Construction Productivity Improvement
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
Organizing a project with productivity improvement
as a goal will be studied. Students will
learn how to calculate and measure worker productivity.
During this semester, we will challenge the work
process, learn about personnel management, and practice
work improvement analysis. Understanding worker's
abilities and the impact of environmental factors
will be studied. We will study various models
and methods for improving productivity and we will
practice applying those methods to construction
problems. We will complete the course with
a discussion of implementing and monitoring the
productivity program.
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Learning
objectives:
By
the end of this class you should:
-
Know
how to make productivity calculations.
-
Be
able to identify ways to increase productivity.
-
Be
able to calculate the relationship between increases
in productivity and overall project time, cost
and profits.
-
Learn
how to increase productivity by using labor
and equipment efficiently.
-
Understand
the general relationship among project estimating,
productivity planning, measurement, project
planning, scheduling and project control.
-
Be
able to analyze, and contribute to, a project
estimate.
-
Know
the procedures for planning a productive jobsite
layout.
-
Understand
how to reduce nonproductive time.
-
Know
how to challenge a work method to find a quicker
more cost-effective method for doing the work.
-
Be
able to make unit cost calculations and productivity
calculations.
-
Be
able to differentiate between normal, achievable,
and ideal work standards.
-
Be
able to encourage productivity through factors
that positively influence a worker.
-
Be
able to use alternative leadership styles used
by effective supervisors.
-
Understand
group behavior practices that influence productivity.
-
Be
able to use record keeping systems to monitor
labor productivity and job costs.
-
Understand
data collection procedures required to compile
accurate records.
-
Understand
procedures for utilizing the queuing model,
the time study model, and the method productivity
delay model.
-
Understand
the physical limits of an average worker and
what a worker physically cannot do under various
working conditions.
-
Learn
how factors such as overtime, the learning curve,
boredom, and fatigue affect labor productivity.
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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 Productivity Improvement |
25 |
1 |
2.
Improving Productivity Through Pre-Planning |
25 |
2 |
3.
MORE - Four New Skills for the Effective
Supervisor |
25 |
3 |
4.
Personnel Management |
25 |
4 |
5.
Equipment Management |
25 |
5 |
6.
Productivity Improvement and Planning and
Scheduling |
25 |
6 |
7.
Managing Subcontractors |
25 |
7 |
8.
Quantifying Lost Productivity |
25 |
8 |
9.
Record Keeping, Control, Change Orders,
and Defect Analysis |
25 |
9 |
10.
Improving Productivity with New Technologies |
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. Students
learn more and learn better when they discuss the
topic at hand. For that reason, I consider
the regular weekly discussions to be even more important
than the weekly quizzes.
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 9, Productivity
Improvement (S) 4th Edition Participants Manual
Order
Productivity Improvement, STP Unit 9, 4th Edition
(Participants Manual) directly from the AGC
by clicking on the link. Cost of the book
is approximately $156.
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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 |
| 0.
Student Orientation |
None |
| 1.
Introduction To Productivity Improvement |
Read
Unit 1 |
| 2.
Improving Productivity Through Pre-Planning |
Read
Unit 2, |
| 3. MORE
- Four New Skills for the Effective Supervisor |
Read
Unit 3 |
| 4.
Personnel Management |
Read
Unit 4 |
| 5.
Equipment Management |
Read
Unit 5 |
| 6. Productivity
Improvement and Planning and Scheduling |
Read
Unit 6 |
| 7.
Subcontractor Management |
Read
Unit 7 |
| 8.
Quantifying Lost Productivity |
Read
Unit 8 |
| 9.
Record Keeping, Control, Change Orders, and
Defect Analysis |
Read
Unit 9 |
| 10.
Improving Productivity with New Technologies |
Read
Unit 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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