Ugulu, R; Arewa, A and Stephen, A (2019) Relationship between labour productivity and curved wall construction in high-rise building projects. In: Gorse, C and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 35th Annual ARCOM Conference, 2-4 September 2019, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK.
Abstract
Construction labour productivity has been declining. This paper examines the learning effect of labour productivity in a curved wall operation using the application of the Learning Curve Theory (LCT). The research adopted a quantitative approach, utilising a standard observation sheet to record labour productive time on a live project. The study investigated a 15-storey office building project in Nigeria. Data were analysed using regression analysis and straight-line learning model. The result of the effect of learning on curved wall operations shows a significant influence on improvement in labour productivity. The labour productivity observed reveals average learning rate of 93.76%, resulting in an improvement rate of 6.24% in labour productivity. This impact can decrease the duration of the project at a rate of 1% - 6%. A learning rate of less than 100% indicates that learning has occurred and is verified by the LCT. The research contributes to development of a model for investigating labour productivity curved wall operations with the application of LCT. The model developed in this research can help the construction industry, project managers and planners to view the rate of labour productivity in a learning curve diagram. This study was limited to a single site multi-storey building due to the deductive method of the research. The implication is that the study result may lack generalisability. It is suggested that this investigation is replicated with other models, i.e. piecewise unit model, exponential model and cubic unit model of learning.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | building; construction; curved-walls; measurement; learning-curve-model; operations. |
| Index terms: | investigation, planner, labour productivity, construction labour, regression analysis, high-rise building, construction industry, duration, project manager, Nigeria, office building, productivity |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, profession, construction type, management, Geography, project controls, industry analysis, statistical analysis |
| Topics: | Construction Technology, Roles and Professions, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Site Management, Time Control |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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