Construction Engineering and Management Commons^™

Optimizing Internships In Construction Management Based On Student's Interests And Experience, Austin Meneses Logan

Construction Management

The growing norm for students in the field of Construction Management is to have at least one internship under their belt prior to entering the industry for a full-time career. The goal of this research paper is to analyze student feedback from their previous internships to draw conclusions on how companies should structure their internship programs based on student interests and level of experience. Research was done evaluating current Construction Management students with previous internship experience at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. This research paper will be beneficial for industry companies to better tailor their internship programs to …

Advanced Concrete Course For Cal Poly Construction Management Department, Dante N. Feliciano

Construction Management

This senior project provides a solution to the Construction Management Department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo whose curriculum lacks an individual Concrete course. With Concrete being one of the most used building material worldwide, this course will help immensely. The goal of this project is to fill the gap with an Advanced Concrete Course that is prepared and ready to be introduced to future students. The course has an emphasis on outside research learning – where the student gets to become the instructor. Carefully thought out and executed lecture materials are included in the course. Lecture slides give background …

Ciob Global Student Challenge - Integration Into Professional Financial Training, George M. King

Construction Management

As anyone in the construction industry knows, a construction business is one of the most risky to start compared to any other industry. This does not mean that it should be avoided by potential entrepreneurs, just viewed with a more cautious eye than other industries. Those considering entering the industry should have experience and confidence in their ability to perform prior to the establishment of a company. One way to gain this experience is through years of work in the respective sector. Another, more experimental method, is through the use of competitive virtual training. The latter requires less training time …

A Continuation Of The Women In Construction Club’S Industry Mentorship Program And A Measure Of Its Effectiveness, Alexa S. Heien

Construction Management

The Women in Construction Club’s Industry Mentorship program at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) is nearly a year old, yet the only data collected on the program was taken directly after it was created. The creation of the Industry Mentorship program, and subsequent data collection, were a previous senior project. But there were no measurements on how effective the mentorship program was, or if there was a benefit for the students involved. Because this program has the potential of creating long-lasting relationships and connecting women in a men-dominated field, knowing if the mentorship program needs to …

Aei Student Design Competition: Value Engineering & Design Build, Vincenzo Paolo Guidi

Construction Management

The Architectural Engineering Institute puts on a yearly student design competition that features interdisciplinary teams from colleges across the country. The project for the competition was the Jack H. Miller Center for Musical and Performing Arts on the Hope College campus in Holland Michigan. The main challenges in the problem statement address acoustics, using mass timber, and add alternative roof top space. Through a collaborative process, our team created a proposal that addressed the challenges and why we were the best fit for the job. I worked with a fellow construction management student, Shannon Wheeler, to produce our portion of …

Redefining Construction “As-Built” Plans To Meet Current Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Needs, Victoria Lynn Lasley

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

As-built drawings are the traditional method used by the construction industry to record changes made during construction. As-builts provide valuable information for new design projects as well as rehabilitation and remediation projects. The completeness and accuracy of these plans are essential for transportation industries and their success. While the importance of as-builts is widely recognized, the process of creating them has proven to be difficult. It is a time consuming process and entities often lack the resources necessary to complete accurate and detailed as-builts. After an investigation of current as-built operations within State Transportation Agencies, recommendations have been made to …

Part-Time Internships With Local Construction Companies, Eddie T. Kennedy

Construction Management

Internships have proven to be beneficial for both the intern and the company. The Construction Management (CM) department has proven to be able to well connect students with the industry for summer internships and full-time jobs. Programs like info sessions, job fairs, and meet and greets have allowed the CM department to make this connection. However, partaking in a part-time internship while taking coursework has not been emphasized in the department. This paper will gauge student interest in obtaining a part-time internship for a local construction company in San Luis Obispo. Student responses to surveys showed a clear interest in …

Application Of Mechanical, Electrical, And Plumbing Contractor’S Bim Practices To The Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Construction Management Program, Christopher J. Langstaff

Construction Management

Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) contractors play such a crucial role in the construction and design phase of building a project; their success or failure can drastically affect the project's overall success. MEP contractors’ use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the construction industry has grown exponentially over the past decade. This paper will expand on the utilization and practices of BIM by MEP contractors. This information functions as a foundation for my research into current professional BIM trends as they relate to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s (SLO) Construction Management (CM) curriculum. Cal Poly SLO’s CM department has designed …

Recommendation To Implement A Microsoft Excel Topics Course, Alexander J. Poksay

Construction Management

The purpose of my senior project is to recommend the addition of a Microsoft Excel course to the Cal Poly Construction Management curriculum. My interest in this topic was sparked when I began my internship at Decker Electric in San Francisco during the summer of 2017. As a result of this internship, I discovered how inadequate my Excel skills were and how important Microsoft Excel is to the construction industry. Upon graduation, Cal Poly Construction Management students enter a workforce that relies heavily upon many different types of software programs that analyze information used daily in construction. With a rapidly …

Recommendations To Implement A Potential Case Study Module To All Cm Labs, Donald Wong

Construction Management

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo [Cal Poly for short] is notable for having one of the best undergraduate Construction Management programs in the nation. From winning consecutive regional competitions, such as the ASC Competition in Reno, to incorporating a “learn-by-doing” philosophy in all its classrooms, Cal Poly’s CM curriculum truly distinguishes itself from other CM programs nationwide. From the Cal Poly Construction Management website, it’s noted that upon graduation, “the department has virtually 100% placement in the construction industry” (“Cal Poly Construction Management”). However, while the CM program at Cal Poly truly excels in preparing its undergraduate students …

Examining The Labor Shortage In The Construction Industry And Possible Solutions Presented By Industry Members, Jeremy Suryadi

Construction Management

This paper attempts to examine what factors have caused the sustained labor shortage in the construction industry. Whether it be through the lens of general contractors, trade partners, or suppliers, all parties associated with the built-environment have experienced a form of labor shortage or an increase in older employees with few replacements readily available. The main purpose of this paper is to gather enough data and opinions from construction industry members to formalize the few key factors of the diminished labor force, primarily in California’s commercial construction sector. The lack of skilled workers has negatively impacted the quality and quantity …

A Recommendation To Implement A Quality Assurance/Quality Control Topics Course, Jacob W. Stapp

Construction Management

The purpose of this report is to recommend and gauge student interest/need for the addition of a Quality Assurance/Quality Control topics course to the Construction Management curriculum. Both Quality Assurance and Quality Control are vital for all construction projects, and without proper implementation there is no way to ensure high quality results. In an industry that demands high quality projects, it is important that our department prepares our students to be well-rounded in all aspects of construction. This will enable our graduates to enter the workforce in full stride, contributing efficiently from the start. Our University’s motto is “Learn by …

Establishment Of Occupational Safety And Health As A Minor, Giovani A. Mazzotti

Construction Management

Safety plays an essential role in the construction industry. With construction projects increasing in size, time, and overall complexity, it has become increasingly difficult to implement safe protocol and procedures. Present-day construction projects sometimes require more than 10,000 employees, including dozens of subcontractors, office teams, and more on-site. In addition to the increased need for laborers, increasing project size means an increase in demand for individuals with expertise and experience in safety practices. Projects of all shapes and sizes are in need of professionals with proven expertise in implementing safety practices. Currently, many incoming project engineers and field engineers lack …

Creating And Implementing An Industry Mentorship Program Within The Women In Construction Club, Linnea Lavorico

Construction Management

The construction industry has made great strides in terms of catching the attention of and accepting more women. The industry has historically been dominated by men and, for the most part, that is still true today. But there are more and more women expressing interest in construction and construction management related career paths. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) continued that trend when the Women in Construction club was formed. The goal is to help women realize that they can participate in the industry and then encourage them to do so. A previous senior project was done …

Industry Perspectives On The 40-Hour Work Week As It Relates To Overtime In The Pacific Northwest, John S. Korsmo Iii

Construction Management

The construction industry has a stigma for construction projects often being behind schedule, delayed, or delivered late. Many projects that find themselves in this predicament will utilize overtime to make up for the loss in schedule. However, a number of published studies shows evidence that extended overtime produces a decrease in labor productivity. Does the structure of the 40-hour work week have an affect on this loss of production with overtime? This paper will examine the structure of the 40-hour work week with an emphasis on a 4-day, 10-hour day schedule as well as overtime productivity. This study explores the …

Concrete Industry Management In Higher Education, Irl Thomas Barajas

Construction Management

This Paper Focuses on the concrete industry and programs that prepare college students for their future in it and to try and implement some sort of concrete program at Cal Poly. The idea to make Concrete Industry Management first came along at Middle Tennessee State University in 1996, but only a few other programs have started at other schools since then. These programs focus on skills for graduates to enter the concrete industry in production, project management, sales, and marketing. They are structured similar to the way Construction Management programs are structured and have similar courses like estimating, sustainability, and …

Introducing Concentrations Into The Cal Poly Cm Program, Kevin L. Barry

Construction Management

This paper explores the introduction and integration of industry related concentrations into the Construction Management program at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Specialization has been an integral part of not only the construction industry, but also throughout the industrialization of America. With these concentrations, students will be able to select either an industry sector or job function they are interested in pursuing and take additional classes that dive deeper into that specific facet of industry rather than only brushing the surface with general construction education classes. This program will better prepare students for industry and give those who have a …

Quality Assurance In The Buyout Phase Of The Commercial Sector Of San Francisco, Stephen Chase Johnson

Construction Management

The “buyout” phase in terms of construction management is a transitional phase in construction that is integral to the overall success to a construction project. When done properly it can lead to a smooth and efficient construction phase, and if done poorly can lead to major setbacks of all variety. Quality Assurance measures are a great way to ensure that this process is done in a complete way so as to avoid the negative effects of a poorly executed project buyout. As technologies such as BIM (Building Information Modeling) grow the buyout process has become more involved and exact. Technologies …

Estimation Of Optimal Productivity In Labor-Intensive Construction Operations, Krishna Prasad Kisi

Department of Construction Engineering and Management: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In an attempt to evaluate the efficiency of labor-intensive construction operations, project managers typically compare actual with historical productivity for equivalent operations. However, this approach toward examining productivity only provides a relative benchmark for efficiency and may lead to the characterization of operations as objectively efficient when in reality such operations might simply be comparably efficient.

Optimal productivity is the highest sustainable productivity achievable under good management and typical field conditions. Optimal productivity is useful in the determination of the absolute efficiency of construction operations because an accurate estimate of optimal labor productivity allows for the comparison of actual vs. …

A Strategic Approach To Effectively Manage Supplier Quality Within The Construction Industry, Rufaidah Almaian

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The aim of the research is to determine the best practices for supplier quality management (SQM) in the construction industry that ensure that the supplied materials and equipment for construction projects are within the quality requirements. The research is based on three main objectives. The first objective is to describe and assess the process of assuring supplier quality inside and outside the construction industry. The second objective is to develop a framework for the supplier quality process based on the collection of SQM practices from multiple data sources. The third objective is to assess the SQM practices within the developed …

A Trade Construction Knowledge Module To Enable Use Of Design Component Data In Project Management, Zhigang Shen, Raja R. A. Issa, William J. O'Brien, Ian Flood

Department of Construction Engineering and Management: Faculty Publications

The complexity, tight budget, and dynamic market of today's construction project require the seamless integration of both design and construction data, However, despite the availability of both digital design tools (various CAD applications) and digital project management tools (such as schedule software and construction management software), design data has to still be entered manually into construction applications. In order to close this gap, CAD applications widely used in AEC industries are evolving toward providing the product data within the CAD package itself, in addition to the existing graphic-oriented data. While useful, those new data-driven CAD applications are largely design-oriented and …

Cutting School Building Costs Through Educational And Architectural Planning, Construction Details, And Contracting, Alan Dale White

Graduate Student Research Papers

It was the purpose of this paper to point out the factors pertaining to educational and architectural planning, construction details, and contracting which collectively tend to lower the building expenditures. Specific architectural details such as wall cost comparisons, structural framing, and material recommendations have been purposely deleted. The suggestions presented herein, general in nature, do not seriously restrict architectural imagination, ingenuity, or creativity.