Productivity is a very important element in the process of construction project management especially with regard to the estimation of the duration of the construction activities, this study aims at developing construction productivity estimating model for marble finishing works of floors using Multivariable Linear Regression technique (MLR). The model was developed based on 100 set of data collected in Iraq for different types of projects such as residential, commercial and educational projects. Which these are used in developing the model and evaluating its performance. Ten influencing factors are utilized for productivity forecasting by MLR model, and they include age, experience, number of the assist labor, height of the floor, size of the marbles tiles, security conditions, health status for the work team, weather conditions, site condition, and availability of construction materials. One model was built for the prediction of the productivity of marble finishing works for floors. It was found that MLR have the ability to predict the productivity for finishing works with excellent degree of accuracy of the coefficient of correlation ( R ) 90.6%, and average accuracy percentage of 96.3%. This indicates that the relationship between the independent and independent variables of the developed models is good and the predicted values from a forecast model fit with the real-life data.
KeywordsMultivariable Linear Regression TechniquesConstruction ProductivityFinishing WorkCoefficient of Correlation
J. Portas and S. AbouRizk, “Neural Network Model for Estimating Construction Productivity,” Journal of Con struction Engineering and Management, Vol. 123, No. 4, 1997, pp. 399-410. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1997)123:4(399)
D. Arditi, O. B. Tokdemir and K. Suh, “Effect of Learn ing-of-Balance Scheduling,” International Journal of Pro ject Management, Vol. 19, No. 5, 2001, pp. 265-277. doi:10.1016/S0263-7863(99)00079-4
D. G. Proverbs, G. D. Holt and P. O. Olomolaiye, “A Comparative Evaluation of Planning Engineers’ Form work Productivity Rates in European Construction,” Build ing and Environment, Vol. 33, No. 4, 1998, pp. 181-187. doi:10.1016/S0360-1323(97)00035-8
J. Christian and D. Hachey, “Effects of Delay Times on Production Rates in Construction,” Journal of Construc tion Engineering and Management, Vol. 121, No. 1, 1995, pp. 20-26. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1995)121:1(20)
A. Kazaz and S. Ulubeyli, “A Different Approach Tocon struction Labour in Turkey: Comparative Productivity Analysis,” Building and Environment, Vol. 39, No. 1, 2004, pp. 93-100. doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2003.08.004
C. H. Oglesby, H. W. Parker and G. A. Howell, “Produc tivity Improvement in Construction,” McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1989.
R. Sonmez and J. E. Rowings, “Construction Labor Pro ductivity Modeling with Neural Networks,” Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Vol. 124, No. 6, 1998, pp. 498-504. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1998)124:6(498)
J. C. Kellogg, G. E. Howell and D. C. Taylor, “Hierarchy Model of Construction Productivity,” Journal of the Con struction Division, Vol. 107, No. 1, 1981, pp. 137-152.
Business Roundtable, “Construction Productivity Meas urement,” Report No. A-1, Business Roundtable, New York, 1982.
H. R. Thomas and I. Yiakoumis, “Factor Model of Con struction Productivity,” Journal of Construction Engi neering and Management, Vol. 113, No. 4, 1987, pp. 626-639. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1987)113:4(623)
H. R. Thomas, W. F. Maloney, R. M. W. Horner, G. R. Smith, V. K. Handa and S. R. Sanders, “Modeling Con struction Labor Productivity,” Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Vol. 116, No. 4, 1990, pp. 705-726. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1990)116:4(705)
J. D. Borcherding, “Improving Productivity in Industrial Construction,” Journal of the Construction Division, Vol. 102, No. 4, 1976, pp. 599-613.
J. D. Borcherding, S. J. Sebastian and N. M. Samelson, “Improving Motivation and Productivity on Large Pro jects,” Journal of the Construction Division, Vol. 106, No. 1, 1980, pp. 73-89.
W. F. Maloney, “Productivity Improvement: The Influ ence of Labor,” Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Vol. 109, No. 3, 1983, pp. 321-334. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1983)109:3(321)
C. H. Oglesby, H. W. Parker and G. A. Howell, “Produc tivity Improvement in Construction,” McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York, 1989.
R. D. Logcher and W. C. Collins, “Management Impacts on Labor Productivity,” Journal of the Construction Divi sion, Vol. 104, No. 4, 1978, pp. 447-461.
H. R. Thomas, V. E. Sanvido and S. R. Sanders, “Impact of Material Management on Productivity—A Case Study,” Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Vol. 115, No. 3, 1989, pp. 370-384. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1989)115:3(370)
C. W. Ibbs and W. E. Allen, “Quantitative Impacts of Project Change,” Source Document 108, Construction Industry Institute, University of Texas at Austin, 1995.
C. W. Ibbs, “Quantitative Impacts of Project Change: Size Issues,” Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Vol. 123, No. 3, 1997, pp. 308-311. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1997)123:3(308)
A. S. Hanna, J. S. Russell, T. W. Gotzion and E. V. Nord heim, “Impact of Change Orders on Labor Efficiency for Mechanical Construction,” Journal of Construction En gineering and Management, Vol. 125, No. 3, 1999, pp. 176-184. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1999)125:3(176)
H. R. Thomas, D. R. Riley and V. E. Sanvido, “Loss of Labor Productivity Due to Delivery Methods and Wea ther,” Journal of Construction Engineering and Man agement, Vol. 125, No. 1, 1999, pp. 39-46. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1999)125:1(39)
W. Ibbs, “Impact of Change’s Timing on Labor Produc tivity,” Journal of Construction Engineering and Man agement, Vol. 131, No. 11, 2005, pp. 1219-1229. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2005)131:11(1219)
A. S. Hanna, C. K. Chang, J. A. Lackney and K. T. Sulli van, “Impact of Overmanning on Mechanical and Sheet Metal Labor Productivity,” Journal of Construction En gineering and Management, Vol. 133, No. 1, 2007, pp. 22-28. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2007)133:1(22)
H. R. Thomas, C. T. Mathews and J. G. Ward, “Learning Curve Models of Construction Productivity,” Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Vol. 112, No. 2, 1986, pp. 245-258. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1986)112:2(245)
J. G. Everett and S. Farghal, “Learning Curve Predictors for Construction Field Operations,” Journal of Construc tion Engineering and Management, Vol. 120, No. 3, 1994, pp. 603-616. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1994)120:3(603)
J. P. Couto and J. C. Teixeira, “Using Linear Model for Learning Curve Effect on Highrise Floor Construction,” Construction Management & Economics, Vol. 23, No. 4, 2005, pp. 355-364. doi:10.1080/01446190500040505
A. M. Jarkas, “Critical Investigation into Applicability of the Learning Curve Theory to Rebar Fixing Labor Pro ductivity,” Journal of Construction Engineering and Ma nagement, Vol. 136, No. 12, 2010, pp. 1279-1288. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000236
A. M. Jarkas and M. Horner, “Revisiting the Applicabil ity of Learning Curve Theory to Formwork Labour Pro ductivity,” Construction Management & Economics, Vol. 29, No. 5, 2011, pp. 483-493. doi:10.1080/01446193.2011.562911
H. R. Thomas and I. Zavrski, “Construction Baseline Productivity: Theory and Practice,” Journal of Construc tion Engineering and Management, Vol. 125, No. 5, 1999, pp. 295-303. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1999)125:5(295)
H. R. Thomas and V. E. Sanvido, “Quantification of Losses Caused by Labor Inefficiencies: Where Is the Elu sive Measured Mile?” Construction Law and Business, Vol. 1, No. 3, 2000, pp. 1-14.
W. Ibbs and M. Liu, “Improved Measured Mile Analysis Technique,” Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Vol. 131, No. 12, 2005, pp. 1249-1256. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2005)131:12(1249)
L. D. Nguyen and W. Ibbs, “Case Law and Variations in Cumulative Impact Productivity Claims,” Journal of Con struction Engineering and Management, Vol. 136, No. 8, 2010, pp. 826-833. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000193
N. Al-Taweel and M. A. Saeed, “Measuring Standard Times for Labors Productivity for a Number of Different Work Items,” Journal in Engineering and Technology, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2005, 1991, pp. 249-256.
A. J. Tahar, “Studying Labour Productivity for Some Working Items in Construction Projects,” Msc. Thesis, University of Technology, Iraq, 1995.
A. Abd-allah, “Effect of Wages and Incentives on Labours Productivity in Construction Sector in Iraq,” Master Thesis, University of Technology, Iraq, 1999.
F. M. S. Al-Zwainy, “The Use of Artificial Neural Networks for Productivity Estimation of finishing Stone Works for Building Projects,” Journal of Engineering and Development, Vol. 16, No. 2, 2012, pp. 42-60. http://www.iasj.net/iasj?func=fulltext&aId=68252
F. M. S. Al-Zwainy, A. R. Hatem and F. I. Huda, “Using Artificial Neural Network for Finishing Works for Floors with Marble,” ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Vol. 7, No. 6, 2012, pp. 714-722. http://www.arpnjournals.com/jeas/research_papers/rp_2012/jeas_0612_714.pdf
R. V. Hogg and J. Ledolter, “Applied Statistics for Engineers and Physical Scientists,” 2nd Edition, Macmillan, New York, 1992.
S. D. Smith, “Earthmoving Productivity Using Linear Re gression Techniques,” Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Vol. 125, No. 3, 1999, pp. 133-141. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(1999)125:3(133)
A. Makulsawatudom and M. Emsley, “Critical Factors Influencing Construction Productivity in Thailand,” Jour nal of KMITNB, Vol. 14, No. 3, 2004, pp. 1-6.
B. N. Gupta, “An Introduction to Modern Statistics,” Indian Institution of Public Administration, New Delhi, 1973.