A new approach to benchmark the variability of construction labour productivity

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.