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Research and development (R&D) partnerships involve investigative activities that may result in new discoveries and innovations that are critical for the technological advancement of the engineering domain. While demonstrating the value of these partnerships is essential for encouraging investment, the engineering domain lacks a formal evaluation framework. In this paper, a methodology and framework for evaluating R&D partnerships is introduced. The effectiveness of the developed framework is tested using a case study that focuses on the role of the university within the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Chair program. Using correlation analysis, the activities and investment areas that lead to the desired outcomes for the university research are identified. By using the developed framework over time and applying it to different research programs and industries, key activities and investment areas can be established and improved R&D policies and implementation plans developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper intends to establish a foundation that will permit an in-depth understanding of absenteeism in large-scale industrial construction. This type of construction currently suffers greatly from the negative impacts (e.g., productivity loss; cost and schedule overruns) of absenteeism. Taking into account the complexity of large-scale industrial construction (e.g., the long operational periods and the tremendous variety of trades and positions involved), a more systematic and comprehensive understanding of absenteeism is necessary. In an effort to address this issue, we developed a survey and an absenteeism tracking tool, both of which can be used in other industrial projects. To test their validity, a pilot project was established in an industrial multi-contractor enterprise in Alberta. The results of this project reveal the great potential of both the survey and tracking tool - it is evident that they can be applied to diverse industrial projects and enable an in-depth understanding of absenteeism. Further, the results have led to several findings (e.g., a significant amount of absences are not reported to supervisors in advance; the need to educate apprentices to avoid absences; and the fact that employees believe that fellow employees are more likely to be absent than themselves). The effects of different absence reduction and compensation policies currently practiced in industrial construction are also discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve construction productivity and performance, it must be measured. The Construction Sector Council (CSC) has started a Labour Productivity and Project Performance Benchmarking Program for the infrastructure sector of the construction industry in Canada. Metrics were developed for project cost, time, safety, and quality performance; labour productivity; rework; project conditions; and management practices related to health and safety. Data from 19 projects located in different regions of Canada were collected and analyzed. Based on the results and on industry feedback, additional metrics for practices related to project planning, materials management, and construction supervisory skills development were developed. This paper describes the development of the program. Lessons learned during the development and implementation of the benchmarking and metrics program are summarized and steps to establish a sustainable program are identified. It is concluded that a successful program is feasible and has the potential to have broad impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the state of companies that develop information technology (IT) for the construction industry in Canada. The study collects survey results and other data about these companies. It explores the number and nature of companies; their products and markets; and their opinions about IT trends, opportunities and barriers, and collaboration with government and university resources. The study concludes that a small construction IT industry exists in Canada, with some established successful companies and a number of younger ventures. These companies offer some products on par with the best construction IT in other countries, but they fall somewhat behind other countries in forming an advanced construction IT community of practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scheduled and occasional overtime practices have been used frequently in the construction industry. Past research indicated that continuous scheduled overtime could have a negative effect on labor productivity. The impact of occasional overtime on productivity is generally expected to be less than the impact of scheduled overtime. However, few studies have evaluated the effects of occasional overtime on productivity, which is the main objective of this paper. Productivity data for 234 weeks were collected for quantitative analysis. The t test was performed initially to determine the statistical significance of the impact of occasional overtime. The assessment of productivity data samples revealed possible deviations from the normal distribution. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was implemented as an alternative to the t test. The results of quantitative analysis indicate that moderate levels of occasional overtime did not have a significant impact on productivity. Based on the findings in this study, the potential advantages of occasional overtime practices are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]