Despite being on the cutting edge of technology, North American construction productivity has slipped in recent years.
A University of Calgary study from Sculich’s School of Engineering is aiming to reverse the downward trend of recent years.
The study identifies the “top ten targets for construction productivity improvement” and presents of a “productivity toolbox” for Alberta construction companies to try.
The toolbox has two components: an information booth on the job site monitoring work targets, expectations and other site-specific help, and a “construction productivity improvement officer.”
“Using a graduate student in the role of the productivity officer for two 10-week periods on actual construction projects, we saw an eight per cent increase in tool time and a 29 per cent increase in productivity,” said developer of the new system, Janaka Ruwanpura, on the Daily Commercial News website.
PCL is one company currently trying out the productivity toolbox.