by Construction Experts, Inc.

April 8 - June 16, 2024
30 PDH / 3.0 CEU

The course will start on the date stipulated. Once your registration is received, the instructor will be notified of your enrollment within one business day. You should receive login instructions by email from the instructor during the week before the course begins. Please order your textbook from the source noted in adequate time to allow receipt before the start of the course.

Introduction

It is every supervisors goal to complete their project on time and within the estimated budget. This 206 Productivity and Cost Management online course is intended to teach the skills necessary for effective control of construction costs at the job site.

We will study construction cost and apply principles and practices associated with cost awareness and production control to each element of the project. Cost control begins with the estimate and then continues through work and cost analysis, production scheduling, reporting, production control and ends with project evaluation. The information will be studied by solving common construction problems, the consideration of case studies and discussion of common cost control issues.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this 206 Productivity and Cost Management online class you should:

1. Understand the estimating and quantity take-off process and how they are associated with construction cost control.
2. Be familiar with the content of a typical construction estimate.
3. Be able to evaluate subcontractors and participate in the subcontractor selection process.
4. Know who has responsibilities for cost control and understand the risks associated with construction contracting.
5. Learn how to increase productivity by using labor and equipment efficiently.
6. Understand the general relationship among project estimating, productivity planning, measurement, project planning, scheduling and project control.
7. Gain additional insight into the process of planning labor crews and preparing for labor costs.
8. Know how to identify labor cost problems and solve the problems using project cost data.
9. Learn several techniques for managing subcontractors at the job site.
10. Learn strategies for using cost control data to influence the work and minimize negative cost impacts.
11. Understand how to the evaluate project after completion and determine strategies for future projects.
12. Know how to participate in a project debriefing and understand the value associated with debriefing.

Class Organization and Grading

The following table lists the learning modules, the maximum value in points a student can receive within each module, and the time in which the modules must be finished. Each week you will have online class discussions (15 points) and a quiz (10 points).

Module	Point Value	By End of Week
0. Student Orientation	0	Before start
1. Introduction to Productivity Improvement & Cost Mgmt	25	1
2. Construction Estimates, Planning and Scheduling	25	2
3. Cost Responsibility	25	3
4. Reporting and Analyzing Actual Costs	25	4
5. Planning for Cost Control	25	5
6. Cost Control Strategies	25	6
7. The Cost of Lost Labor	25	7
8. Improving Productivity with Equipment Management	25	8
9. Enhancing Productivity With Project Partners	25	9
10. Post-Project Evaluations	25	10
Total Points	250

It is important that the student keep up with the class and not fall behind. Course modules will be made available to students on Sunday of each week. Class work must be completed before the following Monday. Students will not be able to work ahead of the class although reading assignments will be made available in advance.

Grading Policies

Graded assignments will consist of one quiz for each module and participation in at least two class discussions. Students should provide at least 3 contributions to the class discussions each week to gain the maximum points. Students learn more and learn better when they discuss the topic at hand. For that reason, I consider the regular weekly discussions to be even more important than the weekly quizzes.

Grades will be posted on a weekly basis. You will have full access to your grade sheet so you will be able to keep track of how you are doing at all times.

Your overall grade in the course will be determined by the total number of points you have accumulated on quizzes and assignments. The grading scale is as follows:

• A 225 to 250 points
• B 200 to 224 points
• C 175 to 199 points
• D 140 to 174 points
• Anything less will be considered an F or an unauthorized withdrawal from the course.

You will be given more information about the grading and other course matters in the Orientation Module.Withdrawals and Refunds

Ordering theTextbook
STP Unit 5, Improving Productivity & Managing Cost

The cost of each textbook is approximately US $155 plus shipping and handling. If you order a used book be sure you are getting the correct edition. Allow at least 5 working days between ordering the book and receiving it by the least expensive shipping. Foreign students should allow at least 2 to 3 weeks for delivery. You can have your book delivered more quickly by paying more for the shipping.

This textbook is also available through Amazon as a Kindle eBook for US $50 here.

Withdrawals and Refunds
You may withdraw from this course by sending an email to education@aacei.org requesting to be dropped from the course. Non-attendance or notifying the instructor does not constitute officially dropping or withdrawing from a course. Students who stop attending courses without officially dropping will receive a grade of U in the class. Refunds are not automatic. NO refunds are due unless the course is officially dropped within stated guidelines in the refund schedule.

Refund Schedule

• Withdrawal received before the first day of class – total fee less a $125 cancellation fee.
• Refund requests postmarked on or after the first day and no later than two weeks after the first day of class will be refunded 65% of the fee, after which time there is no refund.
• Decision on withdrawals and refunds will be based on the date when the written withdrawal notice is received by AACE International. Drops done by mail are effective as of the postmark date.