Efficiency eludes the construction industry
American builders’ productivity has plunged by half since the late 1960s
NINE years ago the first concrete was poured for Berlin Brandenburg airport. It was expected to open in 2012, to cost €1.2bn ($1.8bn) and to welcome 34m passengers each year. Today the only people in its terminals are those with hard hats. Six times over budget, the project has had 66,500 building errors in need of fixing. Last year its spokesman was sacked after calling the project a “shit-show” and saying no manager who was not “addicted to pills” could guarantee an opening date.
This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “Least improved”
Business August 19th 2017
- Efficiency eludes the construction industry
- Marine contractors have made huge leaps in productivity
- American business leaders break with Donald Trump
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- China’s digital-payments giant keeps bank chiefs up at night
From the August 19th 2017 edition
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