Construction industry productivity and the potential for collaborative practice

Fulford, Richard; Standing, Craig

doi:10.1016/j.ijproman.2013.05.007

Cited by 200 publications

(129 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Doing so requires changing the firm's atmosphere and behavior to focus on longer-term relational exchanges based on close buyer-seller relationships [49] and changing elements of the traditional procurement procedures [50]. Several studies emphasize partnering to overcome problems, such as lack of communication, adversarial relations between players [51][52][53], and common problems in traditional procurement [54]. Partnering is not a contract, but an endeavor to establish non-adversarial working relationships among project participants by open communication and mutual commitment [55].…”

Section: Procurement Methods In Constructionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Do Contractors Select Suppliers for Greener Construction Projects? The Case of Three Swedish Companies

Mokhlesian

2014

Sustainability

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Abstract:There are many studies of contractor selection based on clients and the selection of suppliers by contractors. However, supplier selection specifically related to green construction projects has been much less studied. Green construction differs from conventional construction because of differences in its underlying principles and use of environmentally-friendly materials and technologies. This paper studies how procurers in contractor companies in Sweden adopt green projects and how contractor perception of supplier mastery of green knowledge affects supplier selection. The investigation is based on a set of semi-structured interviews conducted among three large contractors in Sweden. A main finding is that the perceived differences between green and conventional projects do not change supplier selection dramatically. An implication is that "greener projects" is a more appropriate denotation than "green project". Evidence shows that suppliers' green knowledge is an important factor in supplier selection, as respondents rated suppliers' knowledge of green projects as very important, and to fix his, there was a consensus among respondents about the need for close collaboration between contractors and suppliers. To ensure knowledge acquisition from suppliers and to increase their competitive advantage over rivals, contractors collaborate with their suppliers in a partnering setting. It is anticipated that the results of this study will be used to fill the gap in the literature on supplier selection in green projects and can also be used for construction firms contemplating getting involved in green projects.

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Section: Procurement Methods In Constructionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Do Contractors Select Suppliers for Greener Construction Projects? The Case of Three Swedish Companies

Mokhlesian

2014

Sustainability

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“…It is unclear if the fragmentation of the industry has a part to play in the poor adoption of timber technology in the English housing market. It may be that a lack of collaboration between suppliers, builders and developers leads to the erroneous belief that structural timber technology is a specific specialist process (Fulford and Standing, 2014). Even with timber system manufacturers errors are sometimes noticed.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Housing infrastructure: contemporary issues in timber adoption

Omoregie

English²

2017

Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Municipal E

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Scotland currently has 76·7% of all implemented timber-framed buildings in the UK housing market. England's figure is 16%. The English contribution is considered relatively low given its demand for more sustainable, low-cost social housing. The aim of this study is to investigate potential contemporary barriers to the adoption of timber as a primary structural material in residential housing developments in England. The research methodology is quantitative and findings revealed that a combination of economic, cultural and psychological issues rather than technical and durability performance are responsible. These are fundamentally due to lack of education regarding the use of timber, erroneously perceived increased maintenance costs of timber housing, developers' influence and monopoly over timber technology, uncertainty in property resale value and the recent overall lack of confidence in timber technology. It is recommended that improved training comprising compulsory basic timber technology and sustainable construction is adopted as a formal prerequisite for the attainment of relevant qualifications within the built environment, civil engineering and architecture. To this end, the benefits of sustainable construction, specifically, timber, in housing should be introduced even at the pre-university level, within schools and colleges. Also recommended are public awareness campaigns through relevant institutions, in the public and private sectors and among construction professionals, of the merits and misconceptions surrounding timber technology.

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“…So it is necessary to give due considerations to all time consuming direct and indirect activities. This may lead to better understanding of real work percentages, quantification of changes and implementing improvements to increase the direct work [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Labor Productivity Assessment Using Activity Analysis on Semi High-Rise Building Projects in Pakistan

Sheikh¹,

Ullah²,

Ayub³

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Construction organizations strive to increase their competitiveness by reducing the project costs especially labor cost. Optimizing labor productivity will ensure value for money. In the face of no guidelines available for local construction industry, research must be directed to benchmark construction labor productivity in building projects of Pakistan. Based on a thorough review of established productivity assessment methods, Activity Analysis is performed on five local semi high-rise building projects. Statistical analysis is carried out to identify labor productivity trends in seven standard areas. Further, sensitivity analysis is carried out to characterize the positive and negative influencers. It is revealed that labor spends a little more than one-third of working time in direct and support activities each, and one-quarter in delay activities. Furthermore, delay and support activities are correlated with direct work. Direct work is observed at its peak during midday hours, and lowest during the start and end of workday. The study is an original effort in benchmarking the labor productivity in construction projects of Pakistan. Based on the findings, productivity improvement strategies are proposed from which projects can benefit in the form of optimized costs and schedules. Results are of relevance towards understanding the labor productivity in developing countries.

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Construction industry productivity and the potential for collaborative practice

Cited by 200 publications

References 34 publications

How Do Contractors Select Suppliers for Greener Construction Projects? The Case of Three Swedish Companies

How Do Contractors Select Suppliers for Greener Construction Projects? The Case of Three Swedish Companies

Housing infrastructure: contemporary issues in timber adoption

Labor Productivity Assessment Using Activity Analysis on Semi High-Rise Building Projects in Pakistan

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