Jarkas, A M (2010) Buildability factors influencing micro-level formwork labour productivity of slab panels in building floors. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 6(3), pp. 161-174. ISSN 1745-2007
Abstract
Buildability is one of the most important factors influencing labour productivity. Nevertheless, a thorough investigation of the literature revealed a dearth of research into the effects of buildability on the labour productivity of an integral trade of in situ reinforced concrete construction, namely formwork. In comparison with beamless slabs, the formwork operation of beam-slab floor configurations is a labour-intensive process, which is associated with substantial additional labour inputs. Therefore, the objective of this research is to explore the buildability factors influencing the formwork labour productivity of building floor slab panels. To achieve this objective, a sufficiently large volume of labour productivity data is collected, at the activity level, and analysed using the categorical interaction-regression method. As a result, the main and interaction effects of repetition, panel areas and geometry of panels on labour productivity are determined. The findings show a significant influence of these factors and corroborate the importance of applying the concepts of design rationalization, standardization and repetition to the design stage of construction projects. The results may be used to provide designers with feedback on how well their designs consider the requirements of buildability principles, and the consequences of their decisions on the efficiency of the operation.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | buildability; categorical interaction-regression; formwork; geometry; labour productivity; rationalization; repetition; slab panels; standardization |
| Index terms: | formwork, building floor, designer, efficiency, reinforced concrete construction, buildability, geometry, interaction, beam, standardization, construction project, in-situ, labour productivity, configuration, design stage, investigation |
| Subjects: | professional practice, profession, data collection methods, mathematical modelling, design efficiency, systems engineering, behavioral psychology, building construction, production management, structural engineering, performance measurement, management, architectural elements, performance management |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Project Management, Construction Technology, Roles and Professions, Quality Management, Design Practice, Site Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCA |
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