John Kenney, CPRC, CEO, Cotney Consulting Group
According to a study published in the Journal of Construction, Engineering and Management, a lack of productivity among U.S. and Canadian construction contractors costs them about $5.4 billion annually. Construction has lost productivity over the past four decades. By increasing efficiency just 36 seconds per hour, contractors could gain billions of dollars, according to a Denmark Aarhus University report cited in the study.
This study’s data is based on all construction in North America, in which the roofing industry accounts for over ten percent of total construction revenue. That
translates to almost three-quarters of a billion dollars in losses for roofing contractors.
How to repair this? Invest in methods that will increase efficiency and effectiveness, such as a lean work system with integrated project delivery and location- based scheduling. Despite the popularity of lean construction principles in recent years, productivity gains have not materialized but our industry is ripe for change.
Lean processes alone will not fix this lack of productivity. There must be a shift toward increased productivity and efficiency using new technologies and a company’s desire and willingness to change. Small improvements can have a significant impact. The bottom line is this – everyone from top to bottom must produce more for each dollar spent on roofing installation. That includes contracting methods,
labor organization, management and project operations at the job site.
Numerous complex factors influence productivity on a roofing job site. There are also, arguably, morale and job satisfaction issues that come into play. Read more.
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