Factors affecting the productivity of the construction industry in Thailand: The project managers' perception

There has been a lack of research in the construction industry in Thailand. The objectives of this paper are to identify factors affecting construction productivity in Thailand, and their potential for improvement. To do so, 34 project managers working in the construction industry in Thailand were asked to complete a structured questionnaire survey. The factors were ranked, using a relative importance index (RII), according to the project mangers' perception of their levels of influence and their potential for improvement. Findings indicate that the top eight factors affecting construction productivity are: lack of material, incomplete drawings, inspection delay, incompetent supervisors, instruction time, lack of tools and equipment, poor communication and poor site conditions. However, the ranking of factors in respect of their potential for improvement did not correlate with their influence on productivity. To supplement the questionnaire data, in depth interviews were conducted with some project managers. This study forms the initial investigation of a more in-depth study of the Thailand construction industry, which aims to lead to overall productivity improvement.