In 2012, Barton Malow launched a long-term goal to double its efficiency by its 100th anniversary in 2024 and embarked on a journey to transform its business.
The company will leverage the use of technology coupled with an engaged and effective workforce to bring enhanced value to clients and achieve consistent growth in its financial performance.
Analysts predict 2017 will be a strong year for the industry, as Dodge Data & Analytics’ 2017 Construction Outlook report predicts 5 percent growth, with the value of construction starts reaching an estimated $713 billion.
While growth is predicted, a shortage in skilled labor will continue to plague construction companies. Since 2002, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the construction labor force has shrunk by 1.8 million workers and hasn’t recovered with the recent upturn in construction starts since 2015.
Contributing to the shrinking pool of skilled trade labor are older generations of craft professionals who are aging out of the workforce, while younger generations are slow to enter in their place. In 2012, 53 percent of U.S. skilled trade workers were 45 years and older, according to Economic Modeling Specialists International, and 18.6 percent were between the ages of 55 and 64.
Acknowledging these challenges, Barton Malow is playing a key role in developing the skilled trade pipeline, especially in Michigan where it is the largest employer of trade labor. By partnering with organizations such as My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, local governments such as the City of Columbia, S.C., and participating in events such as National Apprenticeship Week, Barton Malow is helping to make a case for #BlueCollarLife.
A four-year degree isn’t the best fit for every student. Vocational schools can offer students valuable skills, which can result in immediate employment with attractive earning potential at a fraction of the cost of a four-year university. Job security is also a key benefit to a career in the skilled trades. Most skilled trade work cannot be outsourced or sent abroad. For example, builders and owners can’t outsource to other countries when wiring needs to be run, pipes need to be installed or concrete needs to be poured.
In addition to focusing on workforce development, Barton Malow has spent a lot of time defining innovation and looking for ways to bring productivity improvements to the construction industry. During the last 30 years, many industries have seen dramatic productivity improvements; however, productivity in the construction industry during the same period has remained relatively stagnant.
The ability to capitalize on company knowledge and experience to gain incremental improvements on innovation is a key asset to competitive advantage over time. Barton Malow is leveraging technology and intellectual property to package what it does differently in order to facilitate change within the construction industry.
Barton Malow’s Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) team leads the concerted effort toward continuous improvement and innovation. Although many construction operations are repetitive, they are performed neither in a fixed sequence nor at a fixed location. Barton Malow is leveraging technology coupled with company expertise to help clients build a cost-effective project while providing predictable outcomes during the construction process.
The use of VDC has helped Barton Malow project teams consistently drive down project costs and reduce schedules while mitigating unforeseen circumstances and increasing stakeholder satisfaction. Tie that back to the premise of communication, transparency and trust, which makes Barton Malow’s culture unique, and it provides teams with the environment for continuous improvement.
Barton Malow has learned that there is absolutely a strong correlation between communication in a variety of different contexts and the ability to foster innovation. Technology is really a communication tool. Whether it’s BIM, virtual reality or VDC, it’s intended to provide additional awareness to all stakeholders who are part of a project. The objective is that everyone clearly understands where the project is presently and where it’s heading, and aims to be proactive to negate any sort of changes, which are the biggest loss of efficiency on a project.
As VDC transforms the construction industry, driving communication and collaboration on a project, it will provide growth opportunities for skilled trades in the field. Skilled trades can leverage VDC concepts to enhance their value and help address challenges in the field. At Barton Malow, seasoned superintendents who have grown up through the ranks of the skilled trades are capitalizing on the efficiencies that VDC can bring to their everyday jobs and providing value-added improvement to the building process. The adoption of VDC also has provided leadership opportunities to members of the Barton Malow team who have risen from skilled trades into management by leveraging VDC to drive innovation and continuous improvement.
The construction industry is ripe for big changes. The use of VDC leveraged against a bolstered skilled trade pipeline can improve the construction project delivery process and will be a key ingredient to drive innovation and improve project performance.
