Examining the Productivity in the NZ Construction Industry

Nicola Naismith^1*, Bradley Joseph Monaghan¹, Tongrui Zhang¹, Dat Tien Doan¹, Ali Ghaffarianhoseini¹, John Tookey¹

1. ¹AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand

Published in The Second NZAAR International Event Series on Natural and Built Environment, Cities, Sustainability and Advanced Engineering, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 8 December 2016, pages 118 to 121. New Zealand Academy of Applied Research. ISSN 2463-5979 (online), 2463-5960 (print).

Abstract

Construction productivity is a primary driver for economic growth. Understanding the factors that contribute to productivity will lead a country to prosperity. The trend for construction productivity in New Zealand is that it has remained stagnant over the past 12 years. For an accurate assessment on construction productivity and the factors contributing to it the elements and steps taken throughout the construction process need to be assessed. Through a literature review of both international and New Zealand based papers establishment of the main contributing factors were narrowed down. Primary qualitative data collection was then undertaken using experienced construction Project Managers and Site Mangers working within the construction industry to provide their thoughts on the factors established as part of the literature review. The results from the interview analysis provide evidence for several areas of concern in relation to construction productivity. For some of these contributing factors the issues appear systemic and will require a paradigm shift if we are to influence the industry, for others small initial design, through planning and procurement and into execution.

Keywords: Construction Productivity; Supply Chain; New Zealand

Rights

Copyright © New Zealand Academy of Applied Research Ltd 2016. All rights reserved. Reproduced in the GDI Academy archive from the original proceedings without change to the authors’ text.