The construction field has seen the least rate of increase of productivity compared to other industries in the last 60 years. In fact, at least 25% of projects are subject to cost-overruns which is a primary identifier of poor productivity.
The latest moves to improve construction productivity focus on the following:
• Adopt new technology such as project management and building information modeling software to speed work and eliminate reworks
• Improve initial planning by using data from previous jobs to identify weaknesses in the current construction process
• Use pre-fabricated building elements to decrease build-time and costs while improving build quality
• Provide effective safety training for workers – accidents are a primary cause of delays and cost overruns
• Communicate effectively with all participants on a job site; in particular, ask workers how they think productivity could best be improved
• Start with an effective plan that won’t be subject to changes mid-project