Benchmarking production processes in civil engineering Available to Purchase

The 1990s' reports by Latham and Egan proposed that project costs could be reduced while project delivery times, construction quality and constructor's margins were improved. Whether these seemingly conflicting aims are achievable has yet to be proven. This paper discusses a benchmarking method developed by the Agile Construction Initiative that helps contractors monitor and improve their performance. It also provides a rational comparison system for clients, helping them to compare contractors' performance on particular project types—and not just in relation to cost. The results from the first phases of the research project are examined and an example of how the system can be applied to a ‘standard road product’ is discussed.