Construction Productivity: A Practical Guide for Building and Electrical Contractors

by Eddy Rojas

Overview

Construction Productivity offers some of the best productivity studies commissioned by ELECTRI International: The Foundation for Electrical Construction, that were selected, coordinated, and monitored by a number of the most progressive contractors in the electrical industry and performed by outstanding scholars from top U.S. universities. Topics include measuring labor productivity, establishing a field benchmarking program, dealing with stacking of trades, understanding and managing schedule acceleration and compression, understanding the relationships between absenteeism, turnover and labor productivity, negotiating loss of labor efficiency, developing field incentive programs, diminishing job stress in construction supervisors, and recommended practices for productivity enhancement. All specialty and general contractors will find value in this practical book. The concepts presented will improve your understanding of the main issues affecting construction productivity and will provide you with tools and strategies to enhance your company's productivity and profitability.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781604276664
Publisher:	Ross, J. Publishing, Incorporated
Publication date:	11/01/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	344
File size:	7 MB

About the Author

Dr. Eddy M. Rojas is Professor of Construction Management at the University of Washington, where he is the Graduate Program Coordinator and the Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Center for Construction Research and Education. He is an internationally recognized scholar in construction engineering and management. Dr. Rojas has published numerous papers in professional journals and conference proceedings and is also the developer and facilitator of the Virtual Community of Construction Scholars. His research interests are modeling, simulation, and visualization of construction engineering and management processes; engineering education; and construction economics.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

About the Editor xi

Web Added Value xiii

Chapter 1 Measuring Labor Productivity 1

Introduction 1

Why Does Labor Productivity Matter? 2

A Labor Productivity Model for Construction 3

Measuring Labor Productivity at Different Levels 8

Conclusions 30

Chapter 2 Benchmarking Field Operations 33

Introduction 33

Fundamental Concepts of Benchmarking 34

Key Field Benchmarking Elements 39

Field Benchmarking Process 43

Implementing Field Benchmarking 53

Field Benchmarking Procedure 61

Learning through Field Benchmarking 69

Conclusions 73

Chapter 3 Stacking of Trades 75

Introduction 75

Previous Studies on Overcrowding, Overmanning, and Site Density 76

Understanding Stacking of Trades Issues 79

Quantitative Analysis 84

Model Validation 94

Application of the Model 104

Conclusions 110

Chapter 4 Understanding Schedule Acceleration and Compression 111

Introduction 111

The Effects of Schedule Acceleration 113

Reducing the Economic Impact of Acceleration 116

Calculating Inefficient Work Hours 122

Conclusions 134

Chapter 5 Managing Schedule Acceleration and Compression 137

Introduction 137

Selecting the Least Disruptive Labor Option 139

Negotiating with the Owner to Mitigate Constraints 139

Maintaining Proper Documentation 140

Strategies for Mitigating Planned Schedule Acceleration 144

Strategies for Mitigating Unplanned Schedule Acceleration 148

Conclusions 157

Chapter 6 Absenteeism and Turnover 159

Introduction 159

Previous Studies 160

Understanding Absenteeism and Turnover 166

Quantitative Analysis 190

Recommendations 197

Conclusions 200

Chapter 7 Negotiating Loss of Labor Efficiency 201

Introduction201

Making the Case for Labor Inefficiencies 202

Educating the Owner 205

What to Document and When 211

Pricing and Tracking Changes 216

Owner and Designer Education 219

Claim Presentation Principles 221

Case Study 224

Conclusions 235

Chapter 8 Field Incentive Systems 237

Introduction 237

Incentives across Industry Boundaries 238

Characteristics of Change 241

Designing an Incentive System 242

Basics to Specifics: Designing an Incentive System for Field Labor 248

Customization of the Incentive Program 258

Implementing and Monitoring the Incentive Program 261

Productivity and the Incentive Program 266

Conclusions 268

Chapter 9 Job Stress in Construction Supervisors 271

Introduction 271

Demographic Questionnaire 272

Job Content Questionnaire 273

Occupational Stress Inventory 274

Life Stressors and Social Resources Inventory 276

Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator 277

Personal Behavior Pattern 278

Conclusions 279

Chapter 10 Recommended Practices for Productivity Enhancement 281

Introduction 281

Focus Groups 282

Productivity Concepts 283

Conclusions 302

Appendix A Bibliography 305

Appendix B Formulas 309

Index 315