Centre of Studies for Construction

Faculty of Architecture,Planning and Surveying

University Teknologi Mara
Shah Alam

Construction Economics II
(BCM523)

‘TUTORIAL 1’

Prepared by: Nur Asnida Bt Baharuddin

2017674768
AP2461B
Prepared for: Dr Mohd Reza Bin Isa
Submission date: 23 September 2018
Question :
How can we improve the level of productivity in the construction industry;in which indirectly
will improve the quality of end products as well?

1. Analyze the entire construction process in detail

A construction company should analyze each phase of its process to determine what the
barriers are to improving productivity. It should begin by measuring key factors and setting
benchmarks and goals for improvement. For example, the company can carefully observe the
percentage of productive and nonproductive time at a site. By comparing project, the
company can determine why one project was more productive that the other. For instance,
perhaps productivity always slides when a certain piece of equipment is used. The
construction company or firm can set a goal for using the equipment more efficiently, and
then provide the training the crew needs to reach the goal.

2. Communication
No one know how to do job better than the person doing it.A construction company should
therefore enlist all of its workers in the search for greater productivity.the company should
communicate explicitly that suggestions are welcomed and should consider some type of
reward system for suggestions that increase productivity.One effect of involving the workers
in improving productivity is that they will come to look on the goal as making progress,not
finding blame.

3. Planning Primer
A well-planned construction project allows for unforeseen circumstances such as job site
weather conditions. Examples include tropical storms or hurricanes in warmer climates, along
with heavy snow or ice storms in colder regions. Additionally, skilled project managers
ensure that crews consistently have enough materials to complete their scheduled work.
When the project manager anticipates a need for heavy equipment, such as a crane or earth-
moving machinery, he ensures the equipment's timely delivery.

NUR ASNIDA BT BAHARUDDIN

 4. Reskill the workforce.
Change cannot be achieved without investment in retooling a workforce that is undergoing
major demographic shifts, from aging managers to increasing numbers of migrant laborers.
Apprenticeship programs can train frontline workers in core skills that are currently
underdeveloped, as well as in new technologies to help break seasonality and cyclicality, thus
improving workforce stability.
Collaboration is key; funders, educators, and public officials who run workforce-training
programs should collaborate with contractors and trades to ensure skills programs match the
industry’s needs. Megaprojects should be seen as long-term catalysts to work with local
workforce boards or nonprofits and develop regional training programs.

5. Improve procurement and supply-chain management.

The construction sector ranks in the lower range of sophistication in McKinsey’s Global
Purchasing Excellence Survey, suggesting ample room for improvement. A combination of best
practices seen in other industries and innovative, digitally enabled approaches can improve
reliability and predictability. Digitizing procurement and supply-chain work flows will enable
more sophisticated logistics management and just-in-time delivery.

More strategically, owners, contractors, and material suppliers are also exploring ways to learn
from industries such as automotive and aerospace when it comes to building longer-term supplier
and subcontractor relationships.

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References

Anik, G. C. (1999). Construction productivity improvement. ASC Proceedings of the 35th Annual
Conference. San Luis Obispo, CA, 165-178

Filipine Barbosa, J. M. ( 2017, July ). Improving construction productivity. Retrieved from

https://www.mckinsey.com

Greene, F. (n.d.). How To Improve Construction Industry. Retrieved from Chron:

https://smallbusiness.chron.com/improve-construction-productivity-78086.html

Rollage, M. P. (2011, October 10). Ways To Improve Productivity. Retrieved from

https://www.slideshare.net/Vikaslal2006/five-ways-to-improve-productivity-at-the-
construction-site

NUR ASNIDA BT BAHARUDDIN