Technical Papers
Aug 22, 2024

Measuring Construction Productivity across Projects: Multilevel Three-Dimensional Framework

Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 150, Issue 11

Abstract

This research presents a novel microlevel (i.e., project-level) construction productivity framework aimed at measuring and benchmarking productivity consistently within and between projects, work packages, and activities. Using a design science research approach, the framework was rigorously developed with data collected from UK-based construction projects and refined through several cycles of implementation and industry engagement. The framework is useful in providing new insights into project performance, helping understand process variability, setting benchmarks, and conducting data analytics for improved decision making. This framework can be used for industrywide measurement both within and across subsectors of construction in the UK and internationally.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

Data Availability Statement

All data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank our industry partners for providing us with data from their projects and their continued engagement with this research.

References

Abdel-Wahab, M., and B. Vogl. 2011. “Trends of productivity growth in the construction industry across Europe, US and Japan.” Construct. Manage. Econ. 29 (6): 635–644. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2011.573568.
Allmon, E., C. Haas, J. Borcherding, and P. Goodrum. 2000. “US construction labor productivity trends, 1970–1998.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 126 (2): 97–104. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2000)126:2(97).
Ballard, G., and I. Tommelein. 2021. “2020 Current process benchmark for the last planner system ® of project planning and control.” Lean Constr. J. 2021: 53–121.
Baskerville, R., and M. D. Myers. 2004. “Special issue on action research in information systems: Making IS research relevant to practice: Foreword.” MIS Q. 28 (3): 329. https://doi.org/10.2307/25148642.
Beatham, S., C. Anumba, and T. Thorpe. 2004. “KPIs: A critical appraisal of their use in construction.” Benchmarking: Int. J. 11 (1): 93–117. https://doi.org/10.1108/14635770410520320.
Bølviken, T., and L. Koskela. 2016. “Why hasn’t waste reduction conquered construction?” In Proc., 24th Annual Conf. of the Int. Group for Lean Construction, 3–12. Boston: International Group for Lean Construction.
Caldas, C. H., J.-Y. Kim, C. T. Haas, P. M. Goodrum, and D. Zhang. 2015. “Method to assess the level of implementation of productivity practices on industrial projects.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 141 (1): 04014061. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000919.
Chang, C.-K., A. S. Hanna, J. A. Lackney, and K. T. Sullivan. 2007. “Quantifying the impact of schedule compression on labor productivity for mechanical and sheet metal contractor.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 133 (4): 287–296. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2007)133:4(287).
CII (Construction Industry Institute). 2010. Guide to activity analysis. Austin, TX: CII.
Cole, R., S. Purao, M. Rossi, and M. Sein. 2005. “Being proactive: Where action research meets design research.” In Proc., 26th Int. Conf. on Information Systems (ICIS 2005), 27. Champaign, IL: Association for Information Systems.
Cottrell, D. S. 2006. “Contractor process improvement for enhancing construction productivity.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 132 (2): 189–196. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2006)132:2(189).
Crawford, P., and B. Vogl. 2006. “Measuring productivity in the construction industry.” Build. Res. Inf. 34 (3): 208–219. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613210600590041.
da Rocha, C. G., C. Formoso, P. Tzortzopoulos, L. Koskela, and A. Tezel. 2012. “Design science research in lean construction: Process and outcomes.” In Proc., 20th Annual Conf. of the Int. Group for Lean Construction, 1–10. SanDiego: International Group for Lean Construction.
El-Gohary, K., and R. Aziz. 2014. “Factors influencing construction labor productivity in Egypt.” J. Manage. Eng. 30 (1): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000168.
Fayek, A. R., and A. Oduba. 2005. “Predicting industrial construction labor productivity using fuzzy expert systems.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 131 (8): 938–941. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2005)131:8(938).
Forsythe, P. 2018. “Extending and operationalizing construction productivity measurement on building projects.” Construct. Manage. Econ. 36 (12): 683–699. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2018.1480834.
Frandson, A., K. Berghede, and I. D. Tommelein. 2014. “Takt-time planning and the last planner.” In Proc., 22nd Annual Conf. of the Int. Group for Lean Construction, 571–580. Oslo, Norway: International Group for Lean Construction.
Franz, B., K. R. Molenaar, and B. A. M. Roberts. 2020. “Revisiting project delivery system performance from 1998 to 2018.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 146 (9): 04020100. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001896.
Ganesan, S. 1984. “Construction productivity.” Habitat Int. 8 (34): 2–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/0197-3975(84)90041-9.
Gelisen, G., and F. H. Griffis. 2014. “Automated productivity-based schedule animation: Simulation-based approach to time-cost trade-off analysis.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 140 (4): B4013007. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000674.
Gerami Seresht, N., and A. R. Fayek. 2018. “Dynamic modeling of multifactor construction productivity for equipment-intensive activities.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 144 (9): 04018091. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001549.
Gerami Seresht, N., and A. R. Fayek. 2019. “Factors influencing multifactor productivity of equipment-intensive activities.” Int. J. Prod. Perform. Manage. 69 (9): 2021–2045. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-07-2018-0250.
Goodrum, P. M., and C. T. Haas. 2002. “Partial factor productivity and equipment technology change at activity level in US construction industry.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 128 (6): 463–472. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2002)128:6(463).
Goodrum, P. M., and C. T. Haas. 2004. “Long-term impact of equipment technology on labor productivity in the US construction industry at the activity level.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 130 (1): 124–133. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2004)130:1(124).
Goodrum, P. M., C. T. Haas, and R. W. Glover. 2002. “The divergence in aggregate and activity estimates of US construction productivity.” Construct. Manage. Econ. 20 (5): 415–423. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446190210145868.
Goodrum, P. M., Dong Zhai, and M. F. Yasin. 2009. “Relationship between changes in material technology and construction productivity.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 135 (4): 278–287. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2009)135:4(278).
Gouett, M. C., C. T. Haas, P. M. Goodrum, and C. H. Caldas. 2011. “Activity analysis for direct-work rate improvement in construction.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 137 (12): 1117–1124. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000375.
Gurmu, A. T., and A. A. Aibinu. 2017. “Construction equipment management practices for improving labor productivity in multistory building construction projects.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 143 (10): 04017081. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001384.
Hair, J., R. Anderson, B. Black, and B. Babin. 2016. Multivariate data analysis. London: Pearson Education.
Hajikazemi, S., B. Andersen, and J. A. Langlo. 2017. “Analyzing electrical installation labor productivity through work sampling.” Int. J. Prod. Perform. Manage. 66 (4): 539–553. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-06-2016-0122.
Handa, V. K., and O. Abdalla. 1989. “Forecasting productivity by work sampling.” Construct. Manage. Econ. 7 (1): 19–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446198900000003.
Heravi, G., and E. Eslamdoost. 2015. “Applying artificial neural networks for measuring and predicting construction-labor productivity.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 141 (10): 04015032. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001006.
Hevner, A., S. March, J. Park, and S. Ram. 2004. “Design science in information systems research.” MIS Q. 28 (1): 75. https://doi.org/10.2307/25148625.
Hewage, K. N., and J. Y. Ruwanpura. 2006. “Carpentry workers issues and efficiencies related to construction productivity in commercial construction projects in Alberta.” Can. J. Civ. Eng. 33 (8): 1075–1089. https://doi.org/10.1139/l06-050.
Holmström, J., M. Ketokivi, and A.-P. Hameri. 2009. “Bridging practice and theory: A design science approach.” Decis. Sci. 40 (1): 65–87. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5915.2008.00221.x.
Jansen van Vuuren, T., and C. Middleton. 2020. Methodology for quantifying the benefits of off-site construction. London: Construction Industry Research and Information Association.
Jarkas, A., and M. Horner. 2011. “Revisiting the applicability of learning curve theory to formwork labour productivity.” Construct. Manage. Econ. 29 (5): 483–493. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2011.562911.
Jarkas, A. M. 2010. “Critical investigation into the applicability of the learning curve theory to rebar fixing labor productivity.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 136 (12): 1279–1288. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000236.
Kenley, R., and O. Seppänen. 2010. Location-based management for construction: Planning, scheduling and control. London: Spon Press.
Koskela, L. 1992. Application of the new production philosophy to construction. Stanford, CA: Stanford Univ.
Koskela, L. 2008. “Which kind of science is construction management?” In Proc., 16th Annual Conf. of the Int. Group for Lean Construction, 51–60. Dublin, Ireland: International Group for Lean Construction.
Liou, F., and J. D. Borcherding. 1986. “Work sampling can predict unit rate productivity.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 112 (1): 90–103. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1986)112:1(90).
Lowe, J. G. 1987. “The measurement of productivity in the construction industry.” Construct. Manage. Econ. 5 (2): 101–113. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446198700000010.
Lu, M., S. M. AbouRizk, and U. H. Hermann. 2000. “Estimating labor productivity using probability inference neural network.” J. Comput. Civ. Eng. 14 (4): 241–248. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0887-3801(2000)14:4(241).
Moselhi, O., I. Assem, and K. El-Rayes. 2005. “Change orders impact on labor productivity.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 131 (3): 354–359. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2005)131:3(354).
Nasir, H., H. Ahmed, C. Haas, and P. M. Goodrum. 2014. “An analysis of construction productivity differences between Canada and the United States.” Construct. Manage. Econ. 32 (6): 595–607. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2013.848995.
Neve, H. H., S. Wandahl, S. Lindhard, J. Teizer, and J. Lerche. 2020. “Determining the relationship between direct work and construction labor productivity in North America: Four decades of insights.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 146 (9): 04020110. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001887.
OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). 2001. Measuring productivity-OECD manual: Measurement of aggregate and industry-level productivity growth. Paris: OECD.
ONS (Office for National Statistics). 2023. Productivity in the construction industry, UK: 2023. London: ONS.
Peffers, K., T. Tuunanen, M. A. Rothenberger, and S. Chatterjee. 2007. “A design science research methodology for information systems research.” J. Manage. Inf. Syst. 24 (3): 45–77. https://doi.org/10.2753/MIS0742-1222240302.
Pieper, P. 1989. “Construction price statistics revisited.” In Technology and capital formation, edited by D. W. Jorgenson and R. Landau. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Portas, J., and S. AbouRizk. 1997. “Neural network model for estimating construction productivity.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 123 (4): 399–410. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1997)123:4(399).
Rathnayake, A., and C. Middleton. 2023. “Systematic review of the literature on construction productivity.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 149 (6): 03123005. https://doi.org/10.1061/JCEMD4.COENG-13045.
Rathnayake, A., D. Murguia, and C. Middleton. 2023. “Analysing the impact of construction flow on productivity.” In Proc., 31st Annual Conf. of the Int. Group for Lean Construction (IGLC31), 1510–1521. Lille, France: International Group for Lean Construction. https://doi.org/10.24928/2023/0172.
Rojas, E. M., and P. Aramvareekul. 2003. “Is construction labor productivity really declining?” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 129 (1): 41–46. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2003)129:1(41).
Sacks, R., O. Seppänen, V. Priven, and J. Savosnick. 2017. “Construction flow index: A metric of production flow quality in construction.” Construct. Manage. Econ. 35 (1–2): 45–63. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2016.1274417.
Shen, Z., W. Jensen, C. Berryman, and Y. Zhu. 2011. “Comparative study of activity-based construction labor productivity in the United States and China.” J. Manage. Eng. 27 (2): 116–124. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000037.
Sullivan, J., M. El Asmar, J. Chalhoub, and H. Obeid. 2017. “Two decades of performance comparisons for design-build, construction manager at risk, and design-bid-build: Quantitative analysis of the state of knowledge on project cost, schedule, and quality.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 143 (6): 04017009. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001282.
Sveikauskas, L., S. Rowe, J. Mildenberger, J. Price, and A. Young. 2016. “Productivity growth in construction.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 142 (10): 04016045. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001138.
Sveikauskas, L., S. Rowe, J. Mildenberger, J. Price, and A. Young. 2018. “Measuring productivity growth in construction.” Mon Labor Rev. 141 (1): 1–33. https://doi.org/10.21916/mlr.2018.1.
Tangen, S. 2005. “Demystifying productivity and performance.” Int. J. Prod. Perform. Manage. 54 (1): 34–46. https://doi.org/10.1108/17410400510571437.
Teicholz, P. 2001. “Discussion: US construction labor productivity trends, 1970–1998.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 126 (2): 427–429. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2001)127:5(427).
Thomas, H. R. 2015. “Benchmarking construction labor productivity.” Pract. Period. Struct. Des. Constr. 20 (4): 04014048. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)SC.1943-5576.0000141.
Thomas, H. R., C. T. Mathews, and J. G. Ward. 1986. “Learning curve models of construction productivity.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 112 (2): 245–258. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1986)112:2(245).
Tommelein, I. D. 2020. “Design science research in construction management: Multi-disciplinary collaboration on the SightPlan system.” Construct. Manage. Econ. 38 (4): 340–354. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2020.1718723.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2023. “Labor productivity and cost measures.” Accessed November 24, 2023. https://www.bls.gov/productivity/tables/.
van Aken, J. E. 2004. “Management research based on the paradigm of the design sciences: The quest for field-tested and grounded technological rules.” J. Manage. Stud. 41 (2): 219–246. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6486.2004.00430.x.
Vereen, S. C., W. Rasdorf, and J. E. Hummer. 2016. “Development and comparative analysis of construction industry labor productivity metrics.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 142 (7): 04016020. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001112.
Vogl, B., and M. Abdel-Wahab. 2015. “Measuring the construction industry’s productivity performance: Critique of international productivity comparisons at industry level.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 141 (4): 04014085. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000944.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 150Issue 11November 2024

History

Received: Dec 2, 2023
Accepted: Jun 3, 2024
Published online: Aug 22, 2024
Published in print: Nov 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Jan 22, 2025

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

Senior Research Associate, Laing O’Rourke Centre for Construction Engineering and Technology, Dept. of Engineering, Univ. of Cambridge, 7a JJ Thomson Ave., Cambridge CB3 0FA, UK (corresponding author). ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1009-4058. Email: [email protected]
Ph.D. Candidate, Laing O’Rourke Centre for Construction Engineering and Technology, Dept. of Engineering, Univ. of Cambridge, 7a JJ Thomson Ave., Cambridge CB3 0FA, UK. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1389-7801. Email: [email protected]
Tercia Jansen van Vuuren [email protected]
Research Associate, Laing O’Rourke Centre for Construction Engineering and Technology, Dept. of Engineering, Univ. of Cambridge, 7a JJ Thomson Ave., Cambridge CB3 0FA, UK. Email: [email protected]
Campbell Middleton [email protected]
Professor, Laing O’Rourke Centre for Construction Engineering and Technology, Dept. of Engineering, Univ. of Cambridge, 7a JJ Thomson Ave., Cambridge CB3 0FA, UK. Email: [email protected]

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share