Best Practices

Field Rework Index

A good predictor tool for rework and cost impact on a construction project is the Field Rework Index (FRI). Take a past project on which you have good data on rework, waste and costs. Then cast your mind back to the design and construction stages of that project and then score each of the question listed below from 1-5, with 1 being the best rating. You can also do this evaluation as a team. See if this score is giving an accurate estimate of rework and cost impact based on your hard data on that past project.
Sept. 1, 2013
2 min read

A good predictor tool for rework and cost impact on a construction project is the Field Rework Index (FRI).

Take a past project on which you have good data on rework, waste and costs. Then cast your mind back to the design and construction stages of that project and then score each of the question listed below from 1-5, with 1 being the best rating. You can also do this evaluation as a team.

See if this score is giving an accurate estimate of rework and cost impact based on your hard data on that past project.

THEN conduct the evaluation on your current or the initial stages of a current project and having the accuracy evaluation from the previous FRI see what the upcoming impact will be on this current or upcoming project!

To improve the score simply address each of the issues addressed in each question.

  1. Degree of alignment between  the various elements (departments, divisions, etc.) of the owner's organization
  2. Degree to which project execution planning was utilized
  3. Design teams qualifications for the specific project
  4. Degree to which leaders of key design disciplines have changed
  5. Quality of field verification of existing conditions by engineering
  6. Quality of interdisciplinary design coordination
  7. Quality of prequalification of vendors for the project
  8. Availability of vendor information for equipment
  9. Degree to which design schedule is compressed
  10. Level of overtime worked by the engineering firm
  11. Level of design rework (repeating design work)
  12. Commitment to constructability of the design and construction team
  13. Expected availability of skilled craft-workers to the project
  14. Expected level of construction contractor overtime

Total Points or Field Rework Score (FRI) =  ______

FRI Score      

14-30               2.5% rework, 7.8% cost savings

30-45               5% rework, 6% cost growth

45-70               7% rework, 25.8% cost growth

70>                  High levels of rework, excessive cost growth issues

 

(Developed by David Rogge, Oregon State University)

About the Author

Denis Leonard

Denis Leonard has a degree in construction engineering an M.B.A. and a Ph.D. in quality management. Denis is a Fellow of the American Society for Quality, a Certified Quality Manager, Auditor and Six Sigma Black Belt. He has been an Examiner for the Baldrige National Quality Award Board of Examiners a Judge on the International Team Excellence Competition and a Lead Judge on the National Housing Quality Award. A former Professor of Quality at the University of Wisconsin, he has experience as a quality manager in the homebuilding industry as well as construction engineer, site manager and in training, auditing and consulting with expertise in strategic and operational quality improvement initiatives. His work has achieved national quality, environmental and safety management awards for clients.

Denis is co-author of 'The Executive Guide to Understanding and Implementing the Baldrige Criteria: Improve Revenue and Create Organizational Excellence'.

http://www.BusinessExcellenceConsulting.net

[email protected]

Full listing of blogs https://www.probuilder.com/author/denis-leonard

Sign up for Custom Builder Newsletters