Productivity increase in the design and construction of bridges

Paper in proceeding, 2024

The construction industry is behind other industries in productivity. With more large infrastructure projectsto be built, it is essential that design and construction could be performed with high productivity. This paperfocuses on how standardisation of bridges can result in higher productivity. A quantitative study wasperformed to examine essential parameters that have potential to increase productivity in the Swedishbridge construction industry; it also examines how standardisation could increase productivity; and howspecific incentives of the three significant actors (contractor, client and design engineer) could be obstaclesto productivity. The main findings are that the actors believe in standardisation as a way to increaseproductivity. Reinforcement layout was one important parameter to increase productivity. Contractor’s viewon profit could be an obstacle to productivity. Increased productivity would be more sustainableinfrastructure delivery and here the client has an important role to play.