingsinstrument gebruik. Die kwantitatiewe data wat versamel is, is geanaliseer met behulp van beskrywende statistiese  instrumente soos frekwensies en persentiele. Die resultate het getoon dat die doeltreffendheid van vervoer laag is in terme van voertuigverblyftyd, asook tydens die op- en aflaai van voertuie by die pakhuise, kleinhandelaarswinkels en terreine. Resultate toon ook dat daar nie van tegnologie in die vervoerstelsel gebruik gemaak word om die vervaardigerspakhuis met die ander logistieke vennote in die verskaffingsketting te integreer nie. Die aanbeveling is dat vervaardigers vervoerbedrywighede langs die afleweringsnodusse moet aanspreek om te verseker dat konstruksiemateriaal by die finale bestemming teen optimale kwaliteit, tyd en koste kom.

Sleutelwoorde: Doeltreffendheid, konstruksiemateriaal, tegnologie, vervaardigerslogistiek, vervoer