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CSC.07
PEER REVIEWED PAPER
Monitoring and improving construction productivity has always been a major concern in the construction industry. Most construction companies and construction project owners are constantly seeking new methods to improve labor productivity. The construction company with the most efficient operations has a greater chance to make more money and deliver a faster construction project to the project owner. Labor productivity is of such importance that the majority of the construction management baccalaureate and/or graduate programs at universities offer a course in productivity improvement. The following work sampling productivity study was conducted to improve labor productivity for mechanical construction and general construction work activities at Eli Lilly's Tippecanoe Laboratories bulk-pharmaceutical facility located in Lafayette, IN.
Work sampling is a field-measurement tool used to measure worker activity proportions using random sampling over a period of time. Work samplings are an indirect measurement of productivity, because they measure time utilization [5]. It is important that work sampling be random to provide statistically sound results. Work sampling consists of performing a series of observations that are mental photographs of the work activity that is taking place at the time the workers are observed by the study analyst. These observations are then interpreted, categorized, and recorded by the study analyst [3]. The total observations recorded for a particular activity can be converted to a percentage of time during which that activity or delay occurred. The goal of work sampling is to improve labor productivity by determining how active the tradeworkers are for the observed activity. With this information in hand, managers can make educated decisions to improve work flow and productivity based on data rather than on hunches. Improving labor productivity can alleviate the shortage of skilled craftworkers, enhance the working conditions, and enhance the overall quality of the product [4].
BACKGROUND
The study was performed at Eli Lilly's Tippecanoe Laboratories bulk-pharmaceutical facility located in Lafayette, IN. The purpose of the study was to investigate and analyze the mechanical construction and general construction trade-work activities. It was a collaborative project among Purdue University's Department of Building Construction Management, mechanical contractor Shambaugh and Son Ed Grace Division, and the Lafayette site of Eli Lilly. Approximately 95% of the construction work completed onsite is on a time-and-material...