WebLEM Update:
How to Apply the
Work Activity Method
for Labor
Calculations
By: Tim Moormeier and Ron King
WebLEM Committee Members
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Kevin Daubendiek – Humphrey Company, Houston, TX
Paul DeBella – DeBella Mechanical, Santa Clara, CA
Bob Durr – Durr Mechanical Construction, New York, NY
Andrew Hosler – Performance Mechanical Inc, Pittsburg, CA
Ron King – Trimble MEP, Toronto, ON
Patrick Reilly – John W. Danforth Company, Buffalo, NY
Tim Moormeier – U.S. Engineering Company, Kansas City, MO
Nick Nikpourfard – Mechanical Contractors Association of
America, Rockville, MD
What were some of the driving forces which
lead to the development of this new method
of laboring?
• Inability to separate labor accurately into shop
vs field
• Inability to account for labor associated with
back to back fittings
• Inability to break down all labor components
of a joint
• Better cost control of labor activities in both
the shop or field
How do we do it today?
• We establish shop vs field labor hours by:
• Percentage method
• Diameter inch method
• Account for back to back fittings by applying
a correction factor
• Currently no way to break down the
components of the joint
• Some have improvised by determining a
“Cap” equals one joint
What does a labor unit presently
include?
• Example: 6” CS, Std Wt, Buttweld, LR 90° Elbow. The
WebLEM states 6.29 hours, which includes:
• Receiving, unloading, stockpiling, distributing
• Joining method
• Type of connection – Buttweld
• Qty of joints – 2
• Type of material – Carbon Steel
• Wall thickness – Standard Weight
What does a labor unit presently
include (Cont)?
• “Normal” pressure testing – 1.5 X OP
• Installation or erection
• Note: The joint and installation make up the
bulk of the unit
What’s the Challenge?
• No way to account for back to back fittings other than
applying a correction factor
• No way to establish meaningful hours for the fabshop other
than applying a percentage or doing a diameter inch calc
• No way to establish labor hours for components of the
joint:
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Cut & Bevel
TIG Root
Joint (buttweld)
Hydotest
Preheat/Postweld heat treat
Etc.
What could we do differently?
Break down the labor units into tasks such as:
• Cut & Bevel
• Tig Root
• Purge
• Preheat/Post Weld Heat Treat
• Handling of Pipe, Fittings, Flange, Valve, etc
• Bolt-Up
• Hydrotest
What should we call it?
• The present method of laboring has been named:
“Component
Method”
• The new method for establishing labor hours for each task
has been named
“Work
Activity Method”
So how does the Work Activity
Method work?
For the same 6” CS Std Wt BW 90° Elbow, we now have
these activities:
• 6” CS Std Wt Flame Cut & Bevel (single operation)
• 0.40 x 2 = 0.80 Hours
• 6” CS Std Wt Buttweld
• 2.48 x 2 = 4.96 Hours
• 6” CS Std Wt LR 90° Elbow Installation
• 0.41 x 1 = 0.41 Hours
• Total using the Work Activity Method = 6.17 Hours
(excluding hydrotest)
• Total using the Component Method = 6.29 Hours
Let’s look under the hood!
www.weblem.org Changes
• Home page change to promote new Work Activity Method
• Video and Handouts
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Introduction
Proper Use of the LEM
Basis Assumption
Correction Factors
Addition of the Piping Systems Folder
• Folder reorganization within the Piping Systems
• HVAC Hook-Up
• Instrumentation
• Misc Labor Operations
www.weblem.org Changes (cont.)
• Plumbing Equipment
• Plumbing Hook-Up
• Treatment Plant Equipment
www.weblem.org Changes (cont.)
• New folders containing the Work Activity Method items
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Bolt Up
Cut & Bevel
Drilling Holes
Fillet Welds
Fitting Handling & Installation
Flange Handling & Installation
HVAC Specialties
Hydrotesting
Joints
Layout & Flame Cutting
Machining Inside of Pipe or Fitting (Counter Boring)
www.weblem.org Changes (cont.)
• New folders containing the Work Activity Method items
(cont)
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Nipples
Pipe Handling & Installation
Plumbing Specialties
Preheat
Purge
Stress Relieving
Valve Handling & Installation
Now Let’s See Some Examples!
And What This Means To Me?
• Let’s compare the following:
• Component Method style of takeoff
• Work Activity Method style of takeoff to precisely
determine the labor required
Take this coil hookup for
example
Take this Isometric Drawing for
example
So now it’s possible!
• No need to adjust for back to back fitting situtations
• Precisely account for all labor activities in the shop vs
field
• Ability to calculate all activities related to the joint
Bottom line; The Work Activity Method
allocates the labor hours associated
with the activities very accurately
What if the WAM method just
isn’t for me?
• “I don’t worry about shop vs field or counting the
joints…….”
• “I just want to take off using the same method as
in the past; counting widgets……..”
• No Problem!!
• Continue performing takeoff using the
Component Method just as you’ve done in the
past
But if the WAM Method IS for you
• You can start using this method immediately
• Remember to examine your labor productivity factors to
account for this new method!!! You can’t use the same
factors as used with the component method!!!
• Be sure to read the Introduction, Proper Use of the LEM
and Basic Assumptions
• Visit each of the folders on the WebLEM contained within
the “Work Activity Method” to familiarize yourself and
don’t forget to read any footnotes
• Start producing very precise shop vs field estimates
immediately
• WebLEM committee asks for your feedback
WebLEM Committee Update
• Formulating more WAM labor units
• Cast Iron No-Hub, Copper Sweat, PVC DWV and
Pressure, etc.
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Reviewing the plastics section
Reviewing saddles, stub-ins and nozzle welds
Formulating Aquatherm labor units
Review “Quick Vic” coupling labor units