Trade Review
"This very timely book fills a gap in many construction management curricula. As the role of superintendent on construction projects becomes more complex, the need for updated training has become more urgent. As with their other books, Holm and Schaufelberger provide clear and thorough explanations and relevant graphics in Construction Superintendents. The case study makes the content relatable and applicable to students, an increasing number of whom are interested in becoming superintendents."
- Joseph Fradella, P.E., Senior Instructor, Oregon State University
"I have been in the commercial construction industry for almost twenty years and a professor in construction management academia now for the past thirteen, this book is a long time coming. The construction site superintendents of today are much different than they were even ten years ago. The next generation of men and women need a certain skill set and education that has never been seen before. This book addressed a gap in our construction industry body-of-knowledge, combining the technology and human elements superintendents need to succeed in our industry."
- Phil Barlow, Professor, Construction Management Department, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
"The success of any construction project is greatly dependent on the experience, knowledge, technical skills and people skills of the project superintendent. For many years superintendents started their career in the trades gaining experience through their apprenticeship, working with tools as a journeyman, supervising tradesmen and subcontractors as a foremen, and, finally, after many years they were qualified to be a project superintendent. Unfortunately, the well published shortage of construction workers today has reduced the ranks of potential superintendents. Contractors can no longer depend on an adequate supply of superintendents with a trade background and increasingly have looked to the universities to train the superintendents of the future.
Construction Superintendents: Essential Skills for the Next Generation is an outstanding introduction to the role and responsibilities of the superintendent. This book goes well beyond the typical project management textbooks and dives into the unique skillset a successful superintendent must possess. This textbook should be required reading for all construction management students."
- Ernie Emmert, Vice President Operations (retired), Howard S. Wright Constructors
"We are very fortunate that Len Holm and John Schaufelberger have combined their valuable experience and significant industry resources to develop a practical text for the unique position of construction superintendent."
- Ed Kommers, P.E., Executive Director, MCA of Western Washington
"Based on my personal experience in career of over 37 years with Turner, I am enthused about the premise and subject matter of this book. It’s important for the ongoing success of our industry to understand that the performance of the Project Superintendent is key to any project’s success in the field. Today’s responsibility and leadership functions placed within this position warrant a foundational college education within the relevant professional curriculum, and I applaud Mr. Holm and Dr. Schaufelberger for their recognition of same through this publication."
- Philip Lovell, P.E., Retired Vice President and Operations Manager, Turner Construction Company
"Holm and Schaufelberger have always been visionaries in the construction industry. In the future construction superintendents will only be asked to do more with less, having more responsibilities and needing even more technical and personal skills. This book is the foundation for the construction superintendent of tomorrow."
- Christian LaRocco, Partner, Development Manager, MJR Development
"…[An] excellent volume [that]… provides an intimate and unique insight into the new century's adaptation of the theory and practice of modern management to address the ongoing professionalization and emerging specialized needs of the construction industry and its future leaders…" –S.R. Kahn, Choice
"This very timely book fills a gap in many construction management curricula. As the role of superintendent on construction projects becomes more complex, the need for updated training has become more urgent. As with their other books, Holm and Schaufelberger provide clear and thorough explanations and relevant graphics in Construction Superintendents. The case study makes the content relatable and applicable to students, an increasing number of whom are interested in becoming superintendents."
- Joseph Fradella, P.E., Senior Instructor, Oregon State University
"I have been in the commercial construction industry for almost twenty years and a professor in construction management academia now for the past thirteen, this book is a long time coming. The construction site superintendents of today are much different then they were even ten years ago. The next generation of men and women need a certain skill set and education that has never seen before. This book addressed a gap in our construction industry body-of-knowledge, combining the technology and human elements superintendents need to succeed in our industry."
- Phil Barlow, Professor - CM Department - Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
"The success of any construction project is greatly dependent on the experience, knowledge, technical skills and people skills of the Project Superintendent. For many years Superintendents started their career in the trades gaining experience through their apprenticeship, working with tools as a Journeyman, supervising tradesmen and subcontractors as a Foremen, and finally, after many years they were qualified to be a Project Superintendent. Unfortunately, the well published shortage of construction workers today has reduced the ranks of potential Superintendents. Contractors can no longer depend on an adequate supply of Superintendents with a trade background and increasingly have looked to the Universities to train the Superintendents of the future.
Construction Superintendents: Essential Skills for the Next Generation is an outstanding introduction to the role and responsibilities of the Superintendent. This book goes well beyond the typical Project Management textbooks and dives into the unique skillset a successful Superintendent must possess. This textbook should be required reading for all Construction Management students."
- Ernie Emmert, Vice President Operations retired, Howard S Wright Constructors
"We are very fortunate that Len Holm & John Schaufelberger have combined their valuable experience and significant industry resources to develop a practical text for the unique position of construction superintendent."
- Ed Kommers, P.E., Executive Director, MCA of Western Washington
"Based on my personal experience in career of over 37 years with Turner, I am enthused about the premise and subject matter of this book. It’s important for the ongoing success of our industry to understand that the performance of the Project Superintendent is key to any project’s success in the field. Today’s responsibility and leadership functions placed within this position warrant a foundational college education within the relevant professional curriculum, and I applaud Mr. Holm and Dr. Schaufelberger for their recognition of same through this publication."
- Philip Lovell, P.E., Retired Vice President and Operations Manager, Turner Construction Company
"Holm and Schaufelberger have always been visionaries in the construction industry. In the future construction superintendents will only be asked to do more with less, having more responsibilities and needing even more technical and personal skills. This book is the foundation for the construction superintendent of tomorrow."
- Christian LaRocco, Partner, Development Manager, MJR Development
Table of Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
Preface
Abbreviations
Section A: Introductory concepts
Chapter 1 Introduction
Superintendents
Construction phases
Preconstruction planning
Start-up and mobilization
Construction operations
Close-out
Terminology and concepts
Case studies
Case study 1, commercial construction project
Case study 2, heavy civil construction project
Case study 3, commercial - industrial hybrid construction
project
Review questions
Chapter 2 Construction management fundamentals
Introduction
Contracting parties
Procurement
Project delivery
Traditional project delivery method
Agency construction management project delivery method
Construction management-at-risk delivery method
Design-build project delivery method
Bridging project delivery method
Integrated project delivery method
Public-private partnership project delivery method
Pricing methods
Contracts
Summary
Review questions
Exercises
Chapter 3 Construction organizations and responsibilities
Introduction
Organizations
Jobsite teams
Responsibilities
Home office responsibilities
Superintendent responsibilities
Removal of stereotypes
Project manager responsibilities
Other team members
Team cohesiveness
Summary
Review questions
Exercises
Section B: Preconstruction planning
Chapter 4 Preconstruction services
Introduction
Formal and informal preconstruction processes
Delivery method impacts, including IPD
Preconstruction contracts and fees
Estimating
Superintendent’s role during preconstruction
Summary
Review questions
Exercises
Chapter 5 Constructability analysis
Introduction
Design phases
Programming
Conceptual design
Schematic design
Design development
Construction documents
Constructability input
Value engineering
Summary
Review questions
Exercises
Chapter 6 Schedule preparation
Introduction
Schedule types
Contract schedules
Planning versus scheduling
Schedule development
Schedules as tools
Summary
Review questions
Exercises
Chapter 7 Superintendent preconstruction plans
Introduction
Risk analysis
Safety planning
Quality control planning
Hoisting plan
Traffic plan
Summary
Review questions
Exercises
Section C: Start-up and mobilization
Chapter 8 Site logistics planning
Introduction
Site logistics drawing
Material management
Lean construction
Off-site prefabrication
Just-in-time deliveries
Environmental considerations
Summary
Review questions
Exercises
Chapter 9 Team development
Introduction
Subcontractors
Subcontract agreements
Foremen
Labor relations
Summary
Review questions
Exercises
Chapter 10 Team building
Introduction
Superintendent and project owner relations
Superintendent and design team relations
Superintendent and city relations
Superintendent and neighborhood and community relations
Summary
Review questions
Exercises
Chapter 11 Mobilization
Introduction
Superintendent’s mobilization
Site surveys
Locating existing utilities
Site camp
Equipment mobilization
Preconstruction meeting with the city
Pre start-up activities
Project manager’s mobilization
Summary
Review questions
Exercises
Section D: Construction operations
Chapter 12 Superintendent control systems
Introduction
Safety control
Cost control
Direct labor management
Whole project direct work labor curve
Work packages
Cash flow management
Change order processing
Extra work orders
Back charges
Pay request processing
Direct labor productivity
Risk management
Summary
Review questions
Exercises
Chapter 13 Schedule control
Introduction
Schedule control techniques
Contract schedule: Status, update and revise
Lean construction techniques: Pull planning
Short-interval schedules
Specialty, area, system, and subcontract schedules
Summary
Review questions
Exercises
Chapter 14 Equipment management
Introduction
Construction tools
Equipment choices
Ownership
Internally owned
Contractor equipment companies
Outside ownership
Subcontractor ownership
Contracting
Operation
Self-operated
Rented and subcontractor-operated
Subcontractor provided
Owner-operators
Equipment safety
Equipment costs
Maintenance expense
Summary
Review questions
Exercises
Chapter 15 Communications and document control
Introduction
Daily job diary
Meetings
Owner-architect-contractor meetings
Foremen coordination meetings
Safety meetings
Requests for information
Submittals
Technology tools including building information modeling
Summary
Review questions
Exercises
Chapter 16 Quality management, including permit and inspection coordination
Introduction
Permit management
Building codes
Building permit
Specialty permits
City inspections
Quality management
Third-party inspections
Subcontractor start-up and testing
Summary
Review questions
Exercises
Section E: Construction close-out
Chapter 17 Punch list supervision
Introduction
Early inspections and in-process punch lists
Formal punch list development
Punch list correction
Final inspections and approvals
Certificate of occupancy
Certificate of substantial completion
Demobilization
Warranty management
Warranty service requests
Warranty response as a customer service
Summary
Review questions
Exercises
Chapter 18 Close-out documentation
Introduction
As-built drawings
Operation and maintenance manuals
Sustainability documentation
Project manager’s close-out
Contract completion
Summary
Review questions
Exercises
Section F: Advanced topics
Chapter 19 Superintendent leaders
Introduction
Home office leadership
Jobsite leadership
Leadership styles
Leadership traits
Motivating subcontractors and craftsmen
Developing leadership skills
Jobsite ethics
Summary
Review questions
Exercises
Chapter 20 Training the next generation of superintendents
Introduction
Formal superintendent educational programs
In-house contractor training programs
Gender and diversity issues
Retirement and the next superintendent chapter
Legacy
Summary
Review questions
Exercises
Appendices
Glossary
References
Index
