What a time to be in the industry! Engineers, architects, contractors, and suppliers are all reaping the benefits of one of the most lucrative economic eras in America's history. Riding the curve is an adventurous chance to push the limit

But pushing to that limit is something that's also taking it's toll on America's workforce. Working smarter is more valuable than working faster, these days.

"You don't consistently meet customer deadlines by having employees work after," says Dr. David Gordon, Director of MBA programs in engineering and industrial management at the University of Dallas Graduate School of Management. "You meet customer deadlines on a consistent basis by removing barriers from our organization processes so that employees can get their work done in a timely fashion. Resist this change and others will grab your customers. Then you, not your competitors, are your worst enemy," Gordon states.

FMI's recent studies occur with this perception. They continued that contractors that focus on productivity improvement produce bottom line profits exceeding national averages. A study by FMI's Tom Quinn and Mark Weatherly says that "working smarter not harder" will be the motto of contractors success. They continued that the design services industry must address several longer-term issues if they intend to ensure their survival.

The trends include the shrinking workforce. A continuing divergence between the increasing average age and a decrease in population growth will continue to make it difficult to find and retain qualified workers. According to FMI's Mark Weatherly, "Immigration has been and probably will continue to be the largest segment of workforce growth in the U.S. The labor force currently grows at about 1.5 million people a year." With a slowing rate of work force growth, and with immigration accounting for nearly half that growth, improving productivity within an ethnically diverse workforce will be a challenge in the new millenium.

"An organization's optimal potential will only be achieved when the principles of productivity improvement become an integral part of the strategic planning," says FMI's Tom Quinn. "Long tern business survival is dependant upon commitment from the highest levels of management to develop and maintain a continuos productivity improvement program."

While all this planing sounds great, design industry firms are faced with the real word problems of how to get through today. The hot markets described in this section are just a tip of the iceberg of a booming business, stateside and worldwide. Transportation continues it's strong growth, with the help of TEA-21 and progressive transportation funding alternatives. Design-build keeps growing in popularity and sophistication. All indications are that the delivery system is not here to stay, but reaching a maturity where it will grow and take on an even a stronger roll in industry. Sports stadiums are springing up faster than weeds in the spring. From farm teams to franchises, stadiums of all shapes and sizes are planned or are under construction throughout America and in some other parts of the world. Parking garages are currently hot. As businesses grow and industries expand together has to be a place to put all them cars. From airports, to cooperate headquarters, to arenas and entertainment venues, parking structures are a market worth watching.