PRODUCTIVITY SERIES REVIEW (reissue 3)

McLaughlin and McLaughlins Project Professionals blog has a series of posts regarding labor/labour productivity.  Over the last six months we have added to this popular series.  The first summary was posted in June 2011.  There was a reissue in October 2011, and again in November 2011.  Readership has continued to increase.  Consequently, we are reissuing this updated and expanded post as an overview of the labor/labour productivity series.

This Subject Series is being updated and new posts will be added over the coming weeks and months.

Productivity is a hot topic and has given rise to much discussion and debate in the project management world.  Labor productivity can be a competitive advantage or a managerial challenge (actually, both and more).  Therefore, we believe that there is high potential benefit in a review of McLaughlin & McLaughlins Productivity Series.  Below, we have the titles and links to each post followed by a brief summary of the content.  We intend to augment these posts with additional writings on the subject.

PRODUCTIVITY SERIES REVIEW (reissue 2)

McLaughlin & McLaughlin’s Project Professionals blog has a series of posts regarding labor/labour productivity. Over the last month we have added to this popular series.  The first summary was posted in June and the latest was a reissue in October 2011.  Readership has continued to increase.  Consequently, we are reissuing this updated and expanded post as an overview of the labor/labour productivity series.

Productivity is a hot topic and has given rise to much discussion and debate in the project management world.  Labor productivity can be a competitive advantage or a managerial challenge (actually, both and more).  Therefore, we believe that there is high potential benefit in a review of McLaughlin & McLaughlins Productivity Series.  Below, we have the titles and links to each post followed by a brief summary of the content.  We intend to augment these posts with additional writings on the subject. [Read more…]

PRODUCTIVITY SERIES REVIEW (reissued)

Project Professionals blog had a series of posts earlier this year.   Over the next several weeks, the intention is to add to this popular series.  This summary was posted in June.  Since June, the number of readers has increased significantly.  Consequently, we are reissuing this post as a kickoff and restart of the labor/labour productivity series.

Productivity has become a hot topic and has given rise to much discussion and debate in the project management world.  Labor productivity can be a competitive advantage or a managerial disaster.  Therefore, we believe that there is high potential benefit in a review of McLaughlin & McLaughlins Productivity Series.  Below, we have the titles and links to each post followed by a brief summary of the content.  We intend to augment these posts with additional writings on the subject.

 

[Read more…]

PRODUCTIVITY SERIES REVIEW

Productivity has become a hot topic and has given rise to much discussion and debate in the project management world.  Labor productivity can be a competitive advantage or a managerial disaster.  Therefore, we believe that there is high potential benefit in a review of McLaughlin & McLaughlin’s Productivity Series.  Below, we have the titles and links to each post followed by a brief summary of the content.  We intend to augment these posts with additional writings on the subject.

[Read more…]

Construction Field Labor Productivity Improvement – Plan the Work Well

This is the sixth post regarding productivity in engineering and construction projects.  To review an index and links to the entire series, please visit Subject Series  page in this blog.  This post discusses planning the work and the related impact on construction field labor productivity.

Any discussion of construction field labor (worker) productivity must, of necessity, eventually involve the idea of planning the work.  Virtually every major project employs the expertise of several planners and schedulers to work the Primavera® scheduling program or some other comparable software.  Great effort is placed on getting just the right schedule assembled and in place – with the right number of activities and leveled manpower, etc.  However, all too often the schedule has been constructed in a near vacuum with little or no input or review from those who have to make it work in the field. [Read more…]

Managing Risk Of Delay – Earned Value Management (Part 5)

This post is the fifth in a series of discussions regarding various aspects of time management.  More specifically, we have titled the series MANAGING RISK OF DELAY, since we focus heavily on the managerial aspects of program / project management.  This post addresses some ideas regarding preparation and maintenance of time management related to overall bulk progress.  Some might refer to this as Earned Value Management.

The challenge associated with managing all (critical and non-critical path) work is common to virtually all Lump Sum Turn Key (LSTK), Engineer Procure Construct (EPC) and other similarly executed projects.  In addition to the normal issues associated with bulk progress, actions or inactions by the owner can add considerable complexity to this challenge.  Owner/Employer delays can be masked among the myriad of activities that are the responsibility of other (than the Owner/Employer) stakeholders.  Even when detected or disclosed, these variances to plan are often dismissed as simply consuming available float.  Hence, the Owner/Employer (or other stakeholder) may rationalize these variations as having no impact.  Of course, the reality is that these sorts of departures may (or may not) add risk or disruption to the project execution.  Further, they may delay forecasted completion.  The managerial challenge becomes detection, assessment and quantification (should it be appropriate to compensate the contractor for the impacts). [Read more…]

Productivity and Leadership

This post discusses the some leadership concepts and the relationship to field labor (or home office labor) productivity.

Recently, my friend and colleague, Dick Troell authored an excellent post regarding field labor productivity.  Dick’s discussion drips with ideas that show his experience and understanding of the men and women that perform construction in the field.

First, I wish to clarify my background and experience.  I have many years of experience in the field and on projects throughout the world.  However, I have never welded a diameter inch of pipe, placed a cubic centimeter of concrete, erected an ounce of steel, and so forth.  I am not a product of the trades; rather, from the managerial ranks.

There is a leadership component of the managerial challenge.  Leadership can have several positive influences on the labor component of the job.  In exhibiting this leadership, my experience suggests several beneficial effects result. [Read more…]

Productivity Calculations – Change Order / Variation Impact (Introduction – UK and related venues)

Often, productivity losses are associated with changed work or variations.  Dealing with the calculation of proper compensation for this loss can be particularly challenging.  Key industry resources or authorities may be helpful as a starting point.  Beyond the industry resources, skilled analytical work may be needed. [Read more…]

Productivity Calculations – Change Order / Variation Impact (Introduction – United States and Canada)

Often, productivity losses are associated with changed work or variations.  Dealing with the calculation of proper compensation for this loss can be particularly challenging.  Key industry resources or authorities may be helpful as a starting point.  Beyond the industry resources, skilled analytical work may be needed.

[Read more…]