Construction Field

Dr. Matt Stevens, the author of “The Construction MBA” (512 pages) and “Managing a Construction Firm on Just 24 Hours a Day” (416 pages) published by McGraw-Hill, New York, has created a key app for all field and office professionals to use. It is the Construction Productivity Calculator.

The Labor or Cost versus Physical Progress Calculation has to be viewed as a critical metric for any contractor. Our app has both to use. It measures what is produced and billable for the effort and cost expended. This simple metric largely determines profitability on each job and in total, for each company. Successful projects make for successful construction firms. It is a one-way street. Our research indicates 90% of all cost overruns are caused by labor issues on projects, so keeping a close eye on this direct cost should be a daily focus. It is a “good operating practice” to have 1) daily comparisons of budget to actual and 2) total cost project. This is what this app delivers. Daily updates of these two measures keep management proactivity high.

There are two calculators in this app. 1) Labor hours and 2) Cost. Each is measured against physical progress. You can use one or both at the same time.

Each app (cost and hours) is customizable. Each can track 50 unique tasks and cost codes. For each project (1 per device) may be inputted along with their budget and units estimated. Units completed, hours expended and cost accumulated can be updated each day or week. The calculator computes immediately.

In both apps, physical progress is measured in units. For situations where a percentage of completion is used, the unit count should be inputted as 100 so, the percentage complete will be inputted i.e. 60 means 60% complete. Otherwise, if there are x units of total work in a task then, placing the completed work units gives the exact percent complete. It is a control feature. As the executive visits each job site, he or she can physically count or measure work completed as a double check.

The app will project a best case and a worst case outcome. For instances where a savings is projected, the numbers will be negative (-). When a task is completed, place yes in the “Finished Task” column so, no more cost may be added to it. This helps keep the report accurate and honest.

The resulting report can be printed and emailed, so copies of progress reports may be managed efficiently. Once, a project is completed, its reports can be sent to the company archives and be erased. A new one can take its place in the app.

Reminder: 1) Use the password security feature to keep your information protected, 2) Back up your information on the ICloud and 3) Use the “Wipe Clean Utility” in case of a lost or stolen device.

Custom programming for your company and its apps is available from Stevens Construction Institute, Inc. We can reprogram this app as well as our other ones for your particular needs.