Productivity

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2—National nonresidential construction spending declined 0.1% in November, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.234 ...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 — Construction input prices were unchanged in November compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input ...

Anyone connected to the construction industry understands the importance of critical-path method scheduling. CPM schedules help identify the activities required to complete a project, as well as help determine critical activities that absolutely can’t be delayed. As a contractor...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10—Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator remained unchanged at 8.4 months in November, according to an ABC member survey conducted Nov. 20 to Dec. 3. The reading is down 0.1 months from November 2023. View ABC...

It’s difficult to recover from a low estimate in construction. Owners don’t want to pay more than they have to, and scope creep is a credibility killer. That’s why successful companies understand the value of an experienced estimator and solid estimating systems. They also train...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2—National nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.4% in October, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $...

In the construction industry, where project success hinges on a variety of factors from financial management to safety practices, peer-group benchmarking serves as a critical tool for gaining competitive advantage and ensuring operational excellence. Benchmarking involves compari...

In the construction industry, the project schedule serves as a rulebook for controlling costs, ensuring timely delivery and maintaining quality standards. Scheduling accuracy is arguably the most critical contributor to a project's success; a great schedule can make a project, wh...

Maturity monitoring, a non-destructive way to estimate the compressive strength of in-place concrete, uses digital sensors to capture inputs such as time and temperature in order to monitor strength in real-time, saving the design and construction team time and money. The sensor ...

The shortcomings of traditional project delivery methods are well known to construction professionals. The cost and risk-shifting strategies of project owners, contractors and design firms are intended to address which entities are exposed to loss. These strategies frequently res...