Research Stocktake
The Research Stocktake is a summary of productivity research undertaken in New Zealand in the past 10 years and selected overseas research relevant to building and construction productivity in New Zealand.
Research Stocktake Report (PDF 1MB)
Canterbury Earthquake Research Stocktake June 2011
The purpose of this project was to gain a high level picture of research initiatives, that may be relevant to the Productivity Partnership, that were underway in Canterbury in order to identify:
- Potential duplication and overlap between JV work and other initiatives
- Linkages and opportunities to collaborate with other initiatives
- Whether there are gaps in the proposed research and data gathering
- The burden research and information gathering places on the sector and recovery and how this can be minimised
Canterbury Earthquake recovery building, construction and infrastructure research - as at 30 June 2011 (PDF 1.3MB)
Process Mapping
Through a process of segmentation and value stream mapping the process mapping project identifies the steps in the construction process and quantifies the importance of each in providing value (functionality and market value), or otherwise, to the end-user. Hence processes which can be improved or eliminated are identified, with the intention of increasing productivity. As part of the approach the inter-relationships between supply chain partners will be reviewed and assessed.
Completion: Phase one, segmentation was completed March 2012. The segmentation report can be downloaded from the BRANZ website
Read the Process Mapping Project presentation from the Research Action Workshop
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Stage 2 of the Process Mapping Project; Process and Value Stream Mapping is currently underway
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Case Studies
The case studies project explores the findings and outcomes from completed construction projects to understand how the projects were conceived, developed and managed and determine what aspects of the projects have influenced productivity at the project, firm and individual level. This will be achieved by revisiting the Construction Clients’ Group Pathfinder Projects which are examples of successful construction projects and interrogating them further to see what aspects of these projects contributed to their productivity or created productivity issues.
Completion: June 2012
Read the Case Studies Project presentation from the Research Action Workshop
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Systems Mapping
The systems mapping project identifies the points in the construction system that provide potential opportunities to leverage significant productivity gains in the life cycle of a building. It provides information on causes of actions, potential intervention points and feedback loops that show where interventions can affect the system under study. The system is defined by the participants and is applicable at multiple levels (e.g. the construction industry, residential housing or bespoke builders). The industry participants in the process become champions of change since they are the co-generators of solutions.
Read the Systems Mapping Project presentation from the Research Action Workshop
Completion: March 2013
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Christchurch Indicators
Outcomes at project, firm and sector level that would be likely to eventually lead to an increase in productivity as measured by Statistics NZ have been identified. The Canterbury earthquakes have resulted in a number changes from ‘business as usual’ in and present an opportunity to evaluate whether this leads to improvements in these outcomes. In particular; smarter procurement, increased standardisation, appropriate and current skills levels and streamlined regulations. The project will survey eighteen new builds across commercial and residential to identify if productivity improvements and what indicators can be used to measure it.
Read the Christchurch Indicators Project presentation from the Research Action Workshop
Completion: August 2012
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Canterbury Resources
The study aims to evaluate the response of the construction sector to large-scale natural disasters in New Zealand and involves surveying the construction industry practitioners and recovery participants across the greater Christchurch. The study will explore the real-time resource situation for post-earthquake repair and reconstruction and compare with the projected resourcing models. As a longitudinal study, the participants will be invited to take part in follow-up surveys on a regular basis. The breadth of questions and length of time the study follows the rebuilding practitioners over the recovery period are the features which make the study a world first.
The Canterbury Resources project results are being published as they become available and are posted on the project website www.recres.org.nz
Read the Canterbury Resources Project presentation from the Research Action Workshop
Completion: March 2013
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Canterbury Procurement
The unique environment provided by the earthquake rebuild programme now provides a real opportunity for clients and supply chain organisations to work more collaboratively, drive out waste and inefficiencies, and get better value from their construction procurement. This project’s specific goals are:
- To better understand how Canterbury procurers and supply chain organisations are addressing the rebuild challenge
- To deliver a report on the understanding of procurement models and approaches being used combined with the associated relationships with supply chain partners
- To develop an understanding of risks and opportunities that have arisen as a result of the EQ events
- To develop a series of recommendations for procurement and supply chain engagement related issues in Canterbury.
Read the Canterbury Procurement project presentation from the Research Action Workshop
Completion: completed March 2012
Programme Manager: Richard May
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Volume Builders
An initial study of one volume residential building company over ten years showed that counter to the picture painted at a national level, labour productivity actually increased by an average 3% per annum over this time. This study is now being extended to other residential volume builders and infrastructure and commercial building to see if similar patterns are occurring.
Read the Group Builders project presentation from the Research Action Workshop
Completion: March 2013
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Other related projects funded outside of the Productivity Partnership
Auckland Construction Logistics
The Auckland Construction Logistics project investigates the critical trends and aspects of construction logistics that influence industry performance and construction costs in Auckland. It develops a description of the spatial character and dynamics of the supporting lifelines to construction sites in Auckland. The project then develops a baseline of quantitative data on logistic flows associated with the activities of Auckland’s building and construction industry to enable assessment of their efficiency.
Read the Auckland Logistics presentation from the Research Action Workshop
Completion: March 2013
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