A Colombian initiative for the definition of performance measures as a starting point for a benchmarking system in construction

Abstract

Despite the efforts of several Colombian construction companies for measuring the performance of their projects, currently there is not an unified methodology for data collection, analysis, and comparison in that country, that provides adequate means for benchmarking, facilitates continuous improvement in the construction sector, and generates learning from good managerial practices. This article describes the effort of a group of Colombian construction companies involved in an initiative of the Construction Management Research Group (GESCÓN) of EAFIT University, aiming to share data, compare the performance of their projects, through the definition of key performance indicators. This is the first initiative in this country for establishing a benchmarking system for the construction sector, which allows the comparison and facilitates the improvements of companies. Those companies have implemented some lean construction in the last few years. As a result, a measurement culture has arisen in those Colombian companies