About 63% of leading U.S. contractors are delivering projects out of schedule, according to a survey of over 300 C-suite executives and owners in the construction industry by XYZ Reality.
The study implies that the industry is struggling with significant backlogs due, in part, to avoidable defects, scan, and rework. The construction sector is also hampered by supply chain disruptions (cited by 52% of respondents), rising construction costs (43%), and meeting new sustainability requirements (36%).
Other reasons cited for falling short of schedule benchmarks include poor communication (45%), inexperienced workers (39%), and insufficient supervision (34%). This data suggests that a significant amount of human error is to blame, XYZ notes.
Design changes, or the misinterpretation of them, were also cited by about a quarter of respondents. To control costs and cope with industry challenges, contractors are increasingly looking to technology solutions such as augmented reality.
Related Stories
Smart Buildings | Feb 14, 2013
Minneapolis joins energy benchmarking trend for commercial buildings
Minneapolis is the latest major metro to require large commercial buildings to benchmark and disclose their energy and water use.
| Feb 8, 2013
Modest growth predicted for engineering, construction mergers
Small and mid-market deals and construction materials drive activity; U.S. is the most active individual nation.
| Feb 8, 2013
FMI/CURT 2012 Owner Study highlights construction industry challenges
Capital program owners grapple with concerns about project funding, staffing, regulations.
| Feb 6, 2013
RSMeans cost comparisons: office buildings and medical offices
RSMeans' February 2013 Cost Comparison Report breaks down the average construction costs per square foot for four types of office buildings across 25 metro markets.
| Feb 6, 2013
Arcadia (Calif.) High School opens $20 million performing arts center
A 60-year old wish for the community of Arcadia has finally come true with the opening of Arcadia Unified School District’s new $20 million Performing Arts Center.
| Jan 31, 2013
The Opus Group completes construction of corporate HQ for Church & Dwight Co.
The Opus Group announced today the completion of construction on a new 250,000-square-foot corporate headquarter campus for Church & Dwight Co., Inc., in Ewing Township, near Princeton, N.J.
| Jan 31, 2013
Map of U.S. illustrates planning times for commercial construction
Stephen Oliner, a UCLA professor doing research for the Federal Reserve Board, has made the first-ever estimate of planning times for commercial construction across the United States.
