Towards Waste Minimization in Wet Trades: Meteorological Based Model of Cement Demand in Port Harcourt Metropolis

Production systems strive to achieve zero-inventory as a mechanism of waste minimization, which requires that the demand and supply of products are synchronized in time and volume. The effects of weather condition on construction projects has implications for site productivity, and consequently the demand for building materials, particularly in wet trades where cement is the primary constituent. The study explores and spotlights the multi-dimensional influence of weather conditions on the consumption of cement induced by the supply/demand gap. Using multiple regression analysis, the study provides statistical evidence establishing causality between weather and the trend in the consumption of cement. Data on the consumption of cement on hundred randomly selected construction sites within Port Harcourt, as well as meteorological data for a period of 12 months, were collated to serve as quantifiable attributes of the study variables. The outcome of the study was the development of a regression model statistically depicting the demand for cement as a function of meteorological indices. The study outcome can thus serve as part of a more comprehensive decision support system, necessary to minimize waste and identify potential inefficiencies in the production and distribution channels of cement in Port Harcourt.