Masonry Magazine August 1985 Page. 30
Construction Management
In Need of improvement, Says Educator
Management in the construction industry could use some improvement, says Arthur Monsey, affiliate professor of civil engineering and director of Washington University's new Construction Management Center in St. Louis.
Inefficiency, declining productivity, underutilization of high technology, and competition from foreign companies all threaten to undermine the security of construction firms in the United States, he believes.
And if some changes aren't made soon, says Monsey, the American construction industry could lose its competitive edge. "We know that the industry can tremendously improve its efficiency and productivity if we just make some changes," he declared. "If they don't occur, American companies might be squeezed out of the world construction market and the cost of American products in world markets would suffer."
WU's Construction Management Center, which was officially dedicated earlier this year, is devoted to the study and improvement of construction management. The university's Civil Engineering Department recently formalized its academic offerings in the construction field by instituting a Master of Construction Management degree.
QUALITY MORTAR
AT LOWER COST
EASY SPRED
EASY-SPRED
MERICAN
Easy-Spred, the mortar plasticizer that replaces lime.
Easy-Spred is a mortar plasticizer that performs better and costs less to use than lime. One 7 lb. bag of Easy-Spred replaces a 50 lb. bag of lime. Its water retention capability promotes better curing, less shrinkage, and the contractor doesn't have to retemper as often to maintain plasticity. Board life is increased as much as two times compared to a Portland/ lime mix.
Easy-Spred is made from a formulation of minerals naturally compatible with basic ingredients in mortar, and is effective for use with brick, block or stucco. It accepts color pigments without bleaching, as lime often does, to make a brick color match easier.
AMERICAN COLLOID COMPANY
Contractor Products Division
5100 Suffield Court Skokie, IL, 60077
(312) 966-5720 TWX 910-233-0738
BOCA, ICBO and Southern Building Code Conference listed.
Study Indicates
Smoking
Has Little Effect on
Construction
Productivity
A majority of construction managers recently surveyed said that smoking in the workplace has no significant effect on employee productivity, according to a report by Response Analysis Corp., Princeton. N.J.
Construction managers were among a total of 2,000 firstline supervisors and local union officials surveyed who also said employers should not discriminate against smokers when hiring new employees.
Seventy-one percent of construction managers interviewed said that smoking while working has neither a significant nor a positive effect on employee productivity. Eighty percent said smoking during work breaks has no significant effect on productivity.
Of respondents who said their businesses do not have smoking regulations. 59 percent said establishing a smoking ban would worsen employee morale, while 34 percent said a ban would not affect morale.
PCMA Elects Officers
Floyd Parmer of New Holland Concrete Products, New Holland, Pa., has been elected president for 1985-86 of the Pennsylvania Concrete Masonry Association.
Elected to serve with him were: John T. Fizzano, Jr., Fizzano Bros. Concrete Products, Inc., vice president; James Orner, Central Builders Supply, Sunbury, treasurer, and Tim Hildebrand. York Lintel & Cast Stone, York, secretary.
William A. Rennekamp, Jr., Rennekamp Supply Co., Pittsburgh, becomes board chairman. V. James Gianoni, Erie, is executive director.
New Report on Taxable
Auto-use Fringe
Taxable fringe benefits-company autos primarily, but company-paid lunches, rides on company airplanes, use of company computers, etc. is an onerous burden of last year's tax law.