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(PM-1843) Analysis of Construction Productivity Using Schedules Loaded with Labor and Material Resources

Primary Author: Dr Mohamed E El-Mehalawi

Audience Focus: Intermediate
Application Type: Research Venue: 2015 AACE International Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Abstract: Comparison of actual productivity to target productivity alone does not offer enough input for the root-cause analysis of productivity variation. As an example, actual productivity will be equal to target when there is a reduction in both labor assignment and in the number of units produced. While this shows a good productivity number compared to baseline productivity, there will be an undesirable impact on the project schedule.

This paper presents a tool that helps analyze the reasoning of productivity deviation from a target. Schedules loaded with both material and labor resources allow for time-phased productivity analysis. The paper presents nine scenarios for output (material resources) versus input (labor resources). Each scenario will help in the root-cause analysis of productivity variations. Lower productivity with planned labor resources indicates lower skills of resources, while lower productivity with higher labor hours indicates less planning, management effectiveness, or the unavailability of material. In addition to these types of analyses, the paper gives definitions and a literature review of the construction productivity.