Time-on-Tools and Minimum Required Installation

Labor productivity IS NOT the biggest problem with field productivity. Under similar conditions the variation in how fast two crafts people actually “turn wrenches” is about 2X but there are far bigger problems to tackle. Focus on these three areas.

D. Brown Management Profile Picture
D. Brown Management
February 5, 2018 2 minute read
field productivity foreman training labor productivity
Share

 

Field Productivity: Labor Productivity IS NOT The Biggest Problem With Project Productivity

 

  1. Maximize Time-on-Tools (ToT): Ensure that crafts people spend most of their day working with their tools actually installing things.  Different studies place the industry average between 50-65%.  Leverage the 6 Pillars of Productivity and ABC Daily Planning.  
  2. Minimum Required Installation (MRI): Don’t take critical shortcuts but don’t over-build the project.  In the field we would call it “Gold Plating.” Effective installation details, craft training and good field supervision practices will ensure that you get the right level of quality. 
  3. Minimize Rework: The only greater waste than installing more than what is required is doing it twice.

General Contractors and Project Owners can do a lot to set the conditions for success with their labor-intensive subcontractors. 

4 Elements of an Effective Task

Site Logistics Management

Labor Productivity
Field labor is the often the biggest variable on a construction project - making it the biggest risk and opportunity....
Previous Next Go To Series
Related Insights Series
Related Training
Labor Productivity
Field labor is the often the biggest variable on a construction project - making it the biggest risk and opportunity....
Previous Next Go To Series
Related Insights Series
Creating The "Perfect Field Day"
Contractors build things and that comes down to the men and women in the field. They are the ones adding the value to the raw materials and that is ultimately what the customer is paying for.
Related Article
Lean Principle - Kaizen (Every Detail Matters)
As contractors build their businesses, it is important to look at every detail from the first meeting with a potential customer through winning and building the project. This same attention to detail also applies to supporting operations and talent.
Related Article
Changes - Impacts Beyond the Direct Costs
Contractors don't typically see the full negative impact of changes and, therefore, don’t put the right level of resources into their management.
Related Article