Productivity database and job cost control using microcomputers

The business environment for small-to mid-sized contractors is highly competitive. Success is obtained by those contractors who consistently earn the 2— 3% net profit that the marketplace allows. To ensure success in today’s business climate, contractors must hire and keep good people, emphasize quality and client relations, maintain credit lines, insurance, and bonding requirements, and have computer systems that provide instant access to the information necessary to operate the business. This paper is a case study describing how one construction company successfully integrated microcomputers and commercially produced software packages to peform many business tasks. A project cost control system is developed using spreadsheet programs that are integrated with the contractor’s historical record of labor productivity information. Also described are scheduling, word processing, and accounting for the small contractor using microcomputers.