Evaluation of Plastering Crew Performance in Building Projects Using Data Envelopment Analysis

Abstract

The research question addressed in this study was how the performance of construction crews working in a certain project or locality could be evaluated, ranked and improved. To develop and demonstrate the relevant framework, data envelopment analysis (DEA) was applied to establish the relative efficiency of plastering crews working in building projects located in different cities around Turkey. Data were collected from 40 crews of varying characteristics, and their technical efficiency scores were computed using the Banker, Charnes and Cooper (BCC) model, which is based on variable returns-to-scale (VRS). The model yields efficiency scores that range between 0 and 1, and a company or crew is considered efficient if its score is 1.0 (100%). Efficient and inefficient crews were identified and ranked on this basis in the study. Cross tabulation analyses were subsequently conducted to gain further insights into the relationships between the efficiency scores and input factors of numbers of skilled and unskilled laborers, daily labor unit costs, work hours, average age of crew members, total crew experience, plastering location, plastering technique, and plaster type. No discernible relationship could be identified between the efficiency scores and productivity outputs of the crews. It was found that plastering technique, plastering location, and total crew experience had a significant association with crew efficiency. Efficiency improvement strategies identified included training, hiring experienced plasterers, adopting more advanced plastering technology, implementing better jobsite management practices, and enhancing workers’ knowledge, skills and attitude towards productivity and quality.

Determination of construction process duration based on labor productivity estimation: A case study

“…However, it is necessary to stress out that the productivity of 11.35 m 2 includes plastering of wall and ceiling constructions that were treated with a 5-mm-thick coating with a higher performance value (see Section 3.1). If we evaluate the productivity of wall plastering, as was done by Gerek et al (2016), the performance value corresponds to 9.08 m 2 , which is approximately the same value. Idiake and Ikemefuna (2014) deal with the productivity of plastering works using the conceptual (site-based) model.…”

“…On the other hand, the values measured at the housing project Vsetin, which is of a smaller volume, were 18% lower, which was caused by the above-mentioned volume and lower frequency of repeated works. Studies by Western authors make use of various methods of plastering works productivity measuring, for example, the data envelopment analysis (DEA), described by Gerek et al (2016), which makes use of a model BCC. The performance of 40 working groups was evaluated using this method and the mean value of performance represents a 45.4 m 2 /group/shift, which corresponds to the output of 9.1 m 2 /1 worker (in the case of a work group consisting of five workers).…”

“…Evaluation of plastering crew performance is the subject of the study published by Gerek et al (2016). Data were collected from 40 crews of varying characteristics, and their technical efficiency scores were computed using the banker, charnes, and cooper (BCC) model, which is based on variable returns-to-scale (VRS).…”

Emissões de CO2 de sistemas de revestimento de argamassa: estudo de caso de aplicação de argamassa projetada comparativamente à aplicação convencional

“…Dessa forma, Zanelatto (2012) e Gerek et al (2016) afirmam que esse sistema tende a apresentar heterogeneidades no produto final. Essas não uniformidades são provenientes tanto da diferença de execução entre pedreiros com diferentes técnicas de realização, como também pelas variações na energia de lançamento de argamassa por parte do operador durante horas seguidas de trabalho.…”