Construction productivity is an important part of construction development. Improving productivity helps to build more, with fewer resources and lower emissions. Improving productivity starts with precise planning and monitoring of the construction process.
Work productivity is defined as the ratio of the added value produced to the hours spent: construction productivity looks at the added value produced by the construction site, when the materials are used to create the end product as planned on the construction site, e.g. a building or a road.
Steps to better productivity:
- Planning and control. Improving productivity requires careful planning and control that reduces waste during construction. The different phases of the work and their coordination must be taken into account when planning the work. During construction, it is important to ensure sufficient and timely resources, quality of work and adherence to the schedule.
- Standardization of the construction process. Productivity improves when professionals in different stages are able to focus on their own work without distractions. This requires more precise construction process planning, supervision and immediate intervention in deviations than at present.
- Harmonization of information contents of processes and systems. Harmonization of information from processes and systems makes the file comparable. This helps to analyze the process and waste. Harmonization guides you to do better.
- Automation of processes. When the processes are standardized and the information content is harmonized, the possibilities for automating the processes can be explored. The next step from this is to start using machine learning and artificial intelligence to analyze data. In this way, people have time for more value-producing tasks.
- Training and development. Maintaining professional skills helps builders understand ways to improve productivity, the importance of continuous improvement, and use new technologies and tools effectively. Technology and digitization are enablers and tools for improving productivity, but using them effectively requires a new kind of know-how.
RT's role in construction development
Rakennusteollisuus RT focuses on projects in the development of construction, which create common processes, guidelines, standards and increase the know-how of the industry. RT's mission is to enable an operating environment where companies in the industry can improve their productivity.
One important task of the RT Digi Group and the TRT Development Group, consisting of RT experts and representatives of member companies, is to find ways to improve productivity and quality that promote the entire industry.
Antti Aaltonen
Director, Construction Development
antti.aaltonen@rt.fi + 358 40 514 3626Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries (CFCI)