FMI Corp., management consultant for the construction industry, recently released results for its productivity survey, which showed 53 percent of responding companies reported productivity as flat or decreasing over the past five years. Nearly 81 percent said they could save more than 5 percent of annual field labor costs through better management of production.
FMI Director and report author Scott Kimpland interprets the results as proof that you "cannot just think or talk your way to productivity improvement," but it must be something to invest in. He also drew comparisons to a recent surge in a commitment to safety improvements in the industry during 2003. The survey found most companies invested in safety programs during that year, and Kimpland noted that "similar investments in productivity would also yield significant gains."