Productivity Metrics and Its Implementations in Construction Projects: A Case Study of Singapore

Ming Shan, Yu-Shan Li, Bon-Gang Hwang and Jia-En Chua
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Ming Shan: School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410004, China
Yu-Shan Li: School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410004, China
Bon-Gang Hwang: Department of Building, National University of Singapore, 4 Architecture Drive, Singapore 117566, Singapore
Jia-En Chua: Department of Building, National University of Singapore, 4 Architecture Drive, Singapore 117566, Singapore

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-19

Abstract: Although some studies have used or developed different types of metrics to assess construction productivity in the existing literature, few of them investigated those metrics systematically and the differences between assessment results. This study examined the various types of metrics used in the assessment of the productivity of construction projects. First, a literature review was conducted first to identify prevailing productivity metrics at four levels, namely trade, project, company, and industry. Then, the questionnaire was developed and disseminated to 53 Singapore-based construction companies for data collection. Subsequently, non-parametric statistical tests were conducted to analyze the data collected by the questionnaire. Results showed that the top five metrics in terms of usage frequency and relative importance were “constructability score”, “buildable design score”, “square meter of built-up floor area per man-day”, “square meter per dollar”, and “output per worker.” In addition, results showed that differences existed in the assessment results when productivity metrics at different levels were used to conduct the same measurement. This is the first study to explore the most widely used metrics in productivity assessments of construction projects and investigate possible differences in assessment results. This study could help the authorities to review, evaluate, and modify the productivity metrics used in practice. Thus, this study is beneficial to the practice as well.

Keywords: productivity; metrics; construction projects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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