LIBRARY // OUTSOURCING ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTION

Measuring Outsourcing Performance

If you can't say how a partner is performing, it's hard to improve the relationship or decide to change it.

Measuring performance helps practices understand whether outsourcing is working and where to improve. Measures don't need to be complex. A few consistent indicators, reviewed regularly, give a clear picture.

The measures below fall into four groups. Pick a few from each that suit your work.

Quality

• Number of review comments per sheet or task
• Number of errors found after issue
• Recurring error types
• Compliance with standards

Timeliness

• Deliveries on or before the agreed date
• Response times to questions
• Turnaround of revisions

Communication

• Clarity of questions and updates
• Responsiveness
• Handling of feedback

Efficiency

• In-house time spent briefing and reviewing
• Amount of rework needed

Keep it simple

Track a few measures consistently rather than many inconsistently. A simple spreadsheet or tracker is often enough.

Use objective data where possible

Review comments, delivery dates and rework counts are easy to record. They give a more balanced view than impressions alone.

Consider causes

Not every issue is the partner's fault. Late inputs, unclear briefs or changing designs affect performance. When reviewing measures, consider the in-house side too.

Review regularly

Hold regular performance reviews, such as monthly or quarterly. Share the data, discuss trends and agree actions.

Focus on improvement

The purpose of measuring is to improve. Use findings to:

• Update standards and checklists
• Improve briefs
• Provide training
• Adjust processes

Recognise good performance

Acknowledge improvements and good work. It builds a positive relationship and encourages consistency.

Compare fairly

If comparing partners or teams, make sure they're working on similar tasks. Complex work naturally generates more comments than simple tasks.

Gather feedback both ways

Long-term trends

Over time, look for trends. A good partnership usually shows fewer comments, faster reviews and less management effort as familiarity grows.

Agree measures together

Agree measures with the partner at the start. When both sides understand what's being measured and why, the data becomes a shared tool for improvement rather than a source of tension.

Use measures in planning

Performance data helps plan future work. If certain tasks consistently go well, they're good candidates for more outsourcing. If others need lots of review, consider whether they need better briefs or should stay in-house.

1. 01Quality
2. 02Timeliness
3. 03Communication
4. 04Efficiency
5. 05Keep it simple
6. 06Use objective data where possible

Keep records simple

A simple log updated after each task is usually enough.

Measuring performance turns outsourcing from a matter of impressions into a process that can be improved steadily.

If your team needs extra production capacity for work like this, take a look at our Architectural production services, or tell us about your project.