There are no pre-requisites for this module to be added

This module is designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of the construction management discipline. The module addresses a number of topics that are vital to the production of buildings. You will find that the module has an overall focus on a variety of strategic issues within construction management, although as we progress through the various subjects you will also be presented with a wide range of important operational tools that are necessary to underpin strategy. A wide range of subjects will be covered under the headings ‘Production management’, ‘Project planning and programming techniques’, ‘Resource management’, and, ’Improving building production’. Some of these subject areas are focused on strategic and organisational issues which are involved in managing construction projects, whereas other topics have a focus the operational or tactical issues that are involved in managing construction projects. Each subject of study will be delivered in a Unit of study. There are five Units of Study altogether in this module. Unit 1 addresses production management and concerns itself with various different categories of production system, the nature of production in the construction industry and changes that have taken place in the way buildings are produced over recent years. Unit 2 deals with project planning and programming techniques. In this unit you will learn about the nature of planning for construction production; you will familiarise yourself with various different programming techniques; you will learn about the Critical Path Analysis and Project Evaluation and Review techniques for project planning and you will learn about method statements for construction work. Unit 3 will deal with Resource management in terms of human resources - you will learn about the Human Resource Planning technique which is used to plan for and acquire the human resource needs for future productive activity and you will learn about the management and control of subcontractors who are principally used in contemporary construction for the production of buildings. Unit 4 will investigate resource management in terms of Plant, Equipment and Materials. You will learn about the various strategies available to acquire construction plant and equipment and their associated advantages and disadvantages and you will learn about the various different materials management strategies and become familiar with the most important strategies to prevent materials waste during building production. Finally in Unit 5 Improving Building Production, you will learn about productivity and continuous performance enhancement, you will be introduced to the concepts of work study and the subjects of lean production and Building Information Modelling will be explored in terms of their potential to deliver more economic and more efficient building production.

Upon completion of this module you will be able to

LO1: Compare and contrast the various construction methods and strategies.

LO2: Create plans and programmes for the control and co-ordination of construction projects.

LO3: Demonstrate the use of planning and programming techniques for construction and their value in the decision making and problem-solving processes.

LO4: Evaluate resource management strategies and concepts in a construction industry context.