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Griffith, A (1996) Review of environmental assessment in UK building construction: current awareness, concerns and issues. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 3(03), 205–17.

Jennings, M J and Betts, M (1996) Competitive strategy for quantity surveying practices: the importance of information technology. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 3(03), 163–86.

Proverbs, D G, Olomolaiye, P O and Harris, F C (1996) Planned construction times and labour utilization: a comparison of UK and French contractors. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 3(03), 219–32.

  • Type: Journal Article
  • Keywords: best practice; France; time; labour; performance; planning; productivity; UK
  • ISBN/ISSN: 0969-9988
  • URL: https://doi.org/10.1108/eb021032
  • Abstract:

    The results of a model based survey of contractors’ planning engineers in France and the UK suggest that planned completion times for constructing an identical high-rise in situ concrete framed structure are significantly and dramatically lower in France than in the UK. Average planned construction periods in France were 13 weeks, some 9 weeks faster than the UK average of 22 weeks. Since planned construction periods reflect past experience, French contractors apparently achieve superior levels of production performance whilst at the same time working fewer hours per week, utilizing directly employed workers and employing fewer supervisors. If such planned completion times are truly representative, the findings indicate comparatively poor UK contractor performance, and signify future problems for the British builder in the emerging European marketplace. The causes of such poor performance are complicated, but based on indicative French best practices: production is enhanced when scheduled overtime is avoided, a directly employed and mainly skilled workforce is engaged, and a maximum working time of 40 hours per week is the norm rather than the exception.

Scott, D and Anumba, C J (1996) An intelligent approach to the engineering management of subsidence cases. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 3(03), 233–48.

Tam, C M and Harris, F C (1996) Model for assessing building contractors' project performance. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 3(03), 187–203.