Multiskilled construction crews can reduce completion times by about 30% and increase production by 37% to 50% on projects requiring closely sequenced work, according to new research highlighted by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).
The findings come from controlled field trials detailed in the Simplar Foundation’s Improving Productivity in Multi-Trade Construction Workflows, the second report in a national multiskilling research series.
Researchers evaluated 11 construction activities involving 10 trade handoffs at the Cianbro Institute in Pittsfield, Maine. The study found that reducing handoffs between trades improved workflow continuity and allowed crews to complete more work in the same amount of time.
In one comparison, two multiskilled workers completed work spanning seven trade functions, while a traditional workflow used 12 workers and 10 handoffs. Both crews held credentials for the trades they performed.
The findings have implications for projects with tight schedules and frequent trade transitions, including school renovations, transportation infrastructure and water treatment facilities. The research series is a collaboration among the Simplar Foundation, Arizona State University, the University of Kansas and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. A third report is expected later this year.
