Identifying causes of material wastage on construction sites in Vietnam

Abstract

The wastage of materials on construction sites caused unnecessary losses to contractors. Curbing material waste is important to save costs for contractors and then to improve their competitive advantages in the construction market. Identifying causes plays a key role in mitigation of material waste on building sites. This study is part of an ongoing research aiming to identify major causes of material waste and to reckon the percentage of material waste on building sites in Vietnam. Literature reviews and a pilot survey provided thirty-five preliminary factors. Thirteen factors resulted from statistical techniques (i.e., mean scores and one sample t-test) were considered as major causes of material waste at site through a questionnaire survey of construction professionals, who worked for medium or large construction firms. The top-five main causes are: (1) incapable workers and site engineers; (2) changes to design; (3) late information about types and sizes of products to the contractor; (4) incapable storekeepers; and (5) waste from inappropriate construction processes. It is concluded that there is a need for enhancing the capability of workers and site engineers for mitigating the material wastage at site related to operation problems. The findings of this research can be used as a guideline to overcome material waste in the VCI as well as in other developing countries. The results of this study may expect to be useful not only to practitioners and researchers in Vietnam but also to participants in other developing countries.