A new industry guide to achieving greater productivity in infrastructure projects has been published by BSI, the UK standards body.
The publication, PAS 4010 – Improving productivity in infrastructure development and delivery, offers a practical framework to increase productivity on projects. It clarifies the role each part of the value chain plays in achieving this and also takes into account wider considerations such as climate change mitigation when making decisions.
The guide encourages embedding productivity into scoping and procurement, better use of data, repeatable and modular design and assembly, minimising the misuse of materials, and supporting continuous improvement throughout a project’s lifecycle.
Avoid, Switch, Improve
It also promotes an Avoid, Switch, Improve hierarchy, encouraging organisations to eliminate unnecessary work, identify better solutions and optimise what remains.
Case studies featured in the guidance include a water project that saved more than £30m by repurposing existing assets rather than constructing a new pipeline; and a transport project that saved 36 weeks and £370,000 by redesigning a construction process.
PAS 4010 is sponsored by the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and has the support of 15 chief executives from leading UK contractors and design consultants.
BSI director-general, standards, Scott Steedman, said: “The launch of PAS 4010 is the culmination of a commitment by leading experts in the built environment to agree what good looks like in the delivery of major projects in the UK. The new standard provides a strategic framework for the entire industry, from clients and asset owners to contractors and suppliers, to improve productivity.”
The ICE has produced supporting guidance to help organisations understand and implement PAS 4010, available here.
For more information on the standard, click here.
