Benchmarking masonry labor productivity

Abstract

Purpose

Labor productivity is one of the most important factors that affect the physical progress of any construction project. In order to improve labor productivity, site production should be measured on a regular basis, and then compared to acceptable standard benchmarks. The objective of this paper is to measure masonry labor productivity in Gaza Strip, Palestine, using a consistent benchmarking approach.

Design/methodology/approach

Production data were collected from nine different construction projects located in Gaza. For each project, values for baseline productivity, disruption index, performance index and project management index were calculated.

Findings

Based on the nine targeted projects, the baseline productivity of masonry works in Gaza seems to range from 0.29 to 0.80 work‐hours per square meter. Calculated values were utilized to develop a correlation between two project benchmarks (i.e. disruption and project management indices). AS only four out of the targeted nine projects performed reasonably well, the paper strongly recommends developing a benchmarking standard for each local construction firm in Palestine which may lead to an improvement in the national construction productivity.

Originality/value

The outcome of this research will improve the national construction productivity in Palestine and highlights the benefit of improving benchmarking standard.

Citation

Enshassi, A., Mohamed, S., Mayer, P. and Abed, K. (2007), "Benchmarking masonry labor productivity", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 56 No. 4, pp. 358-368. https://doi.org/10.1108/17410400710745342