Liu, M (2007) Work flow variability and labor productivity loss for construction projects. PhD thesis, University of California, Berkeley, USA.
Abstract
Labor productivity loss is one of the primary contributors to cost and schedule overruns that affect many construction projects. Quantifying lost labor productivity on construction projects is difficult and sometimes subjective and very approximate. A widely accepted way to quantify losses is the measured mile approach. In this research the measured mile and a variant, the baseline method, are analyzed and compared to a new, proposed statistical clustering method. This research explores applying a statistical clustering method to the measured mile and baseline calculation to inject objectivity in the analysis. The test on real data shows that the clustering method is more objective and therefore more convincing to both owners and contractors. The research also explores the relationship between work flow variation and labor productivity. A case study of a pipe installation project was conducted to explore the correlation between work flow variation and labor productivity. 134 weeks of production data were collected and analyzed. It was found that labor productivity is correlated with Percent Plan Completed, a measure of work flow reliability. Identifying and quantifying the benefit of improving work flow reliability can provide guidance for project managers to focus on the root causes of productivity loss in the planning stage. The research findings can also help consultants locate the causes and quantify responsibility of productivity loss in claims.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Ibbs, C W |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | liability; reliability; construction project; productivity; consultant; owner; project manager; case study |
| Index terms: | labour productivity, clustering, variability, project manager, case study, productivity, owner, schedule overrun, construction project, variation, liability |
| Subjects: | statistical analysis, liability law, sociology, project controls, contractual condition, production management, management, data science, profession, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Project Management, Legal Issues, Roles and Professions, Stakeholder Management, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Contract Administration, Time Control, Site Management, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here