How to Increase Construction Productivity

Company time records from previous jobs can form the basis of a productivity data set that can then be used to assign productivity factors to future work done by the same crews. However, past work has, by nature, been performed under unique circumstances that may never be reproducible on another project. Conditions that affect labor productivity from job to job include:

• seasonal conditions and weather
• site conditions such as changes in elevation, drainage and soil conditions, as well as the ease or difficulty in accessing the site
• human conditions including motivation and fatigue and
• skill and experience levels of those doing the work

The construction trades are only productive about 30 percent of the time. The rest of their productivity is taken up with following factors.

• 29% Waiting
• 13% Travelling
• 8% receiving insturctions
• 7% moving tools and materials
• 6% starting late and quitting early
• 5% breaks

It makes sense, then, to ensure that the necessary instructions, materials and equipment needed for a particular task are accounted in the productivity. To reduce productivity lost to travel time, the jobsite layout should provide clear and direct access for crews and materials and equipment even if it results in greater initial costs. Items required for human comfort such as toilet facilities and heat, will minimize the negative effects on productivity that come with discomfort.