It’s no secret that, despite improvements in its employment rate that rose steeply last month, the construction industry still struggles with labor shortages. In fact, 40% of construction companies turn down new projects because they don’t have enough skilled labor, according to the latest USG-Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index, produced with Dodge Data & Analysts and based on responses from a Contractor Panel of more than 2,700 industry decision makers.
Most builders have already revved up their recruitment and training machines to attract and retain workers. Others are leaning into technology to find work-saving solution. Southland Industries, one of the industry’s largest MEP building systems firms, is also focusing on process refinement, training, and technology integration that bring into play, among other things, offsite construction and fabrication, data centralization and virtualization, the intersection of design engineering and detailing, and BIM to improve information delivery.
Judd Fuoto, Southland’s lead solutions analyst, tells BD+C that his large company, with its many priorities, is trying to achieve a balance that aligns its business and technology agendas. Southland is also trying to avoid the trap too many other companies fall for when they dive into new things without defining success or gauging risk.
“There’s a lot of software solutions out there looking for problems,” he says. “And that software often addresses specific things but doesn’t play nice with each other.”
Southland’s methodology is to document its workflow and to let the results prompt process improvements. It has also overhauled its technology governance so that “we’re staying aligned with what’s important and what’s effective.”
Southland's new office space and fabrication facility in Southern California, built by H. Hendy Associates, is laid out to create synergy among processes and worker teams. Hendy even measured the number of steps it would take employees to get to key areas, and designed pathways through the floor plan to support the quickest navigation patterns. The facility also includes a new R&D center. Image: Southland Industries
Fuoto concedes that some measurements so far have been anecdotal, and some are trackable “if we hit intended targets.” But there have been noteworthy gains. By automating its plants’ commissioning Southland has improved worker capacity by an average of 45 minutes per person per day, according to a recent poll with responses from 115 workers in the field.
At the very least, says Fuoto, it’s important for companies in this industry to determine what problems they are trying to solve, and then find the tools needed, instead of “chasing after every shiny gadget” first and then trying to apply them to their company’s operations.
“Will the tool augment or disrupt your process” is what all companies, including Southland, need to keep asking themselves before they make costly investments in software, equipment, or even factories.
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Apr 7, 2022
Ken Soble Tower becomes world’s largest residential Passive House retrofit
The project team for the 18-story high-rise for seniors slashed the building’s greenhouse gas emissions by 94 percent and its heating energy demand by 91 percent.
M/E/P Systems | Jan 27, 2022
Top 5 building HVAC system problems and how to fix them
When your HVAC system was new, it was designed to keep the indoor environment comfortable, functional, and safe. Over time, that system can drift out of alignment, leading to wasted resources, excessive energy consumption, and reduced occupant comfort.
M/E/P Systems | Sep 15, 2021
New Harvard study expands research into impact of indoor air quality on occupant performance
People in buildings in six countries were monitored for a year.
AEC Tech | Oct 28, 2020
Meet Jaibot, Hilti's new construction robot
The semi-autonomous robot is designed to assist MEP contractors with ceiling-drilling applications.
Building Team | Aug 21, 2020
A healthcare project in Wisconsin benefits from including MEP subs in early design discussions
Prefabrication played a major role in quickening construction.
Coronavirus | Apr 1, 2020
TLC’s Michael Sheerin offers guidance on ventilation in COVID-19 healthcare settings
Ventilation engineering guidance for COVID-19 patient rooms
Sponsored | HVAC | Feb 3, 2020
Reliable Building Systems Increase Net Operating Income by Retaining Tenants
Tenants increasingly expect a well-crafted property that feels unique, authentic, and comfortable—with technologically advanced systems and spaces that optimize performance and encourage collaboration and engagement. The following guidance will help owners and property managers keep tenants happy.
Sponsored | HVAC | Jan 6, 2020
Four Ways Building Systems Create Long-term Profitability
When accounting for the total cost of ownership and the potential return on investment, owners and developers should consider total energy usage, the lifespan of building systems equipment, the recruitment and retention of occupants, and lease rates.
Sponsored | HVAC | Jan 6, 2020
Maximize Energy Efficiency in Class A Office Buildings With Modern Building Systems
Energy-efficient building design starts with the building envelope, but the building systems have a tremendous impact on energy use as well.
75 Top Building Products | Dec 16, 2019
101 Top Products for 2019
Building Design+Construction readers and editors select their top building products for the past 12 months in the fourth-annual 101 Top Products report.