Benchmarking and Enhancing Best Practices in the Engineering and Construction Sector

Abstract

This article provides a methodology to develop benchmarks and examine best practices within the United States' design and construction industry. The study data and conclusions are based largely upon the insights gained in a series of focus groups and brainstorming sessions that were conducted in the fall of 1997. The study's objectives were to determine and define best practices; understand how U.S. industry compares with evolving standards; analyze the U.S. construction and engineering sector's position compared with other nations; and begin developing a consensus on practices needed to make the United States more competitive. Participants identified six areas where the U.S. lags behind its international counterparts, such as business practices and advanced construction materials, and four areas where U.S. state-of-the-art practices offer significant opportunities if research and development funds are invested judiciously. Throughout the focus group discussions and the study's conclusions, the common thread is redirecting the contractor-owner relationship.