Framework to improve labour productivity for Indian building projects

Abstract

This study explores the practice of planning and productivity measurement on Indian building construction sites and suggests a framework to improve the practice. An exploratory study based on observing several projects was initially undertaken and it was found that there was no structured method utilised to analyse and improve productivity during the construction phase. Further analysis of planning practices on 15 building construction projects revealed that while the overall milestone plan was appropriate, the critical path method schedule (macro schedule) had several limitations, which made its relevance for look-ahead planning and coordination of resources questionable. Without an appropriate model for medium term planning, the short-term plans became uncoordinated and resulted in significant wastages. Based on a comparison of observed practices with documented best practices, and constraints unique to projects in India, the gaps in developing CPM based schedule are enumerated and strategies to close the gaps are suggested. In addition to this top-down approach to develop a realistic CPM based schedule, a bottom up approach to monitor the daily progress against the planned weekly targets is proposed. While the conventional monitoring framework mandates this approach, there were several gaps in practice that were observed. The causes for these gaps are analysed and suggestions to close the gaps are proposed. The proposed framework consisting of the top-down and bottom-up approach is expected to overcome several of the barriers to measure and improve labour productivity on Indian building projects.