Improving Productivity – an Ardent Requirement

 I worked for around 9 years in Gulf Countries and have good idea about the productivity of human resource in these countries. In India; for block-work masonry, we talk about 70 to 80 blocks per mason per day (6-7 sqm/mason/day) as productivity; whereas in Gulf it’s about 200 to 230 blocks per mason per day (16-18 Sqm/mason/day). Similarly, for cement plastering in India, the productivity is like 10-12 Sqm per mason per day but in Gulf its 25-30 sqm/mason/day. I can give several such examples where it can be noticed that the productivity there is 3 to 4 times of that in India.

What, we all should be worried about is that we are falling in to a vicious circle:

Although there are several efforts being taken to improve the overall productivity for the item of work; almost all these efforts are directed towards one of the following:

a)     Mechanization of works: Use of Plant & machinery viz. Cranes / Climbing Platforms

 b)     Changing Materials: Use of Precast Panels for walls, Bigger Size of Tiles/Artificial Marble

 c)     Changing Systems: Peri/Doka Formwork, Self-Climbing Systems

 All of these do need Capital Investment and thus have additional cost, which is balanced out with savings due to faster pace of construction.

Essentially; we are not resolving the core issue of low productivity of human resources hence we are not even trying to come out of the vicious circle. The only way out is to improve productivity of human resources, which will fetch them better wages, improve their living condition, increase their affordability for better nourishment & with improved health, their productivity will rise further.

In my previous article, I wrote about the factors affecting productivity. In this article I am sharing my thoughts for improving the productivity. The factors, that affect the productivity are:

a)     Degree of Mechanization

b)     Skill & Experience of workers

c)     Location, Type & Size of Project

d)     Site Congestion

e)     Atmospheric Conditions (Temperature/Humidity/Rain)

f)      Worker’s Availability

g)     Degree & Level (Skill) of Supervision

h)     Compactness of Schedule/Timeline

i)       Motivation Level

Since I want to be specific about improving productivity for human resources, I am discarding some of the factors with particular reasons behind it:

  • Degree of Mechanization: Cost of Capital Investment is balanced out with savings due to faster pace of Construction. It also reduces the dependency of availability of sufficient number of workers.
  • Location, Type & Size of Project: We do not have any control on the same.
  • Atmospheric Conditions: We do not have any control except providing relief measures.
  • Worker’s Availability: We cannot change until they get attracted because of higher wages.

Barring above, there are several factors, which are in our control and hence several measures can be taken to improve the productivity as explained below:

 

  • Site Congestion: Although design and drawings are beyond control, we can still improve the working area for better ergonomics, safe platforms, better access, clutter free work space and good house-keeping.
  • Degree & Level of Supervision: Increase the degree of supervision to have the checks right from start of work to avoid any errors/mistakes and thereby rework, corrective measures and defect repairs. Improve the Level of Supervision, by providing technical trainings to our supervisors.
  • Compactness of Schedule / Timeline: Remember the Parkinson’s Law – “Tasks expand to fill the time available”. Alter the schedule in such a way that just enough time is allocated to a task or activity. Any buffer or float available will get used and thus will cause reduced productivity. A Compact Schedule will improve productivity. Just as you keep Contingency in Budget, Keep Contingency in Schedule at End not in-between and specifically not in the activity.
  • Skill/Experience of Workers: Provide skill training to workers, this will definitely improve productivity.
  • Motivation: Better working condition, Better living condition, Empathetic Treatment and Training to improve skill motivates the workers. This motivation, when turns into better wages due to improvement in productivity will be self-priming further motivation.

Pandemic or otherwise:

  1. Availability & Skill-Level of workers is worsening
  2. Timelines are squeezed, Buffers are lost
  3. Cash-flow is poor and waning further
  4. Capital Investments are reducing 

I feel, it’s high time for Indian construction industry to take notice and start taking measures to improve the productivity of human resources.

 

ADGP                           www.decodingcm.com/pm-blogs                  https://decodingcm.blogspot.com

 


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