Examining Material Management in Project Performance: A Case Study of Road Constructions Projects in Solwezi

Over the years, Zambia’s population has continued to rapidly grow, rising from 13.0 million in 2010 to 19.6 million in 2022. This rapid population growth has led to the development of new settlements and the construction of new infrastructure, including roads. However, the country has experienced significant project failures, particularly in road construction. These failures are attributed to poor material management techniques, which can result in poor quality materials, damage to materials, poor planning, late deliveries, and high costs. Therefore, proper material management is essential to prevent project failure.

This research was conducted to ascertain project material management techniques in road construction. The objectives of the study were to establish the effect of materials management on road construction projects, improve project productivity, enhance cost efficiency, and ensure timely project completion. The study focused on identifying techniques used in material management in road construction in Solwezi and determining how project material management techniques can be improved.

The study adopted a quantitative research design, focusing on 50 participants from various construction companies. The research design was descriptive. The data analysis involved coding, editing, and tabulation based on the study themes. Tools used in analyzing the data included descriptive statistics, frequency distribution tables, figures, and percentages. The study is anchored on agency theory, resource dependence theory, network theory, and relational exchange theory, all emphasizing the importance of effective resource management to prevent project failure.

The study aimed to identify factors influencing the completion of projects, focusing on planning, storage, transportation, sourcing, and purchasing of materials and how they affected project completion. The study concluded that inadequate management of materials has resulted in poor material management attributes in construction companies, especially smaller companies. The study recommends a systematic and integrated approach to managing materials to minimize costs and mitigate the effects of inadequate materials management.