Project Execution

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 …

Continue reading “Thinking Lean – Tools for Decreasing Costs and Increasing Profits”

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 …

Continue reading “Preconstruction Planning Process for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and Sheet Metal Contractors: Implementation Manual”

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 …

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Poor tool and material management hampers daily operations and can damage your business. The cost of owning and providing tools may be a small percentage of the cost of doing construction work, but it can significantly impact labor productivity and the quality of work performed. Poor practices in tool and material management can be indicative …

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The lean production principles that have led other industries to higher profitability and lower costs are easily applicable to the sheet metal and HVAC industry. Lean thinking can help: reduce costs in the office, yard and fabrication areas reduce waste in the field by eliminating double handling, crews waiting and time spent searching for materials …

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Change on construction projects is inevitable, but the effects of change are often disputed among owners and contractors. The complete effects that change orders have on a project are difficult to quantify because they involve direct costs of extra materials and hours, as well as changes on the flow of work (its effect on labor) …

Continue reading “Quantifying the Cumulative Impact of Change Orders for Sheet Metal Contractors”

Understanding how schedule compression affects labor productivity in the construction industry is crucial for increasing project performance, avoiding disputes, and maintaining sound financial status of one’s company. During a typical construction project, a contractor may find that the time originally available has been severely reduced. To finish the project by the completion date, the contractor …

Continue reading “Schedule Compression Effects on Labor Productivity”