International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056

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FACTORS INFLUENCING IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

P. BALAMURUGAN1, ABRAR NAZIR2, K. MATHAN3, A. KABILESH INDRAJITH4
1ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING,
DHANALAKSHMI SRINIVASAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, TRICHY, TAMILNADU, INDIA.
2,3,4 U.G STUDENT, DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING,

DHANALAKSHMI SRINIVASAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, TRICHY, TAMILNADU, INDIA.

---------------------------------------------------------------------***----------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract – Construction Industry is one of the emerging context, owners and engineers are now alarmed by quality
industries of today that has a great impact on the economy issues which have become more common than one can
of any nation. Quality is considered as an important concern anticipate. Modern materials are said to have better
for project managers. Quality issues are a very disturbing quality and of substantially increased strength. There is
event for a civil engineer. In this context, owners and also an improved understanding of structural analysis
engineers are alarmed by quality issues which have become backed by sophisticated design technology. These
more common than one can anticipate. This study mainly technologies should have produced better and more
focuses on identifying and analyzing the factors which durable structures. Unfortunately, it is not so.
influence quality in construction. The identified factors from
the literature are time management, availability of Quality in construction industry is defined as
resources, financial issues, labors, environmental conditions, ‘meeting or exceeding the requirement of client/owners.
materials and equipment used, lack of safety, co-ordination
Quality in construction is related to
of participants, design, lack of communication, selection of
contractor, inspection, codes and standards, execution and ● Satisfying the specification mentioned in
top management support. This study also intended to the contract
provide every participant in construction industry necessary ● Completing the project time
information needed to better manage the quality of a ● Fulfilling the owner’s requirement within
construction projects. Based on the identified factors a budget
questionnaire survey was conducted to collect opinion from ● Avoiding disputes claims and
the construction experts. Then based on the survey, the ● Ensuring the faculties performs its
identified factors were ranked by Pareto analysis. And the intended purpose.
topmost five influencing factors identified are Labors,
material and equipment handling, Time management, 1.2 ELEMENTS OF QUALITY
Environmental conditions and recourse availability.
The basic element of quality in construction is
Key Words: Labors, Resources, environmental conditions.
▪ Quality characteristics
1. INTRODUCTION ▪ Quality of design
▪ Quality of conformance
1.1 GENERAL
A quality characteristic is related to the
The construction industry plays a socio-economic parameters with respect to which quality- control process
development in our nation. The industry is a distinct is judged. Quality characteristic includes strength, colours,
sector of the economy which makes its direct contribution texture, dimension, height and etc. example in
to economic growth like all the other sectors such as compressive strength of concrete, usability of concrete in
agriculture, manufacturing and services. It also provides slump, etc.
basis upon which the other sectors can grow, by
constructing the physical facilities required for the Quality of design refers to the quality with which
production and distribution of goods and services. The the design is carried out. It initially related to meeting the
construction industry also has potential for generating requirement of the standard, functionally efficient and
activity and employment in other sectors of the economy economical maintainable system.
such as manufacturing, transport, commerce and financial
services owing to it interlink ages to other sectors. Quality of conformance is referred to the degree
to which the constructed facility confirmed the design and
Quality issues are a very disturbing event for a specification. Quality of conformance is affected by
civil engineer. It was almost non-existent in the past.
Structures were known for their durability, soundness and ● Field construction methodology
stability. They were expected to be permanent. In this ● Inspection

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In this study, the factors affecting quality 1.3.3 Techniques of quality

performance of construction projects were studied. It can
be used to measure performance in construction projects. There are seven Basic Quality techniques are as follows:
This will be a key component of any organization move
towards achieving best practice in order to overcome the  Histograms
quality performance problem in the construction projects.  Pareto Charts
 Run Charts
1.3 QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION  Scatter Diagrams
 Control Charts
The construction industry is typified by highly  Flow Charts
differentiated, fragmented and loosely structured system.  Cause and Effect Diagrams
Improving a quality system is the first step towards
developing quality in construction industry. A quality 1.4 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
system consists of the following,
The objectives of the present study are as given
 Quality policy below:
 Organization structure
 Procedures ▪ To identify and evaluate various factors
 Training affecting the quality performance of
 Quality manual construction projects and to rank them.
▪ To suggest ways to improve the quality
One of the definitions of quality is “to satisfy the performance of construction projects.
needs of customers”. The needs to be satisfied not only ▪ To help the future projects to reduce the
include the client but also an entire community into which construction defects, minimizing rework and
the completed building ultimately integrates. Construction enhancing safety.
cost and time are also important characteristics of quality.
All these should be properly addressed in designing the 1. 5 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
building and the outcome should be expressed
unequivocally in drawings and specifications. In the modern construction level, quality is a
Construction costs are grouped under many categories major function in construction industries. This project
and one such is cost of quality. helps the future projects to reduce the construction defect,
minimizing rework and enhancing safety. The Quality
1.3.1 Quality management system management introduce a high-performance team
atmosphere and a culture of continuous improvement,
Organizations will benet from establishing an making it possible to work toward a zero-rework
effective quality management system (QMS). The environment.
milestone of a quality organization is the concept of the
customer and supplier working together for their mutual  To improve their products quality
benet. For this to become more efficiency, the customer-  To minimize the rework
supplier interfaces must extend into, and outside of, the  Helps to meet the customer requirements
organization, beyond the immediate customers and  Helps to raise the company’ s image
suppliers.  Minimum cost of rework
 Zero rework environment
1.3.2 Principal quality dimensions

The important principal quality dimensions are

1.6 IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY
given below:
The need for achieving quality of the finished
▪ Performance product in the building construction is very important.
The high cost of buildings makes it necessary to ensure
▪ Features quality of the finished product. Quality is an important one
▪ Reliability for sustainability and customer satisfaction. So the
construction industries, quality performance is considered
▪ Conformance as major for client satisfaction.
▪ Durability
 There is need to develop a specified method to
▪ Serviceability measure quality due to lack of quality
▪ Aesthetics measurement methods.

▪ Perceived quality

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 It is noticed that there are a number of problems

in the construction industry caused by bad quality TIME MANAGEMNT
control, and the situation deems to getting worse.
 Most of failures in contracting industries
happened due to these problems.
 All construction industry level of projects first 10
understands the quality criteria and its impacting 9
factors will make it possible to handle the quality
8
problems much better.
7
2.RESULT AND DISCUSSION 6
2.1 QUESTIONNAIRE ANALYSIS 5
4
From literature studies, 15 factors were identified and a
total of 75 questions were prepared as 5 questions for 3
each factor. The questionnaires were distributed to 2
around 43 companies in and around Trichy. The
1
questionnaires were distributed to owners, contractors,
consultants and supervisors in various companies. As a 0
result, 25 respondents were obtained. From the 1 2 3 4 5
questionnaire survey, the percentage variations between
the factors were calculated and the topmost influencing NOT AGREE LESS AGREE AGREE
factors are identified.
HIGHLY AGREE ALWAYS AGREE
2.2 DATA ANALYSIS
Fig 2.2 Percentage details of Time management
The figures 2.1 to 2.15 show the percentage of
respondents and the variations between various factors.
According to the questions, the not agree factor must be LABOURS
taken into account, whereas it has very low percentage
and is negotiable and less agree is taken for calculating 14
results.
12

AVAILABILITY OF RESOURES 10

10 8
9
6
8
7 4
6
5 2
4
0
3
1 2 3 4 5
2
NOT AGREE LESS AGREE AGREE
1
HIGHLY AGREE ALWAYS AGREE
0
NOT LESS AGREE HIGHLY ALWAYS
AGREE AGREE AGREE AGREE Fig 2.3 Percentage details of Labours

Fig 2.1 Percentage of Availability of resources

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 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 07 Issue: 04 | Apr 2020 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

10 14
9
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS CONTRACTOR
12
8
7 10
6 8
5
6
4
3 4
2 2
1
0 0
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5

NOT AGREE LESS AGREE AGREE NOT AGREE LESS AGREE AGREE

HIGHLY AGREE ALWAYS AGREE HIGHLY AGREE ALWAYS AGREE

Fig 2.4 Percentage details of Environmental conditions Fig 2.7 Percentage details of Contractor

12
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENTS INSPECTION
10
12 USED
8
10
8 6

6 4

4 2
2 0
0 1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
NOT AGREE LESS AGREE AGREE
NOT AGREE LESS AGREE AGREE
HIGHLY AGREE ALWAYS AGREE
HIGHLY AGREE ALWAYS AGREE

Fig 2.5 Percentage details of Materials and equipment Fig 2.8 Percentage details of Inspection
used
CO- ORDINATION OF
12
LACK OF COMMUNICATION PARTICIPANTS
10
10
8
8
6 6

4 4
2 2
0
0
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
NOT AGREE LESS AGREE AGREE NOT AGREE LESS AGREE AGREE
HIGHLY AGREE ALWAYS AGREE
Fig 2.9 Percentage details of Co-ordination of
Fig 2.6 Percentage details of Communication participants

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 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 07 Issue: 04 | Apr 2020 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

12 20
INSPECTION 18
SAFETY
10
16
8 14
6 12
10
4 8
2 6
4
0
2
1 2 3 4 5
0
NOT AGREE LESS AGREE AGREE 1 2 3 4 5

HIGHLY AGREE ALWAYS AGREE NOT AGREE LESS AGREE AGREE

HIGHLY AGREE ALWAYS AGREE
Fig 2.10 Percentage details of Execution
Fig 2.13 Percentage of Safety
16
FINANCIAL ISSUES
14 16
12 14
TOP MANAGEMENT SUPPORT
10 12
8 10
6 8
4 6
4
2
2
0
0
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
NOT AGREE LESS AGREE AGREE
NOT AGREE LESS AGREE AGREE
HIGHLY AGREE ALWAYS AGREE
HIGHLY AGREE ALWAYS AGREE

Fig 2.11 Percentage details of financial issues

Fig 2.14 Percentage of Top management support

20
DESIGN AND DRAWINGS 16 CODES AND STANDARDS
14
15
12
10
10
8
6
5
4
2
0
1 2 3 4 5 0
1 2 3 4 5
NOT AGREE LESS AGREE AGREE
NOT AGREE LESS AGREE AGREE
HIGHLY AGREE ALWAYS AGREE
HIGHLY AGREE ALWAYS AGREE

Fig 2.12 Percentage details of Design & drawings

Fig 2.15 Percentage of codes and standards

The figure 2.16 shows the percentage variations

of the top five factors among them which influences
quality in construction projects and their corresponding
percentage as labors (24%), availability of resources
(16%), time management (20%), environmental

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 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 07 Issue: 04 | Apr 2020 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

conditions (18%) and materials & equipment’s From the above findings, the study concluded that the
used(22%). topmost influencing factors in construction projects are
Recourses, Safety, Time management, materials,
Environmental conditions and labors. Figure 2.17 shows
Percentage the Pareto chart for the fifteen factors in which the factors
are ranked based upon the cumulative percentage as
Availability o
Labors, Safety, Top management, Environmental
Resources
conditions, Co-ordination of participants, Contractor,
Inspection, Execution, Codes & standards, Availability of
Time management
resources, Time management, Financial issues, Materials &
40 equipment used, Design & drawings and Communication.
55
Labours RECOMMENDATIONS
50
45 Here are some of the suggestions to improve quality in
Environmental construction projects:
60 conditions
Identify all regulations and standards that are necessary to
Material and satisfy client internal company standards. Ensure that the
Equipment Usd project plan is updated to reflect the findings from the
quality plan. With all the project management tasks, close
interaction with all involved parties is essential.
Fig 2.16 Percentage variations of 5 factors
Train the supervisors and the crew. Supervisor training
The figure 2.17 shows the percentage variation of top
should be specifically related to how to improve quality at
Five factors and they are arranged here in the order of
the job site. Supervisors must be trained to look at the job
ranking i.e. topmost influencing factors first. They are
not on a day- to-day basis, but as work process with any
Labors, Materials & equipment used, Time management
discrete steps that must be completed over an extended, if
,Environmental conditions And Availability of resources .
limited, period.
70 60
55 Selection of contractors should no longer be based mainly
60 50
45 on speed of delivery, lowest cost or favoritism but rather
50 40
should be based on competency and potential for
40
performance and quality.
30
20
10 Enforcement of quality standards must be given urgent
0 attention and those that will be appointed to enforce
quality must be professionals with integrity.

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 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 07 Issue: 04 | Apr 2020 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

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BIOGRAPHIES

1P. BALAMURUGAN, M.E.,

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR,
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL
ENGINEERING
DHANALAKSHMI SRINIVASAN
INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY,
TRICHY, TAMILNADU, INDIA

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