STEVENS What is the most important class not taught in college? Or, to put it another way, what is the most important skill a construction professional should have? Answer: Managing construction’s craft labor. The labor component of any construction project is the largest opportunity to increase speed, lower cost, and improve quality and safety. It is the line item on any job-cost or profit-and-loss statement. It determines if you will meet, beat or fail to attain your goals. But the subject of managing craft labor is not taught as a focused course in most college construction programs. Without a course
The quality of a business system shows its value in good economies and poor ones. A higher profit captured as compared to peers is an easily measured metric. However, better return on investment may be the more demonstrative measure. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" Specialty contracting is a unique business. It is nomadic, variable cost and has uncertain accounts receivable. Much is not controllable, including when a project starts and when work is ready to be installed. I could list several others but, in my opinion, it is unique. Labor is the great wild card in specialty contracting. It