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Craft Productivity Enhancements Update

Event Date
Oct 01, 2008
Type
Workshop Presentation
Research Team
RT-143
Slides
45
Topic
Craft Productivity Improvement
DOCUMENT DETAILS
Abstract
Filters & Tags
Abstract
This research evaluates the effectiveness of strategies used to improve labor productivity on construction projects. Specifically, it investigates the impacts that early design, early material delivery, and extra construction equipment have on craft productivity. This is called the buffer strategy. This research seeks to determine whether and to what extent, relatively larger stockpiles (buffers) of these three essential resources leads to improved productivity. An alternate approach to supplying sufficient physical resources for construction tasks is to spend additional effort in logistics and planning activities to insure that appropriate resources are delivered to the workers. This strategy, called the production planning strategy, suggests that instead of large stockpiles of materials, one carefully plans and delivers only the correct resources. Conceptually, production planning offsets its higher planning and logistics costs by avoiding double handling, interest, and waste costs that are associated with providing large stockpiles. Therefore, this study also investigates the effect of changes in construction planning and operations support personnel on labor productivity. Finally, this study investigates whether it is more cost effective to provide workers with the resources they need for productive work by using the buffer strategy or by using the project planning strategy.  Most construction firms use both strategies on their jobsites. However, increased use of buffers (e.g., larger stockpiles of materials, design, and equipment) reduces the need to plan production in detail by introducing flexibility into the production system. Conversely, precise production planning reduces the need for large buffers by ensuring that the correct materials, designs, and equipment are available for craft workers. This publication offers readers a chance to compare these two strategies for productivity improvement. Both techniques have advantages and disadvantages. The ultimate goal is to choose the strategy that improves craft productivity and leads to successful project planning, execution, and startup.
Filters & Tags
Knowledge Area
Construction Execution
Project Phase
Construction
Project Function
Construction
Industry Group
Light Industrial, Heavy Industrial, Buildings, Infrastructure
Research Topic
Craft Productivity Improvement
Keywords
Buffer Strategy, Construction Planning, Project Planning Strategy, Productivity Improvement, Production Management, rt143

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