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Planned construction times and labour utilization — a comparison of UK and French contractors

Proverbs, David G.; Olomolaiye, Paul O.; Proverbs, David; Olomolaiye, Paul; Harris, Frank C.

Authors

David G. Proverbs

Paul O. Olomolaiye

David Proverbs

Paul Olomolaiye Paul.Olomolaiye@uwe.ac.uk
Pro Vice-Chancellor Equalities and Civic Engagement

Frank C. Harris



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. © 1996, MCB UP Limited

Citation

Olomolaiye, P. O., Proverbs, D. G., Proverbs, D., Olomolaiye, P., & Harris, F. C. (1996). Planned construction times and labour utilization — a comparison of UK and French contractors. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 3(3), 219-232. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb021032

Journal Article Type Review
Publication Date Mar 1, 1996
Journal Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
Print ISSN 0969-9988
Publisher Emerald
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 3
Issue 3
Pages 219-232
DOI https://doi.org/10.1108/eb021032
Keywords construction, contractors, UK, France, labour
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1106066
Publisher URL http://www.emeraldinsight.com/