Construction Cost Awareness
and Production Control
Class Syllabus
Introduction
Learning Objectives
Class Organization and Grading
Grading Policies
The Textbook and Order Form
Reading Ahead
Withdrawl/Refund Policy
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Introduction
It
is every supervisors goal to complete their project
on budget and within the estimated costs. This
course is intended to teach the skills necessary for
effective control of construction costs at the job
site.
We
will study construction cost and apply principles
and practices associated with cost awareness and production
control to each element of the project.
Cost control begins with the estimate and
then continues through work and cost analysis, production
scheduling, reporting, production control and ends
with project evaluation.
The information will be studied by solving
common construction problems, the consideration of
case studies and discussion of common cost control
issues.
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Learning
objectives:
By
the end of this class you should:
- Understand
the estimating and quantity take-off process and
how they are associated with construction cost
control.
-
-
Be
familiar with the content of a typical construction
estimate.
-
Be
able to evaluate subcontractors and participate
in the subcontractor selection process.
-
Know
who has responsibilities for cost control and
understand the risks associated with construction
contracting.
-
Know
how to translate estimating information into a
comprehensive construction budget.
-
Understand
the process of compiling a bill of materials and
comparing actual materials costs to estimated.
-
Gain
additional insight into the process of planning
labor crews and preparing for labor costs.
-
Know
how to identify labor cost problems and solve
the problems using project cost data.
-
Learn
several techniques for managing subcontractors
at the job site.
-
Be
aware of various factors that affect the profitability
of the project but are not anticipated or dealt
with in the estimate.
-
Learn
strategies for using cost control data to influence
the work and minimize negative cost impacts.
-
Learn
how to use cost control data in change order pricing
and negotiations.
-
Understand
how to the evaluate project after completion and
determine strategies for future projects.
-
Know
how to participate in a project de-briefing and
understand the value associated with de-briefing.
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Class
Organization and Grading
The
following table lists the learning modules, the maximum
value in points a student can receive within each
module, and the time in which the modules must be
finished.
| Module |
Point
Value |
By
End of Week |
| 0.
Student Orientation |
0 |
Before
start |
| 1.
Introduction to Understanding and Managing Project
Costs |
25 |
1 |
| 2.
Construction Estimates |
25 |
2 |
| 3.
Who Controls Project Costs |
25 |
3 |
| 4.
Reporting and Analyzing Actual Costs |
25 |
4 |
| 5.
Planning for Cost Control |
25 |
5 |
| 6. Labor
Cost Control |
25 |
6 |
| 7.
Controlling Subcontractors |
25 |
7 |
| 8.
Loss Prevention |
25 |
8 |
| 9.
Cost Control Strategies |
25 |
9 |
| 10. Post-Project
Evaluation |
25 |
10 |
| Total
Points |
250 |
|
It
is important that the student keep up with the class
and not fall behind. Course modules will
be made available to students on Sunday of each week.
Class work must be completed before the following
Monday. Students will not be able to work ahead
of the class although reading assignments will be
made available in advance. Actual dates
that modules will become available will be posted
in advance on the course calendar.
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Grading
Policies
Graded
assignments will consist of one quiz for each module
and participation in at least two class discussions.
Each quiz will count 10 points and class discussions
will count 15 points per module. You can see
that I consider class discussions to be a very important
part of this course. For that reason,
the regular weekly discussions are even more important
than the weekly quizzes. Students should
provide at least 4 contributions to the class discussions
each week to gain the maximum points.
Grades
will be posted on a weekly basis. You will have
full access to your grade sheet so you will be able
to keep track of how you are doing at all times.
Your
overall grade in the course will be determined by
the total number of points you have accumulated on
quizzes and assignments. The grading scale
is as follows:
You
will be given more information about the grading and
other course matters in the Orientation Module.
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The
Textbook
The
textbook for this class is Unit 6, Understanding
and Managing Project Costs (S). 4th Edition Participants
Manual
Order
Unit
6, Understanding and Managing Project Costs (S). 4th
Edition Participants Manual directly from the
AGC by clicking on the link. Cost of the book
is approximately $156.
We
are in no way associated with the AGC. The link
to the book is provided only for your convenience.
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Reading
Ahead
This
table details the reading assignments for the entire
course. This will give you opportunity to read
ahead and get a jump on upcoming modules.
| Module |
Reading
Assignment |
Start
Date |
| 0.
Student Orientation |
None |
Optional/
Week 1 |
| 1.
Introduction to Understanding and Managing Project
Costs |
Read
Unit 1 |
Week
1 |
| 2.
Construction Estimate |
Read
Unit 2, |
Week
2 |
| 3.
Who Controls Project Costs |
Read
Unit 3 |
Week
3 |
| 4.
Reporting and Analyzing Actual Costs |
Read
Unit 4 |
Week
4 |
| 5.
Planning for Cost Control |
Read
Unit 5 |
Week
5 |
| 6. Labor
Cost Control |
Read
Unit 6 |
Week
6 |
| 7.
Controlling Subcontractors |
Read
Unit 7 |
Week
7 |
| 8.
Loss Prevention |
Read
Unit 8 |
Week
8 |
| 9.
Cost Control Strategies |
Read
Unit 9 |
Week
9 |
| 10.
Post-Project Evaluation |
Read
Unit 10 |
Week
10 |
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WITHDRAWAL
POLICY
You
may withdraw from a course by sending an email to
PSmith@aspeNational.org
or by conventional mail requesting to be dropped from
the course. Non-attendance or notifying the
instructor does not constitute officially dropping
or withdrawing from a course. Students who stop
attending courses without officially dropping will
receive a grade of U in the class. Refunds are
not automatic. NO refunds are due unless the course
is officially dropped within stated guidelines in
the refund schedule.
Refund
Schedule
| a.
|
Withdrawal
postmarked at least one working day before
the first day of class – total fee
less a $20 handling fee. |
| b.
|
Refund
requests postmarked on or after the first
day and no later than two weeks after the
first day of class will be refunded 65%
of the fee, after which time there is no
refund. |
| c.
|
Decision
on withdrawals and refunds will be based
on the date when the ASPE Society Business
Office receives written withdrawal notice.
Drops done by mail are effective as of the
postmark date. |
|
d. |
All course materials including the textbook
and other included supplies must be returned
in their original conditions, shrink wrap
unbroken, or a $100 charge will apply. |
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