Metrics in Integrated Concurrent Engineering (ICE): Insights, Challenges, and Opportunities

The Norwegian construction industry has experienced a 10% productivity decline since 2000, in stark contrast to a 30% increase in the Norwegian private sector. To address this issue, Virtual Design and Construction (VDC)—including Integrated Concurrent Engineering (ICE)—has gained prominence. Although metrics are central to ICE sessions for guiding decision-making and fostering continuous improvement, their practical usage often falls short of theoretical ideals. This paper investigates current measurement practices, the challenges they pose, and strategies for more effective implementation. A qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with eight industry experts was conducted, and data were analysed using thematic coding. Findings indicate that while practitioners value metrics—particularly meeting evaluation surveys, PPC (Percent Plan Complete), and BIM-focused indicators—their deployment is hindered by participant selection problems, underutilized data, and technological incompatibilities. The study proposes a multi-pronged approach for improvement: automation of data collection, standardization of measurement protocols, fostering an open data-sharing culture, and continuous review of metric relevance. These recommendations aim to bridge the gap between theoretical metrics frameworks and day-to-day industry practices, ultimately enhancing productivity and project outcomes.