Using composite crews to estimate a construction project is the best and most accurate way to develop a cost estimate. On one condition: we know what we are doing. Browse through this slideshow and see what are the most important points to consider when using composite crews for cost estimating.

2. What is a crew and how is it used
in cost estimating?

3. CREW
DEFINITION

4. CREW
DEFINITION
MERRIAM WEBSTER
DICTIONARY DEFINES A
CREW AS:
“ A COMPANY OF
PEOPLE WORKING
ON ONE JOB, OR
UNDER ONE
FOREMAN, OR
OPERATING A
MACHINE”

5. CONSTRUCTION
CREWS

6. CONSTRUCTION
CREWS
• CONSTRUCTION CREWS ARE RESOURCES,
SELECTED AND GROUPED TOGETHER FOR
THE PURPOSE OF PERFORMING SPECIFIC
CONSTRUCTION TASKS/ACTIVITIES.

7. CONSTRUCTION
CREWS
• CONSTRUCTION CREWS ARE RESOURCES,
SELECTED AND GROUPED TOGETHER FOR
THE PURPOSE OF PERFORMING SPECIFIC
CONSTRUCTION TASKS/ACTIVITIES.
• CONSTRUCTION CREWS RESOURCES:

8. CONSTRUCTION
CREWS
• CONSTRUCTION CREWS ARE RESOURCES,
SELECTED AND GROUPED TOGETHER FOR
THE PURPOSE OF PERFORMING SPECIFIC
CONSTRUCTION TASKS/ACTIVITIES.
• CONSTRUCTION CREWS RESOURCES:
• LABOUR

9. CONSTRUCTION
CREWS
• CONSTRUCTION CREWS ARE RESOURCES,
SELECTED AND GROUPED TOGETHER FOR
THE PURPOSE OF PERFORMING SPECIFIC
CONSTRUCTION TASKS/ACTIVITIES.
• CONSTRUCTION CREWS RESOURCES:
• LABOUR
• CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT

10. CONSTRUCTION
CREWS
• CONSTRUCTION CREWS ARE RESOURCES,
SELECTED AND GROUPED TOGETHER FOR
THE PURPOSE OF PERFORMING SPECIFIC
CONSTRUCTION TASKS/ACTIVITIES.
• CONSTRUCTION CREWS RESOURCES:
• LABOUR
• CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT
• SMALL TOOLS (OPTIONAL)

11. CONSTRUCTION
CREWS
• CONSTRUCTION CREWS ARE RESOURCES,
SELECTED AND GROUPED TOGETHER FOR
THE PURPOSE OF PERFORMING SPECIFIC
CONSTRUCTION TASKS/ACTIVITIES.
• CONSTRUCTION CREWS RESOURCES:
• LABOUR
• CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT
• SMALL TOOLS (OPTIONAL)
• TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION
MATERIALS (OPTIONAL)

12. TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
CREWS

13. TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
CREWS
• LABOUR DRIVEN

14. TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
CREWS
• LABOUR DRIVEN
• THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CREW IS BASED ON THE
OVERALL PERFORMANCE OF THE LABOUR COMPONENT

15. TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
CREWS
• LABOUR DRIVEN
• THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CREW IS BASED ON THE
OVERALL PERFORMANCE OF THE LABOUR COMPONENT
• EQUIPMENT DRIVEN

16. TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
CREWS
• LABOUR DRIVEN
• THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CREW IS BASED ON THE
OVERALL PERFORMANCE OF THE LABOUR COMPONENT
• EQUIPMENT DRIVEN
• THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CREW IS BASED ON THE
OVERALL PERFORMANCE OF THE EQUIPMENT
COMPONENT

17. WHY USE CONSTRUCTION
CREWS

18. WHY USE CONSTRUCTION
CREWS
• CONSTRUCTION OF A PROJECT IS A PROCESS COMPOSED OF
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES/TASKS WHICH ARE CAREFULLY
PLANNED FOR OPTIMAL PROJECT PERFORMANCE.

19. WHY USE CONSTRUCTION
CREWS
• CONSTRUCTION OF A PROJECT IS A PROCESS COMPOSED OF
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES/TASKS WHICH ARE CAREFULLY
PLANNED FOR OPTIMAL PROJECT PERFORMANCE.
• WE USE CREWS IN COST ESTIMATING TO PLAN AN EXPECTED
PROJECT PERFORMANCE.

20. WHY USE CONSTRUCTION
CREWS
• CONSTRUCTION OF A PROJECT IS A PROCESS COMPOSED OF
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES/TASKS WHICH ARE CAREFULLY
PLANNED FOR OPTIMAL PROJECT PERFORMANCE.
• WE USE CREWS IN COST ESTIMATING TO PLAN AN EXPECTED
PROJECT PERFORMANCE.
• WE USE CREWS TO MEASURE ACTUAL PERFORMANCE AND
IMPROVE THE PROCESS FOR BETTER FUTURE PERFORMANCE.

21. HOW TO PLAN FOR:
CONSTRUCTION CREW COMPOSITION

22. HOW TO PLAN FOR:
CONSTRUCTION CREW COMPOSITION
• EXPERIENCE

23. HOW TO PLAN FOR:
CONSTRUCTION CREW COMPOSITION
• EXPERIENCE
• THE BEST WAY TO DETERMINE CONSTRUCTION CREW
COMPOSITION IS FROM EXPERIENCE ON PREVIOUS
PROJECTS

24. HOW TO PLAN FOR:
CONSTRUCTION CREW COMPOSITION
• EXPERIENCE
• THE BEST WAY TO DETERMINE CONSTRUCTION CREW
COMPOSITION IS FROM EXPERIENCE ON PREVIOUS
PROJECTS
• COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE DATA

25. HOW TO PLAN FOR:
CONSTRUCTION CREW COMPOSITION
• EXPERIENCE
• THE BEST WAY TO DETERMINE CONSTRUCTION CREW
COMPOSITION IS FROM EXPERIENCE ON PREVIOUS
PROJECTS
• COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE DATA
• THIS IS ONLY RECOMMENDED TO USE AS A STARTING
POINT. IT SHOULD NOT BE USED IN A COST ESTIMATE,
UNLESS IT CAN BE VALIDATED.

26. HOW TO PLAN FOR:
CONSTRUCTION CREW COMPOSITION
• EXPERIENCE
• THE BEST WAY TO DETERMINE CONSTRUCTION CREW
COMPOSITION IS FROM EXPERIENCE ON PREVIOUS
PROJECTS
• COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE DATA
• THIS IS ONLY RECOMMENDED TO USE AS A STARTING
POINT. IT SHOULD NOT BE USED IN A COST ESTIMATE,
UNLESS IT CAN BE VALIDATED.
• THROUGH CONSULTATION WITH CONSTRUCTION
PROFESSIONALS EXPERIENCED IN THE TYPE OF PROJECT

35. PLANNED VS ACTUAL
PERFORMANCE

36. PLANNED VS ACTUAL
PERFORMANCE
CREW PERFORMANCE IS THE AMOUNT OF UNITS PER HOUR.

37. PLANNED VS ACTUAL
PERFORMANCE
CREW PERFORMANCE IS THE AMOUNT OF UNITS PER HOUR.
• PLANNED OR ESTIMATED PERFORMANCE IS CALLED
PRODUCTION RATE. IT IS THE AMOUNT OF UNITS WE
EXPECT THE CREW TO COMPLETE IN AN HOUR, BASED ON
PROJECT SPECIFIC CONDITIONS.

38. PLANNED VS ACTUAL
PERFORMANCE
CREW PERFORMANCE IS THE AMOUNT OF UNITS PER HOUR.
• PLANNED OR ESTIMATED PERFORMANCE IS CALLED
PRODUCTION RATE. IT IS THE AMOUNT OF UNITS WE
EXPECT THE CREW TO COMPLETE IN AN HOUR, BASED ON
PROJECT SPECIFIC CONDITIONS.
• ACTUAL PERFORMANCE IS CALLED PRODUCTIVITY.
PRODUCTIVITY IS THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF UNITS
COMPLETED BY THE CREW IN AN HOUR.

39. PLANNED VS ACTUAL
PERFORMANCE
CREW PERFORMANCE IS THE AMOUNT OF UNITS PER HOUR.
• PLANNED OR ESTIMATED PERFORMANCE IS CALLED
PRODUCTION RATE. IT IS THE AMOUNT OF UNITS WE
EXPECT THE CREW TO COMPLETE IN AN HOUR, BASED ON
PROJECT SPECIFIC CONDITIONS.
• ACTUAL PERFORMANCE IS CALLED PRODUCTIVITY.
PRODUCTIVITY IS THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF UNITS
COMPLETED BY THE CREW IN AN HOUR.
EFFICIENCY IS PRODUCTION RATE DIVIDED BY PRODUCTIVITY.
WE MEASURE EFFICIENCY AND USE IT TO ADJUST
PERFORMANCE.

40. COMPOSITE CREW RATES DATA

41. COMPOSITE CREW RATES DATA
USING COMPOSITE CREWS TO DEVELOP COST ESTIMATING IS THE
MOST ACCURATE METHOD.

42. COMPOSITE CREW RATES DATA
USING COMPOSITE CREWS TO DEVELOP COST ESTIMATING IS THE
MOST ACCURATE METHOD.
IT ALSO SERVES THE PURPOSE OF EXTRACTING DATA FOR VARIOUS
PURPOSES:

43. COMPOSITE CREW RATES DATA
USING COMPOSITE CREWS TO DEVELOP COST ESTIMATING IS THE
MOST ACCURATE METHOD.
IT ALSO SERVES THE PURPOSE OF EXTRACTING DATA FOR VARIOUS
PURPOSES:
• SCHEDULING

44. COMPOSITE CREW RATES DATA
USING COMPOSITE CREWS TO DEVELOP COST ESTIMATING IS THE
MOST ACCURATE METHOD.
IT ALSO SERVES THE PURPOSE OF EXTRACTING DATA FOR VARIOUS
PURPOSES:
• SCHEDULING
• CASH FLOW

45. COMPOSITE CREW RATES DATA
USING COMPOSITE CREWS TO DEVELOP COST ESTIMATING IS THE MOST
ACCURATE METHOD.
IT ALSO SERVES THE PURPOSE OF EXTRACTING DATA FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES:
• SCHEDULING
• CASH FLOW
• UNIT RATES: LABOUR AND EQUIPMENT COST, MAN-HOURS AND CREW
HOURS.

46. COST ESTIMATING
CHALLENGES

47. COST ESTIMATING
CHALLENGES
• ACCESS TO EXISTING, VALIDATED DATA

48. COST ESTIMATING
CHALLENGES
• ACCESS TO EXISTING, VALIDATED DATA
• BALANCE THE JUDGEMENT OF ADJUSTING FACTORS

49. COST ESTIMATING
CHALLENGES
• ACCESS TO EXISTING, VALIDATED DATA
• BALANCE THE JUDGEMENT OF ADJUSTING FACTORS
• KEEPING UP WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION
TECHNOLOGIES

50. COST ESTIMATING
CHALLENGES
• ACCESS TO EXISTING, VALIDATED DATA
• BALANCE THE JUDGEMENT OF ADJUSTING FACTORS
• KEEPING UP WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION
TECHNOLOGIES
• ESTIMATING A TYPE OF PROJECT FOR THE FIRST TIME

51. COST ESTIMATING
CHALLENGES
• ACCESS TO EXISTING, VALIDATED DATA
• BALANCE THE JUDGEMENT OF ADJUSTING FACTORS
• KEEPING UP WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION
TECHNOLOGIES
• ESTIMATING A TYPE OF PROJECT FOR THE FIRST TIME
• OTHERS. THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF CHALLENGES
THAT A COST ESTIMATOR HAS TO OVERCOME.
LEARNING WHERE TO TURN FOR GUIDANCE IS THE
IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW.

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