Title: A new approach to benchmark the variability of construction labour productivity

Authors: Abdulaziz M. Jarkas

Addresses: Projects Department, Al Mazaya Holding Co., KSCP (Holding), P.O. Box 3546, Safat 13036, State of Kuwait

Abstract: As a technique for identifying methods to improve project performance, the baseline-benchmarking concept has attracted the attention of various researchers. Several methodologies have been developed, and therefore different benchmarking procedures are being implemented in the industry; however, each has its shortcomings. A new method is thus proposed to determine, at the project level, a baseline measure which represents the contractor's normal operating conditions, and accordingly, recommends performance benchmarking criteria based on objective statistical control limits. The introduced technique is applied to formwork labour productivity of building floors, and subsequently tested, for method validation, on similar projects under both, normal and disruptive circumstances. In view of the results obtained, the validity, reliability and robustness of the proposed method are demonstrated. Although the concept is applied to a specific trade-activity, the principles of data collection, analysis and method application are generic and could be further applied to a wide spectrum of other construction activities.

Keywords: baseline; benchmarking; labour productivity; formwork construction; building floors; QRM; quartile range method; construction industry; contractor operating conditions; statistical control limits; construction projects.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEME.2016.079835

International Journal of Engineering Management and Economics, 2016 Vol.6 No.1, pp.38 - 58

Received: 19 Feb 2015
Accepted: 19 Oct 2015
Published online: 17 Oct 2016 *

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