BUSINESS
How to Estimate Construction Crew Productivity
Contractor method for estimating crew output from production rate, crew size and man-hours.
Crew productivity is output divided by man-hours. It tells you whether a crew is on pace and what a realistic daily production target is for bidding.
THE SHORT ANSWER
How do you estimate crew productivity?
Multiply the production rate per person per hour by the crew size and hours. A rate of 150 sq ft/hr/person with 3 workers over 8 hours is 24 man-hours and 3,600 sq ft of output.
Set a realistic production rate
Start with the area one person can produce per hour in the trade and conditions. Confirm it for the actual crew, not an industry average.
Count man-hours, not crew hours
Man-hours are the crew size times hours worked. A 3-person crew over 8 hours is 24 man-hours, which is the basis for output and cost.
- Production rate / person / hr
- Crew size
- Hours worked
- Man-hours
Multiply to the daily output
Output is the production rate times the man-hours. A 150 sq ft/hr rate over 24 man-hours is 3,600 sq ft, a useful daily target.
Use output to check the bid
Compare the computed output against the crew's actual pace. If the estimate assumes more than the crew can do, the bid is at risk. Use the Construction Crew Productivity Calculator.