The sensitivity of bricklayers' output to changes in skill

Abstract

This paper examines the influence of skill on bricklayers' ouput. Time utilization in 25 working day activities by 157 bricklayers on 11 sites in the U.K. were surveyed using a computerized activity sampling package. Using Stepwise regression techniques, output was modelled on six of the 25 activities found to be crucial to output and skill related. The effects of changes in bricklayers' skill in these activities were then analysed with the STELLA mathematical modelling software. It was found that output is most sensitive to skill changes in the "lay brick" element. Overall, there was a 1:1.25 relationship between skill changes in the critical activities and production output