be at stake for the owner, the contractor, and even the architect, not to mention the eventual end users. Decisions to eliminate craft training and educational opportunities at vocational high schools and the decrease in labor union training have greatly affected the industry. The shortage of skilled workers immediately impacts the ability of the construction manager to deliver a quality product on time and within budget to the owner. It is the single most important issue facing the industry today.
The Industry Image
In my estimation, construction is one of the most honorable professions that a person can pursue. However, the image of the construction industry is admittedly not always a positive one. As so often is the case, the negative aspects of this industry get the most coverage in the media and through word-of-mouth. The positive aspects—and there are many—are less often communicated, leaving us with the stereotypical images of construction. Practitioners who are all brawn and no brains, an unreliable workforce, a dangerous and dirty work environment, unscrupulous con artists posing as professional contractors, and entrenched discriminatory and sexist attitudes are some of the imagery conjured up regarding the construction industry. Don't get me wrong, the industry has its challenges; however, I find the industry to be filled with principled, hardworking, dedicated individuals, committed to building better communities. The industry may not have done the best job projecting its image in a positive light over the years, but that is changing. And as a teacher of the next generation of construction professionals, I can tell you that the future is looking very bright.
An Industry in Transition
Turning the image of the construction industry around is no easy task. Millions of dollars have been invested by several construction associations over the past several years in an effort to change the public's perception, and it appears to be paying off. The Associated General Contractors (AGC) has developed an exciting campaign called Construction Futures, an initiative designed to alter the current perception of the construction industry and to inform and educate youngsters, their parents, and teachers about the career opportunities that the construction industry has to offer.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) created a public service campaign called Home Builders Care to recognize contractors who have contributed millions of dollars in cash, building materials, supplies, and countless volunteer hours to community charities through local community service projects.
Another effort, ABCares, is a national community service initiative undertaken by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) to recognize chapters that contribute significantly to their communities.
NOTE
Even the toy industry appears to be contributing to the rebuilding of the industry's image, although unintentionally, I'm sure. The Bob the Builder television franchise has sold millions of dolls, storybooks, and assorted toys in recent years.
It is hard to tell whether the efforts by the various construction associations have paid off, but it seems that the industry is clearly in transition, and there are clear signs that a new respect for construction is emerging. The days of the individual master builder are long gone, but the new master builder, the collaborative team, is taking on challenges the likes of which have never been seen before, and the world is watching. The rebuilding of the Pentagon after September 11, 2001, is a good example. A project that was slated to take five years by federal government estimates was completed by September 11, 2002, in only 364 days by men and women determined to show what the American construction industry can do.
In 2004 and 2006 the Construction Users Round Table (CURT) published two white papers. The 2004 paper was entitled “Collaboration, Integrated Information, and the Project Lifecycle in Building Design, Construction and Operation.” The 2006 paper was entitled “Optimizing the Construction Process: An Implementation Strategy.” (You can access both papers on the CURT website at www.curt.org. The papers are free for members and available for a small fee to nonmembers.) These white papers stress the need for more collaboration and teamwork among project players in the design and construction process and the implementation and use of advanced technology to address design and construction integration issues. The Construction Users Round Table represents owners—our clients, stakeholders, and end users in the construction business—and it is very important that we listen to what the organization is saying. These white papers articulate a clear message about the direction owners want the industry to take, and it appears that contractors and construction managers are responding.
Technology
As with most industries, advancements in technology have revolutionized the way that we do business in construction. Software programs are available to assist with almost every management function in construction. Programs for estimating, scheduling, cost control, project administration, and team collaboration are common. Projects are managed using web-based “project integration” programs that allow all members of the team to exchange information, access building plans and specifications, process change orders, and even view construction activities and progress via a webcam from thousands of miles away. Building foundations and layouts are pinpointed using laser levels and GPS on a regular basis. Just as CAD revolutionized architecture practice in the early 1980s, architects, engineers, and constructors can now develop three-dimensional BIM models and virtual reality to improve design, constructability, safety, and training. Now the project team can conduct constructability reviews and anticipate and address construction problems before the first shovel of dirt is ever turned on the job site.
constructability reviews
A design review process in which experienced contractors and construction managers work with designers to ensure that the details of the design actually can be built in an efficient and cost-effective manner. The process entails review of materials, application, installation techniques, field execution, and building systems.
The construction environment is becoming more and more complicated, and the need for innovation is paramount. Not only has technology changed the way that we manage projects, but building materials, construction methods, and the projects themselves have become more sophisticated. Buildings are becoming “smart.” Automated homes, offices, plants, and other facilities are using computers, networks, and programs to control specific operations such as temperature, airflow, lighting levels, and access.
BIM model
A digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a building displayed as a 3D model, with the added capability to integrate a whole array of design and construction data related to cost, schedule, materials, assembly, maintenance, energy use, and more.
Simply knowing how to swing a hammer or wield a power drill will not cut it anymore. It is not uncommon for even the smallest of construction firms to have laptop computers in the job trailer and computer tablets in every job foreman's hand. Anyone who perceives the construction industry to be all brawn and no brains certainly has not visited a job site lately. “Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore!”
Globalization
With annual revenues expected to reach over $15 trillion worldwide by 2030, more and more U.S. companies are pursuing international opportunities. It is projected that China, the United States, and India will account for 57 percent of all global growth in construction over the next decade according to PwC (Price Waterhouse and Coopers).
Each
