Labor Productivity in the Construction Industry -Factors Influencing the Spanish Construction Labor Productivity-
This research paper aims to identify, analyze and rank
factors affecting labor productivity in Spain with respect to their
relative importance. Using a selected set of 35 factors, a structured
questionnaire survey was utilized as the method to collect data from
companies. Target population is comprised by a random
representative sample of practitioners related with the Spanish
construction industry. Findings reveal the top five ranked factors are
as follows: (1) shortage or late supply of materials; (2) clarity of the
drawings and project documents; (3) clear and daily task assignment;
(4) tools or equipment shortages; (5) level of skill and experience of
laborers. Additionally, this research also pretends to provide simple
and comprehensive recommendations so that they could be
implemented by construction managers for an effective management
of construction labor forces.
[1] SEOPAN, "Informe Licitación Pública Mayo 2014,”
www.seopan.es/ficheros/459cdd74d3780892fb690d787c22f59e.pdf
[2] K. M. El-Gohary, R. F. Aziz, "Factors Influencing Construction Labor
Productivity in Egypt,” Journal of Management in Engineering, vol.
30(1), pp. 1-9, 2014.
[3] J. Yates, S. Guhathakurta, "International labour productivity,” J. Constr.
Eng., vol. 35(1), pp. 15-25, 1993.
[4] B. McTague, G. Jergeas, Productivity improvements on Alberta major
construction projects, construction productivity improvement
report/project evaluation tool. Alberta Economic Development, Alberta,
Canada, 2002.
[5] Ministerio de Fomento, "Estructura de la construcción 2012,”
www.fomento.es/NR/rdonlyres/E6BA633C-1914-4CEA-A19F-
488F0A31CDDD/124513/EC2012.pdf
[6] S. Wilcox, B. Stringfellow, R. Harris, B. Martin, "Management and
productivity,” Transportation research board, committee on
management and productivity. Washington, USA, 2000.
[7] C. H. Oglesby, H. W. Parker, G. A. Howell, Productivity improvement
in construction, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1989.
[8] G. J. Sweis, "Impact of conversion technology on productivity in
masonry construction,” PhD dissertation, Northwestern Univ., Evanston,
Ill, 2000.
[9] B. T. Talhouni, "Measurement and analysis of construction labour
productivity.” Ph.D. thesis, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Dundee,
Dundee, UK, 1990.
[10] A. M. Jarkas, C. G. Bitar, "Factors affecting construction labor
productivity in Kuwait.” Journal of Construction Engineering and
Management, 10.1061/(ASCE)CO .1943-7862.0000501, 2012, pp. 811–
820.
[11] A. M. Jarkas, "Critical investigation into the applicability of the learning
curve theory to rebar fixing labor productivity,”Journal of Construction
Engineering and Management, vol. 136 (12), pp. 1279-1288, 2010.
[12] Y. M. Hong, W. M. Chan, P.C. Chan, F. Y. Yeung. "Critical analysis of
partnering research trend in construction journals.” Journal of
Management in Engineering, vol. 27 (2), pp. 82-95, 2012.
[13] N. M. Lema, "Construction of labour productivity modelling,”
University of Dar Elsalaam, 1995.
[14] A. Enshassi, S. Mohamed, Z. Abu Mustafa, P. E. Mayer, "Factors
affecting labour productivity in building projects in the Gaza Strip.”
Journal of Constuction. Engineering and Management, vol. 13(4), pp.
245-254, 2007.
[15] A. Stifi, F. Gehbauer, S. Gentes. "The Picture of Integrity from Lean
Management’s Point Of View: The Relationship between Integrity
Management System and Last Planner System”; IGLC & Akademika
forlag, ISBN 978-82-321-0460-4, pp. 907–918, 2014.
[16] Official Register of Classified Companies of Spain.
http://serviciosweb.meh.es/apps/contratistas/FiltroObrasGen.asp
[17] R. V. Hogg, E. A. Tanis, Probability and statistical inference, 8th Ed.,
Prentice Hall, NJ, 2009.
[18] S. A. Assaf, M. Al-Khalil, M. Al-Hazmi, "Causes of delays in large
building construction projects,” ASCE Journal of Management in
Engineering, vol. 11, pp. 45–50, 1995.
[19] A. Faridi, S. El-Sayegh, "Significant factors causing delay in the UAE
construction industry,” Construction Management and Economics, vol.
24, pp. 1167–1176, 2006.
[20] M. M. Kumaraswamy, D. W. M. Chan, "Contributors to construction
delays,” Construction Management and Economics, vol. 16, pp. 17–29,
1998.
[21] S. Durdyev, J. Mbachu, "On-site labour productivity of New Zealand
construction industry: Key constraints and improvement measures,”
Australasian Journal of Construction Economics and Building, vol.
11(3), pp. 18–33, 2011.
[22] R. M. W. Horner, B. T. Talhouni, H. R. Thomas, "Preliminary results of
major labour productivity monitoring programme,” Procedures of the
3rd Yugoslavian Symp. on Construction Management, Cavtat, pp. 18–
28, 1989.
[23] A. Makulsawatudom, M. Emsley, K. Sinthawanarong, "Critical factors
influencing construction productivity in Thailand,” J. King Mongkut’s
University of Technology, vol. 14(3), pp. 1–6, 2004.
[24] H. M. Alinaitwe, J. A. Mwakali, B. Hansson, "Factors affecting the
productivity of building craftsmen—Studies of Uganda,” Journal of
Civil Engineering and Management, vol. 13(3), pp. 169–176, 2007.
[25] H. R. Thomas, "Construction baseline productivity: theory and
practice,” Journal of Construction Management and Engineering,
ASCE, vol. 125(5), pp. 295–303, 1999.
[26] R. C. Whitehead, "Factors influencing labour productivity on
construction sites,” Ph.D. thesis, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of
Dundee, Dundee, UK, 1990.
[27] J. D. Borcherding, S. J. Sebastian,N. M. Samelson, "Improving
motivation and productivity on large projects,” Journal of the
Construction Division, vol. 106(1), pp. 73–89, 1980.
[28] M. R. Abdul Kadir, W. P. Lee, M. S. Jaafar, S. M. Sapuan, A. A. Ali,
"Factors affecting construction labour productivity for Malaysian
residential projects,” Structural Survey, vol. 23(1), pp. 42-54, 2005.
[29] M. Liu, G. Ballard, W. Ibbs, "Work flow variation and labor
productivity: Case study,” Journal of Management in Engineering,
10.1061/ (ASCE) ME.1943- 5479.0000056, pp. 236–242, 2011.
[30] E. C. Lim, J. Alum, "Construction productivity: Issues encountered by
contractors in Singapore,” International Journal of Project
Management, vol. 13(1), pp. 51–58, 1995.
[31] H. R. Thomas, S. R. Sanders, "Factors affecting masonry productivity,”
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, ASCE, vol.
117(4), pp. 626–644, 1991.
[1] SEOPAN, "Informe Licitación Pública Mayo 2014,”
www.seopan.es/ficheros/459cdd74d3780892fb690d787c22f59e.pdf
[2] K. M. El-Gohary, R. F. Aziz, "Factors Influencing Construction Labor
Productivity in Egypt,” Journal of Management in Engineering, vol.
30(1), pp. 1-9, 2014.
[3] J. Yates, S. Guhathakurta, "International labour productivity,” J. Constr.
Eng., vol. 35(1), pp. 15-25, 1993.
[4] B. McTague, G. Jergeas, Productivity improvements on Alberta major
construction projects, construction productivity improvement
report/project evaluation tool. Alberta Economic Development, Alberta,
Canada, 2002.
[5] Ministerio de Fomento, "Estructura de la construcción 2012,”
www.fomento.es/NR/rdonlyres/E6BA633C-1914-4CEA-A19F-
488F0A31CDDD/124513/EC2012.pdf
[6] S. Wilcox, B. Stringfellow, R. Harris, B. Martin, "Management and
productivity,” Transportation research board, committee on
management and productivity. Washington, USA, 2000.
[7] C. H. Oglesby, H. W. Parker, G. A. Howell, Productivity improvement
in construction, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1989.
[8] G. J. Sweis, "Impact of conversion technology on productivity in
masonry construction,” PhD dissertation, Northwestern Univ., Evanston,
Ill, 2000.
[9] B. T. Talhouni, "Measurement and analysis of construction labour
productivity.” Ph.D. thesis, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Dundee,
Dundee, UK, 1990.
[10] A. M. Jarkas, C. G. Bitar, "Factors affecting construction labor
productivity in Kuwait.” Journal of Construction Engineering and
Management, 10.1061/(ASCE)CO .1943-7862.0000501, 2012, pp. 811–
820.
[11] A. M. Jarkas, "Critical investigation into the applicability of the learning
curve theory to rebar fixing labor productivity,”Journal of Construction
Engineering and Management, vol. 136 (12), pp. 1279-1288, 2010.
[12] Y. M. Hong, W. M. Chan, P.C. Chan, F. Y. Yeung. "Critical analysis of
partnering research trend in construction journals.” Journal of
Management in Engineering, vol. 27 (2), pp. 82-95, 2012.
[13] N. M. Lema, "Construction of labour productivity modelling,”
University of Dar Elsalaam, 1995.
[14] A. Enshassi, S. Mohamed, Z. Abu Mustafa, P. E. Mayer, "Factors
affecting labour productivity in building projects in the Gaza Strip.”
Journal of Constuction. Engineering and Management, vol. 13(4), pp.
245-254, 2007.
[15] A. Stifi, F. Gehbauer, S. Gentes. "The Picture of Integrity from Lean
Management’s Point Of View: The Relationship between Integrity
Management System and Last Planner System”; IGLC & Akademika
forlag, ISBN 978-82-321-0460-4, pp. 907–918, 2014.
[16] Official Register of Classified Companies of Spain.
http://serviciosweb.meh.es/apps/contratistas/FiltroObrasGen.asp
[17] R. V. Hogg, E. A. Tanis, Probability and statistical inference, 8th Ed.,
Prentice Hall, NJ, 2009.
[18] S. A. Assaf, M. Al-Khalil, M. Al-Hazmi, "Causes of delays in large
building construction projects,” ASCE Journal of Management in
Engineering, vol. 11, pp. 45–50, 1995.
[19] A. Faridi, S. El-Sayegh, "Significant factors causing delay in the UAE
construction industry,” Construction Management and Economics, vol.
24, pp. 1167–1176, 2006.
[20] M. M. Kumaraswamy, D. W. M. Chan, "Contributors to construction
delays,” Construction Management and Economics, vol. 16, pp. 17–29,
1998.
[21] S. Durdyev, J. Mbachu, "On-site labour productivity of New Zealand
construction industry: Key constraints and improvement measures,”
Australasian Journal of Construction Economics and Building, vol.
11(3), pp. 18–33, 2011.
[22] R. M. W. Horner, B. T. Talhouni, H. R. Thomas, "Preliminary results of
major labour productivity monitoring programme,” Procedures of the
3rd Yugoslavian Symp. on Construction Management, Cavtat, pp. 18–
28, 1989.
[23] A. Makulsawatudom, M. Emsley, K. Sinthawanarong, "Critical factors
influencing construction productivity in Thailand,” J. King Mongkut’s
University of Technology, vol. 14(3), pp. 1–6, 2004.
[24] H. M. Alinaitwe, J. A. Mwakali, B. Hansson, "Factors affecting the
productivity of building craftsmen—Studies of Uganda,” Journal of
Civil Engineering and Management, vol. 13(3), pp. 169–176, 2007.
[25] H. R. Thomas, "Construction baseline productivity: theory and
practice,” Journal of Construction Management and Engineering,
ASCE, vol. 125(5), pp. 295–303, 1999.
[26] R. C. Whitehead, "Factors influencing labour productivity on
construction sites,” Ph.D. thesis, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of
Dundee, Dundee, UK, 1990.
[27] J. D. Borcherding, S. J. Sebastian,N. M. Samelson, "Improving
motivation and productivity on large projects,” Journal of the
Construction Division, vol. 106(1), pp. 73–89, 1980.
[28] M. R. Abdul Kadir, W. P. Lee, M. S. Jaafar, S. M. Sapuan, A. A. Ali,
"Factors affecting construction labour productivity for Malaysian
residential projects,” Structural Survey, vol. 23(1), pp. 42-54, 2005.
[29] M. Liu, G. Ballard, W. Ibbs, "Work flow variation and labor
productivity: Case study,” Journal of Management in Engineering,
10.1061/ (ASCE) ME.1943- 5479.0000056, pp. 236–242, 2011.
[30] E. C. Lim, J. Alum, "Construction productivity: Issues encountered by
contractors in Singapore,” International Journal of Project
Management, vol. 13(1), pp. 51–58, 1995.
[31] H. R. Thomas, S. R. Sanders, "Factors affecting masonry productivity,”
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, ASCE, vol.
117(4), pp. 626–644, 1991.
@article{"International Journal of Architectural, Civil and Construction Sciences:68147", author = "G. Robles and A. Stifi and José L. Ponz-Tienda and S. Gentes", title = "Labor Productivity in the Construction Industry -Factors Influencing the Spanish Construction Labor Productivity-", abstract = "This research paper aims to identify, analyze and rank
factors affecting labor productivity in Spain with respect to their
relative importance. Using a selected set of 35 factors, a structured
questionnaire survey was utilized as the method to collect data from
companies. Target population is comprised by a random
representative sample of practitioners related with the Spanish
construction industry. Findings reveal the top five ranked factors are
as follows: (1) shortage or late supply of materials; (2) clarity of the
drawings and project documents; (3) clear and daily task assignment;
(4) tools or equipment shortages; (5) level of skill and experience of
laborers. Additionally, this research also pretends to provide simple
and comprehensive recommendations so that they could be
implemented by construction managers for an effective management
of construction labor forces.
", keywords = "Construction management, Factors, Improvement,
Labor productivity, Lean construction.", volume = "8", number = "10", pages = "1065-10", }
