Factors influencing craftsman's productivity in Indonesia

Poor productivity of construction craftsmen is one of the most daunting human resource problems in developing countries. An investigation of the problems influencing craftsmen's productivity on 27 medium and high-rise building sites surveyed in Indonesia is reported. Three main groups of craftsmen (93 bricklayers, 81 carpenters, and 69 steel fixers) some 243 workers in total, participated in a comprehensive structured survey of production problems conducted over a 4-month period. The study instruments included craftsmen questionnaires and an activity sampling survey. Findings show that craftsmen in Indonesia spend an average 75% of their time working productively. Five specific productivity problems are identifies: 1. lack of materials, 2. rework, 3. absenteeism, 4. lack of equipment and tools, and 5. gang interference.