Concrete Products

JAN 2018

Concrete Products covers the issues that attract producers of ready mixed and manufactured concrete focusing on equipment and material technology, market development and management topics.

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24 • January 2018 www.concreteproducts.com NEWS SCOPE MARKETS Prefabricated elements top commercial contractors' productivity catalysts Ninety percent of contractors surveyed for the USG Corporation + U.S. Chamber of Commerce Q4 2017 Commercial Construction Index do not consider jobsites to be very efficient. Respondents identify labor productivity as the means to achieving jobsite efficiency, a metric they acknowledge can be improved by using more prefabricated building elements. Productivity and job site operations improvements aside, the Q4 2017 CCI nevertheless reveals strong confidence in commercial construction prospects: 57 percent of contractors surveyed expect to hire in the next six months— accepting concerns about skilled-labor costs and worker skill adequacy—and a large majority report stable 2018 revenue expectations. "Commercial contractors remain optimistic about the industry outlook, although labor productivity and costs are hindering jobsite efficiency," says Jennifer Scanlon, chief executive officer of Chicago-based USG. "There is an urgent need for innovations in building materials and workforce development programs." "The commercial construction industry is essential to the U.S. economy. It's great news that the majority of these companies are ready to hire," adds U.S. Chamber CEO Thomas Donohue. "As worker shortages persist across industries, sectors like commercial construction will have to find solutions through new innovations, technology, and training to continue growing and moving the broader economy forward." USG + U.S. Chamber CCI research was developed with Dodge Data & Ana- lytics by surveying commercial and institutional contractors. The Index looks at the results of three leading indicators to gauge confidence—backlog levels, new business opportunities and revenue forecasts—generating a composite index on a scale of 0 to 100. The Q4 2017 score was 74, up one point from Q3, representing a consistent sentiment of sector health. CONSTRUCTION EFFICIENCY, PRODUCTIVITY Issues Impacting Jobsite Efficiency 44% Labor productivity 29% Jobsite logistics (materials management, communications) 21% Project management tools and methods related to jobsite activities 6% Use of advanced tools and equipment Top Three Means of Improving Labor Productivity 35% Increased use of prefabricated components 40% Increased training on communication skills 20% Use of lean construction practices Top Three Means of Improving Jobsite Logistics 48% Increased training on management/organizational skills 35% Increased use of prefabricated components 32% Just-in-time product materials/deliveries SOURCE: USG + U.S. Chamber Q4 2017 CCI www.hydronix.com Tel: +1 231 439 5000 or email:enquiries@hydronix.com Our new sensor models retain the existing proven exterior design but have been updated internally for an even better performance • Accurate, consistent, real time moisture measurement • Digital technology with precise linear output • Easy to integrate into new or existing systems • Remote calibration and confi guration • Temperature stable Updated: Hydro-Mix for Concrete Mixers Updated: Hydro-Probe for Aggregate Bins Our Moisture Measurement is Better than Ever

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