CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS & PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE · Vol. 2021

Effective Material Management Practices Adopted by SMEs to Achieve Project Success: A Perspective of Construction Industry in the Eastern Cape Province

Athenkosi Sogaxa, Eric Simpeh, Ruben Ndihokubwayo

Keywords: Material management, project delivery, SMEs, sustainable construction

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of material management practices adopted by construction SME firms at the project level to achieve sustainable construction project success. A mixed-method research approach that involved a questionnaire survey was distributed to purposively selected management personnel of SMEs construction companies listed in Grade 1 – 4 of the cidb Register of Contractors and based in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Also, semi-structured interviews of purposively selected contractors who took part in the survey were undertaken. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. This paper discovered effective material management practices to promote SMEs sustainable success using specified material for construction project, effective utilisation of construction materials, and effective material recording strategy. The qualitative findings revealed effective material management practices and effective monitoring and control of material and effective material procurement practices. The study focuses on emerging contractors registered under CIDB grade 1 and 4 in the Eastern Cape province. However, the findings have practical significance to big firms and the construction industry because projects will be successful when materials are effectively monitored, controlled and procured. This study focuses on SMEs effective material management strategies and provides more comprehensive effective material management practices for enhancing sustainable project implementation.