Figures for labor productivity in the U.S. construction industry are generally gathered via independent studies. The problem with this approach is that the responses vary based on selected surveyed participants. The best way to determine labor productivity at the individual company-level is to find a way of measuring it internally. Industry benchmarks are nice guidelines to see where a company stands in the overall industry productivity rankings but. let’s face it, not many people want to work extra hours around the holidays.

Here are some helpful tips to boost productivity without pushing teams to work overtime this holiday season.

1. A productivity process in a pear tree

How are industry leaders and managers calculating labor productivity in construction? Are they doubling as statisticians—whiteboarding complex formulas and crunching numbers in hopes of coming up with a magic figure to work toward? Or are they actively seeking out the root cause of productivity barriers in an effort to take a more grassroots approach to tackle process management pitfalls?

An increase in productivity would be a great end-of-year win for construction managers to present to c-level senior teams. However, just because the job gets done faster or output per worker has increased doesn't mean every process is running more efficiently. The goal for every construction manager should be to solve process inefficiencies before pushing for increased productivity from teams who are likely already overwhelmed.

Tip
Time is of the essence, especially around the holidays, so start by taking a look at how team members are dividing their time each day. For example, if it’s taking one team member two hours per day to complete routine paperwork, could that process be automated or digitized to save costly labor time?

2. Do you hear what I hear?

Just like the classic combination of turkey and cranberry sauce, office and field teams are a perfect collaborative force—as long as there are open channels of communication between both teams. The importance of clear communication and collaboration also extends far into the supply chain and customer network.

Using software to streamline communication can have a positive effect on productivity. McKinsey recently detailed a case of a contractor who saw a 12% reduction in rework hours at its jobsite following the implementation of an app that enabled site workers to tag defects and send them remotely to the supplier, who could then dig into the root cause of the defect. Using the app to open a direct line of communication between workers and the supplier allowed both parties to completely remove any unnecessary back-and-forth emails or calls, as well as reduce downtime and empower workers to resolve issues directly.

It’s also important to note that efficient communication is especially important for companies working to roll-out an internal digital transformation strategy. This cannot be achieved unless the vision and goals of the company are communicated clearly and effectively.

Tip
A reliable channel of communication between field and office teams is absolutely crucial. What happens when WiFi isn’t available in the field? This is where software solutions with offline capabilities can step in to provide better peace-of-mind for everyone. Field teams can work confidently offline, assured that all documents are safe and secure on a mobile device, such as an iPad, ready to sync over to the office as soon as WiFi is available again. No lost paperwork and no delays waiting for time-sensitive forms and reports to arrive at the office—communication continues to flow seamlessly.

3. Recession nipping at your nose

2020 doesn’t have to be all “gloom and doom,” despite talks of the impending recession permeating the air. The New Year is all about making the best possible decisions to help navigate economic uncertainties on the road ahead. One of the best ways to navigate this rough terrain is to make smart, data-driven decisions that will propel the business forward.

More than $10 billion has been allotted to funding construction technology over the past decade. Surprisingly, a recent study revealed that 95.5% of all data captured goes unused. If companies want to survive the test of time, learning how to extract and use data to their advantage is an absolute must.

Tip
Data visualization is an important part of understanding how individual work effort and productivity affects the entire company. How can each construction worker contribute to the team’s productivity goals and how does this affect the company’s bottom line? Integrating data visualization tools not only provides transparency into hidden field processes but also reveals actionable insights for company growth.