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.

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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


Time-on-Tools and Minimum Required Installation
Field labor is the often the biggest variable on a construction project - making it the biggest risk and opportunity....

Related Training
Time-on-Tools and Minimum Required Installation
Field labor is the often the biggest variable on a construction project - making it the biggest risk and opportunity....

ABC Daily Planning
Effective planning processes are the foundation for great production. The planning process can be seen as a series of tighter and tighter concentric circles with the bullseye being the daily plan. Daily feedback improves performance and mitigates risk.
Setting Standards and the Feedback Loop
Set the standard. Train to the standard. Certify to the standard. Plan the work to the standard. Execute to the plan and the standard. Check against the standard. Make prioritized improvements to the standard, training, planning, and execution.
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There are two critical key results that should be focused on as part of every project planning process.