Note 03 · Work mix and labor
What is inside your MH/ton?
Change the work mix and labor per pick. See why the same MH/ton can describe very different operations.
Data model
See the plan come together
One working example connecting steel quantities to crew time, crane demand, and measured progress. Try the interactive examples below and follow the sequences in the erection plan. The current example contains 1,505 short tons, 3,087 model pieces and 2,642 planned crane picks.
Each step converts the same project information into a more useful planning and control decision.
- Project informationModel pieces, tonnage, estimate, milestones and operating constraints.
- Work packagesOrganize the project into erection sequences and measurable scopes.
- Production unitsConvert model pieces into planned picks and classify the installed work.
- Production ratesApply expected rates by work class instead of one uniform tonnage target.
- Crew-days and MHCalculate the duration and labor demand required by each sequence.
- Time-phased scheduleTime-phase the work using the calculated sequence durations.
- Resources and progressLoad crews and cranes, allocate the budget and claim completed gates.
- Validate and improveCompare plan to actual performance and carry the learning into the next estimate.
Interactive production examples
Explore the production model
Explore 9 interactive examples, from picks and crew-days to the 4D model, completion gates and earned-value S-curves. Each example connects back to the note that explains it.
Note 04 · Picks and crew time
From pieces to planned picks
Erect 10 tons using different piece weights and pick groupings. Follow the effect on picks, crew time, and labor.
Note 05 · Duration and labor
Build the sequence from crew-days
Adjust work-class rates and raising-gang size for one steel erection sequence. Connect crew-days to duration, labor, and MH/ton.
Note 06 · Schedule and resources
Will the crane be available?
Move three work packages through an eight-week schedule. Compare crane demand, raising-gang staffing, and the finish one crane can support.
Note 07 · Crews and handoffs
Move the factory through the building
Move the raising gang and follow-on crews through six work areas. Compare faster erection with more welding capacity.
Note 08 · Completion and earned credit
Update the weekly claims
Update five operations in 25% increments. See weekly claimed completion turn budgeted hours into earned credit.
Note 09 · Flow and throughput
Find the bottleneck
Start with a hike, then switch to steel erection. Change the pace of the work and see what controls the finish.
Note 10 · Model, schedule and progress
Connect the model, schedule and progress
Select an erection sequence in the model and Gantt schedule. Compare planned timing with accepted completion gates, earned labor and actual hours.
Note 11 · Progress and performance
Compare planned, earned and actual labor
Compare three labor and schedule scenarios. Move the status date to see cumulative hours, performance ratios and variances.
Production plan
Sequence quantities, installed units, pick classifications, production rates, crew-days and planned man-hours.
Schedule and resources
Time-phased sequence durations with weekly crane activity and manpower demand.
Progress controls
Budget allocation, completion gates, claimed value, actual hours and earned-value reporting by operation and sequence.
Where this approach has been used
On a large microchip fab project, I worked with the project manager and superintendent to connect model quantities, the existing schedule and agreed completion gates for a box-truss operation. Weekly updates helped the team review progress, manpower needs and inventory for two cranes. The team reused the process in Phase 2. That application focused on scheduling and progress claiming; it did not include all the production tracking explored in these production examples.