In the world of construction, field teams often challenge prefab shops to demonstrate tangible time and cost savings. This skepticism is understandable, given the traditional on-site construction methods many are accustomed to. However, with proper tracking and data collection, prefab shops can clearly showcase their efficiency and value.

The key to proving prefab's worth lies in meticulous time tracking per build. This involves collecting detailed timesheet information for each team member, broken down by individual order. While this may seem daunting, a simple manual process can yield powerful insights.

Start by implementing a daily tracking system. Create a spreadsheet with columns for the date, employee name, order number, task description, and hours spent. At the end of each day, have team members fill in their activities and time allocation. This granular approach allows you to see exactly how much time is spent on each component of a prefab order.

To make this process more manageable:

1. Assign a unique identifier to each order for easy tracking.
2. Break down tasks into specific categories (e.g., cutting, assembly, quality control) for detailed analysis.
3. Encourage team members to be as accurate as possible in their time reporting.
4. Regularly review and consolidate the data, looking for patterns and areas of efficiency.

(Note: reach out to the Building Swell team for great templates to get you started.)

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By consistently collecting this data over time, you'll build a robust database that clearly demonstrates the time efficiency of your prefab processes. You can then compare this to industry standards for on-site construction, highlighting the time savings achieved through prefabrication.

Additionally, this detailed time tracking allows you to accurately calculate labor costs per order. Combined with material costs, you can provide a comprehensive view of the total cost savings prefab offers compared to traditional methods.

For those looking to streamline this process and quickly highlight costs with minimal training, Building Swell offers user-friendly software that shop teams love. Their tools can significantly reduce the time and effort required for data collection and analysis, allowing you to focus on leveraging insights to improve your operations and demonstrate value to field teams.

Remember, the goal is to create a clear, data-driven narrative that showcases the benefits of prefabrication. With this information in hand, whether collected manually or through specialized software like Building Swell, you'll be well-equipped to address any skepticism from field teams and prove the value of your prefab shop.

By consistently tracking and analyzing this data, prefab shops can not only prove their worth to field teams but also identify areas for continuous improvement, further enhancing their efficiency and value proposition in the construction industry.

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