The program will use the method for measuring productivity pioneered in the BRE’s Calibre system, which requires designers to record the time they spend on every aspect of a project, including meetings, site visits and office time. The BRE will be testing the system for the foundation this year.
BRE director Vassof Chrystomou said the response from design teams had been good. He said: “The architects and engineers all think it will be valuable. The feedback has been positive.”
However, some architects are sceptical. One said: “The thought of such a system horrifies me. The way consultants operate is inefficient. We walk around and do all sorts of odds and sods. There is a lot of waste, and that’s why we like it.”
Another said: “You could measure how long it takes to do a drawing, but the question is if the drawing is of any value.” DBF chairman Bernard Rimmer said architects had nothing to fear. He said: “It shouldn’t be a threat to architects. The system will allow them more time to do design. I want to see designers designing, not doing the peripheral things that are so wasteful.”
The thought of such a system horrifies me. The way consultants operate is inefficient. We do all sorts of odds and sods
Architect
Rimmer said he wanted the system to highlight team meetings, which he described as being wasteful. He said: “In some project meetings, people sit in twos and threes and some of them say nothing.”
Chrystomou said that the program would be ideal for new procurement processes. He said: “For prime contracting, private finance initiative or framework agreement projects, it will have maximum impact.”
The DBF, which includes many of the UK’s largest clients, contractors and consultants, has set up a working group to run the project, led by former FaulknerBrowns partner Stuart Hendy. It is publishing a report on it this month. Chrystomou said tests showed that it would take an architect five minutes each day to input information. The system will use a Calibre-style database, which is claimed to save up to 12% in costs.
The initiative comes after last year’s announcement by the DBF of a registration scheme for designers. It will be formally launched later this month.
