Identifying factors behind delays of material supply at road construction projects in Siak Regency, Riau Province

Road construction is one way to develop the infrastructures, including the construction of a better and more expansive road network to its hinterlands. An effective and efficient construction project management is needed in order to ensure the quality of the road network. Another important thing is also the availability of materials for road construction, in order to ensure the project could be finished on time. Observing the situation on the ground, material supplies are often late in arriving at construction projects. This research examines the major factors behind the delayed arrival of materials for construction projects in Siak Regency. It is done methodologically by distributing questionnaires to respondents, which are the Commitment-Making Officers (PPK) at Public Works Office, followed by contractors and consultants that are involved in road projects around Siak for the past five years. The results found five major factors behind the late arrival of materials: the distance between source of the materials to the project location, lack of materials resources, lack of quantity of materials within the Siak Regency, delayed payment of invoices by project owners, and occasional breakdowns of transportation vehicles that carry the materials. We recommend making a material procurement plan for the equipment and workers in the most detailed way possible, better coordination between the contractors and the material suppliers, on-time payment of material costs by project owners, and a more effective and efficient project management.