Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Abstract:
The present study was undertaken to get insight into the alleged constraints faced in granite stone production in Ondo State. Specifically, it aims at presenting the profile operations of quarries investigated validate the perceived constraints to granite stone production by describing the constraints were assessed using a variety of questionnaires administered to fifty-one (51) workers and the company�s level of productivity. Primary data were sourced and used for this study through the administration of well-structured questionnaire. The analytical tool used is descriptive statistics using frequency table and weighted mean square values. Summary statistics showed that the respondents however agreed that theft and stealing amongst quarry workers, qualification discrimination, frequent downtime due to machine breakdown caused by poor maintenance, communal issues of conflict with quarry management, language barriers and discrimination, inadequate empowerment, inadequate health facilities, lack of inadequate employee-employers meeting and inadequate monitoring of quarry activities by the government monitoring bodies had been major constraints to granite stone production. Finally, respondents agreed strongly that high cost of materials and equipment, inadequate measures to reduce operation time and long stretch of hours per shift are indeed the major constraints to granite stone production. Quarry production requires more of physical strength which implies that skill will be less considered in employing workers. It was recommended the government should intervene to help in procurement of materials and equipment and those employers should try to create avenue to positive feedback from their employees. __________________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords: Alleged Constraints to Granite Stone Production in Ondo State, Nigeria Melodi, M.M Department of Mining Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria _________________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract The present study was undertaken to get insight into thealleged constraints faced in granite stone production in Ondo State. Specifically, it aims at presenting the profile operations of quarries investigated validate the perceived constraints to granite stone production by describing the constraints were assessed using a variety of questionnaires administered to fifty-one (51) workers and the company�s level of productivity. Primary data were sourced and used for this study through the administration of well-structured questionnaire. The analytical tool used is descriptive statistics using frequency table and weighted mean square values. Summary statistics showed that the respondents however agreed that theft and stealing amongst quarry workers, qualification discrimination, frequent downtime due to machine breakdown caused by poor maintenance, communal issues of conflict with quarry management, language barriers and discrimination, inadequate empowerment, inadequate health facilities, lack of inadequate employee-employers meeting and inadequate monitoring of quarry activities by the government monitoring bodies had been major constraints to granite stone production. Finally, respondents agreed strongly that high cost of materials and equipment, inadequate measures to reduce operation time and long stretch of hours per shift are indeed the major constraints to granite stone production. Quarry production requires more of physical strength which implies that skill will be less considered in employing workers. It was recommended the government should intervene to help in procurement of materials and equipment and those employers should try to create avenue to positive feedback from their employees.

Keywords: Alleged constraints, granite stone production, Downtime, Breakdown maintenance

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