ForConstructionPros.com

A few years ago the Center for Construction Engineering and Management at the University of Michigan conducted a time study to determine the amount of time construction workers are simply waiting to work.

The average time lost waiting for equipment, materials, tools and information varied among the construction disciplines. Bricklayers waited on average about 45 minutes, carpenters about 62 minutes, roofers about 75 minutes, electricians about 80 minutes, and plumbers about 83 minutes.

While these times are not necessarily indicative of the time your people might spend waiting for materials, or equipment, or directions every day, this time study does raise an important issue. Waiting at the jobsite for any reason costs the contractor and the customer. Anything we can do to prevent any waiting will increase productivity and profits.

What are the costs associated with having workers waiting around?

Consider a sealcoating contractor who who suddenly finds his five-person crew without sealer to apply; there was a mix-up in the directions given the driver of the bulk delivery truck and the crew is standing around for an hour before the material shows up. At an average hourly rate of $10.50, it costs $52.50 for having five workers waiting on materials.

Are there other costs? That depends on the step in the process. For example, if the crew needed this late-arriving material to finish a section of the parking lot, then the hour wait will cause a delay in job completion, will delay the striping, and ultimately might delay opening the lot for the customer.