Project Execution

Tracking productivity has been a challenge for HVAC/sheet metal contractors who manage a  high degree of off-site work, such as detailing and fabrication, that is necessary to build a customer’s project. There are few industry standards related to tracking productivity for all facets of contractor operations – detailing, fabrication and installation.  So it remains unclear […]

This report offers a set of best practices for HVAC and sheet metal contractors to optimize the use of prefabrication to obtain peak productivity. Based on an industry survey, a series of case studies, and the completion of detailed productivity and prefabrication analyses, a number of best practices are presented as tactics that other sheet […]

This paper focuses on off-site construction from the perspective of prefabrication, and installation of preassembled building components within “traditional” site-built construction project delivery methods or systems. The paper validates the savings identified in earlier reports and adds definition and dimension to the advantages associated with prefabrication and modularization in the MEP and HVAC and sheet […]

Continuous improvement, as used in this paper and in the industry, is the name of an approach to improvement known and used around the world for decades. It applies to processes in the office, project or anywhere within the organization. The major components of continuous improvement are often referred to as an acronym, DMAIC: Define […]

Risk assessment, management, and mitigation are critical components to ensuring project success. This Risk Assessment Manual/Model: Develops understandable model calculations to assess risk factors Identifies risk mitigation options based on the nature and severity of the risks Documents the process so that it can be followed by contractors The report includes a documented process that […]

This report includes a cost and schedule control system to measure, track, and forecast cost, percent complete, and completion date. The report covers: Activity descriptions and how to develop a work breakdown structure, Estimated cost/man-hours, Earned cost/man-hours to-date, Actual cost/man-hours to-date, Estimated remaining cost/man-hours, Estimated units/activities, Installed units/completed activities, Estimated remaining units/activities, Productivity (actual vs. […]

Owners and managers are constantly searching for production improvement applications. A Kaizen Event, when properly planned, coordinated, and executed, can increase performance, with little or no capital expense, in seven significant ways: Increased productivity Reduced inventory Lower setup times Less waste Space use reductions Quality improvement Order-to-delivery time improvement To attain improved performance, management must […]

This project updates research conducted in 2005. The need for the update was driven by the increasing complexity of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and sheet metal construction industry. Advancements in technology, financial pressure, and customers seeking greater involvement and value from their projects are the main contributors to this complexity. A goal […]

HVAC and sheet metal contractors are faced with the challenge of improving productivity to remain successful in an increasingly competitive industry. In an effort to meet these challenges, they are turning to preconstruction planning as a method for improving efficiency, and increasing profitability. The purpose of this implementation manual, developed as part of a three-phase […]

Changes in customer expectations in the construction industry regarding project delivery, time, cost, and quality have forced stakeholders to search for new operational models. While productivity increased significantly for most industrial sectors during the 1990s, it decreased for the construction industry. One cause of this is that the procurement chain management system is no longer […]