Late in 2024 the McKinsey & Company released another sobering construction productivity article, “Delivering on construction productivity is no longer optional”, explaining why the construction industry must climb out of its productivity rut, but has yet to do so. McKinsey forecasts the need for construction to grow in the next decade or two, however, construction output will be limited by tight labor markets including engineers, craft workers, and project managers. They foresee the near-term labor market as unable to keep up with construction demand. While this dilemma will vary from location-to-location, restriction of immigration will further stress available labor here in the United States.
McKinsey believes the only solution to meet construction demand is to improve construction productivity. They conclude that despite individual companies’ efforts to improve productivity, it has flatlined. See the following Figure. The US construction productivity line in aqua green (lowest) illustrates a productivity decline since 2000.
When concrete designers consider constructability, labor demands are reduced. Time of construction accelerates, conflict and frustration diminished. Bottom line, owners receive greater value from the concrete contractor.
Improving concrete construction productivity is PRO’s focus and mission. PRO’s Constructability Blueprint is a valuable resource that can be used as a guide for all individuals and companies looking to improve their project’s productivity. The digital guide will continually evolve and expand its constructability concepts with input from members and other proven experts in concrete industry productivity. Section 2, “Constructable Design Principles”, is now available! Every owner and designer of concrete can access PRO’s Constructability Blueprint, available for free download.
The American Concrete Institute provides a Concrete Constructability Certificate Program. ACI Certificate Programs, delivered through ACI University, encourage concrete professionals to gain in-depth knowledge about particular topics in concrete materials, design, or construction by following a defined online course of study. Once a certificate program has been completed, the participant will receive a certificate and digital badge from ACI that can be shared on social networks, job search sites, portfolio pages, email signature lines, and more. Over 600 users have already earned their Concrete Constructability badge.
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