Construction Labor Budget - Alternate Perspective

Improving craft labor productivity in construction will significantly reduce risk while providing a long-term competitive advantage for the contractor.

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It will provide job security and opportunities for every member of the team from the apprentice on the front-line through the senior management.  

Field Productivity: Your Project Budget an Alternate Perspective. Invoice representing the impacts of minimization.

For most contractors time spent on actual installation is less than 65% of the day.  The labor studies that form the foundation for the estimating unit databases we all use provide details for how time is spent in the field.  

As contractors focus on creating the “Perfect Day” for their field they must look at every step in their value stream focusing on minimizing all work that does not directly add value to the customer.

Sometimes it is important to backup and look at this non-installation time from the project level rather than seeing it as embedded in every labor unit detail.  This perspective allows you to make bigger decisions impacting productivity including:


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Construction Labor Budget - Alternate Perspective
Field labor is the often the biggest variable on a construction project - making it the biggest risk and opportunity....

Construction Labor Budget - Alternate Perspective
Field labor is the often the biggest variable on a construction project - making it the biggest risk and opportunity....

Jack Welch - Short and Long Term
We exist to help contractors build stronger businesses for the next generation. That is not only our mission at D. Brown Management but should also be the mission of EVERY leader within a construction business.
Lean Principle - Observation (Gemba Walks and Learning to See)
One of the most important tools for improving productivity is going to the jobsite or work area and observing for an extended period of time with the intent to understand but not to immediately interact. Observation progresses through about 7 stages.
Impacted Productivity - Stacking of Trades and Installation Efficiency
Each craftsperson needs about 200 usable square feet for a productive installation. This assumption is included in production units used to estimate and budget projects. Having less than that can impact productivity up to 50%.