Identification of factors affecting productivity in Thailand’s construction industry and proposed maturity model for improvement of the productivity

Abstract

Purpose

Low productivity is one of the main challenges facing the Thai construction industry. The purpose of this study is to identify factors affecting the productivity of Thailand’s construction industry and to develop a maturity model for improvement of the productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected quantitatively through questionnaire surveys targeting different Thai construction companies to identify factors affecting the productivity in the Thai construction industry. Based on the identified factors and opinions of experts, a maturity model was then developed and validated.

Findings

The top five factors affecting the productivity are labor skills, material management, equipment management, site management and safety. A maturity model for the productivity improvement has been developed, and its performance is satisfactory.

Research limitations/implications

The productivity maturity model is based on data collected in Thailand, and the model is valid only in Thailand or other countries which have similar social and economic circumstance.

Practical implications

Construction companies may use the proposed maturity model as a framework for improving their productivity.

Originality/value

Unlike other studies, which usually rely on an issue-based approach, this study uses a systematic company-wide approach to improve the productivity.

Citation

Pornthepkasemsant, P. and Charoenpornpattana, S. (2019), "Identification of factors affecting productivity in Thailand’s construction industry and proposed maturity model for improvement of the productivity", Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. 17 No. 5, pp. 849-861. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-10-2017-0109