description of each master activity, it will be clear to all where each work element falls. A good narrative description reduces the chance of omitting any work items from the estimate. Master activities for a typical building might look like the following:

10XX Sitework

20XX Underslab Utilities

30XX Foundation and Slab

40XX Walls

50XX Roof

60XX Rough Utilities

70XX Interior Finish

80XX Finish Utilities

90XX Exterior Finish

Construction Activities

As the crew leader, you must break the master activities into construction activities. The work element checklist contained in appendix A to the NAVFAC P-405, Seabee Planner's and Estimator's Handbook, is a good guide for the development of the construction activity list. A typical Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) project might contain between 15 and 50 construction activities. Construc- tion activity numbers are usually four digits. The first two digits identify the master activity and the second two digits show a specific construction activity within a master activity. The number also includes a prefix assigned by Ops that identifies the specific project. Looking at the list of master activities example, this project could have a construction activity for “Pull Wire” numbered 6025. The number 60 represents master activity “Rough Utilities” and 25 distinguishes “Pull Wire” from other construction activities in that same master activity.

MAN-DAY ESTIMATES AND DURATIONS

You need to know how to calculate mandays and duration for each construction activity, The P-405 is the primary reference for Seabee man-day estimates. The P-405 lists how many man-hours it takes to do one unit of work, The size of the unit is also given. The quantity of work is divided by the unit size and multiplied by the man-hours required to do one unit. You then divide by 8 man-hours per man-day and multiply by a delay factor (DF).

Tasking, estimating,

and reporting are always done in 8-hour man-days,

regardless of the length of the workday.

MDs = QTY of WORK ÷ UNIT SIZE x MHRS PER UNIT ÷ 8 x DF

For example, to install 16,000 SF of 1/2-inch drywall over wall studs would require how many man-days? (See page 4-78 of the P-405.)

MDs = 16,000 SF ÷ 1000 SF x 33 MHRS ÷ 8 = 66 x DF

Production Efficiency Factors

Production efficiency factors are the first step in adjusting man-day estimates based on your unique circumstances. The intent of a production efficiency factor is to adjust for factors that will make you more or less productive than the average Seabee. In calculating a production efficiency factor, consider only those factors that affect the crew while on the job. Table 2-1 has listed eight production elements in the far-left column. You need to consider the impact of each of these production elements on each activity given a specific crew, location, equipment condition, and such. You need to assign a production factor between 25 (low production) and 100 (high produc- tion) for each element. A production factor of 67 is considered average. Average these eight factors to figure your production efficiency factor (PEF).

Delay Factors

Before you can adjust the man-day estimate, you must convert the production efficiency factor to a delay factor. You can find the delay factor by dividing 67 (the average production factor) by the production efficiency factor (DF = 67/63.6 = 1.05). (See table 2-1.) Using the delay factor of 1.05 you now can adjust the original man-day estimate.

66 x 1.05 = 69.3 or 70 MD

This mathematical procedure has limitations. If for example you are working outside in extremely bad weather, and all other factors are considered average (weather = 25, all others = 67), you would obtain a production efficiency factor of 62 and a delay factor of 1.08. This 8 percent increase in the man-day estimate would not adequately compensate for working in extreme weather. You are not limited to the method of delay factors in the P-405. Use common sense when impacted by extreme circumstances.