Lead times: January-March 2017

01 / Going up

▲Structural steel frames
▲ Passenger lift - non standard
▲ Architectural metalwork
▲ Mechanical packages

02 / Staying level

▶ Rotary piling
▶ Cladding (natural materials)
▶ Cladding (metal panellised system)
▶ Cladding (curtain walling system)
▶ Concrete works
▶ Atrium roof
▶ Roof finishes (asphalt / membrane)
▶ Roof finishes (profiled metal)
▶ Facade cleaning equipment
▶ Brickwork
▶ Blockwork
▶ Drylining
▶ Demountable partitions
▶ General joinery
▶ Specialist joinery
▶ Raised floors
▶ Suspended ceilings
▶ Decorative wall coverings
▶ Internal stone floor and wall finishes
▶ Soft floor finish
▶ Escalator
▶ Electrical package
▶ Ductwork
▶ Sprinklers
▶ Security systems
▶ Controls
▶ IT infrastructure equipment
▶ Data and voice cabling
▶ Hard landscaping
▶ Logistics services

03 / Going Down

▼ Precast piling
▼ Fire detection and voice alarm systems

04 / Lead times summary

Rotary piling ▶ companies are reporting no change in the 10-week lead times this quarter. Generally, the demand in the next six months is quieter.

Pre-cast piling ▼ lead time have reduced by one week to four weeks.

Concrete works ▶ lead times remain at 11 weeks. No further increases anticipated over the next six months.

Structural steel frames ▲ lead times have increased by a further week to 16 weeks. Enquiries are on the increase but contractors are not anticipating any change to lead times in the next six months.

Cladding – natural material ▶ lead times remain at 39 with no change in the last year. Cladding – metal panellised system ▶ lead times remain at 50 weeks with some contractors anticipating increases in the next six months due to greater workload. Cladding – curtain walling system ▶ lead times remain at 31 weeks. Workload and enquiries have increased in last six months but are not anticipated to increase in next six months.

Atrium roof ▶ lead times remain at 31 weeks. No changes reported.

Roof finishes – asphalt/membrane ▶ lead times remain at seven weeks. Enquiries and workload are consistent, so lead times not anticipated to increase in next six months. Roof finishes ± profiled metal lead times remain at 14 weeks workload and enquiries have stabilised. No increase anticipated in the next six months.

Facade cleaning equipment ▶ lead times remain at 33 weeks. Contractors have increased enquiries from six months ago but anticipate being able to absorb this, so lead times will remain the same over the next six months.

Brickwork ▶ lead times remain at 11 weeks. No changes in lead times anticipated over the next six months.

Blockwork ▶ lead times remain at seven weeks. Companies do not expect lead times to increase over the next six months with workload and enquiries levelling off.

Dry lining ▶ lead times remain at 12 weeks. Contractors are continuing to absorb increased workload, with no increases in lead times anticipated in the next six months.

Demountable partitions ▶ lead times remain at 11 weeks. No change anticipated over the next six months.

General joinery ▶ lead times remain at 16 weeks. No further increases are anticipated in the next six months

Specialist joinery ▶ there has been no change, with lead times remaining at 28 weeks. Further increases are anticipated.

Raised floors ▶ lead times remain at six weeks with no changes reported despite being busier.

Suspended ceiling ▶ lead times remain at 13 weeks. No increase forecast for the next six months.

Architectural metalwork ▲ lead times have increased by two weeks to 12 weeks. No further increases reported despite being busier.

Decorative wall covering lead times remain at four weeks. No change anticipated in the next six months.

Internal stone floor and wall finish lead time remains at 34 weeks. No increases anticipated in the next six months with some contractors reporting being less busy.

Soft floor finish lead times remain at 11 weeks. Contractors continue to be busier with increases anticipated in the next six months.

Passenger lift – non standard ▲ lead times have increased by two weeks to 33 weeks, due to increased workload and enquiries. Escalator Lead times remain at 19 with no change reported for the next six months.

Electrical package ▶ despite companies reporting being busier, lead times remain at 20 weeks and are not forecast to increase in the next six months.

Mechanical packages ▲ lead times have increased by one week to 23 weeks due to increased workload. Contractors report higher levels of enquiries but do not anticipate lead times changing in the next six months.

Ductwork ▶ lead times remain at eight weeks with no change forecast for the next six months.

Sprinklers ▶ Lead times remain at eight weeks. Contractors do not forecast an increase in lead times over the next six months.

Security systems ▶ Lead times remain at six weeks with no changes reported for the next six months.

Controls ▶ lead times remain at nine weeks with increased enquiries. No changes anticipated in next six months.

IT infrastructure equipment ▶ lead times remain at 10 weeks.

Data and voice cabling ▶ lead times remain at 13 weeks.

Fire detection and voice alarm systems ▼ lead times continue to fall by a further two weeks to five weeks. Contractors continue to experience lower levels of work and enquiries.

Hard landscaping ▶ lead times remain at 15 weeks. Workload and enquiries are busier than six months ago. No change to lead times anticipated in next six months.

Logistics services ▶ lead times remains at five weeks. No change forecast in the next six months.

There are signs lead times are beginning to increase again following the low level of movement last quarter. Four packages including steelwork, architectural metalwork, lifts and mechanical services have increased lead times due to upped workload while fire detection and piling have capacity and reduced lead times.

Data capture and analysis by Mace Business School