<b><b>The results of benchmarking the first wave of Housing Forum Demonstration Projects finds that on the whole they are performing better than the general industry - except in the key area of profitability. Mehban Chowdery explains why the private sector should take note</b></b><br><b>Some of us who often say that there is little cultural change in an industry that seems to be lost in time could perhaps be forgiven for having a little snigger at the noble aspirations of the Housing Forum. </b><br><b>With only a year remaining from its three year programme, where are the hard facts that it is managing to awaken an industry fragmented by a catastrophic skills shortage, stretched increasingly by planning and regulation and facing complex urban regeneration challenges? </b><br><b>How is it exactly managing to precipitate continuous improvement on project delivery in terms of quality, profitability and customer satisfaction to name but a few facets of EganÕs radical<i> Rethinking Construction </i>approach? </b><br><b>The Housing Forum has made a significant impact with the successful launch of the first ever national private housing customer satisfaction survey. And its industry focused working groups will shortly deliver reports on barriers to change, procurement through partnering and supply chain management, with the off …