10-Week Online Course: Construction Productivity and Cost Management

This is a 10-week course that runs from April 13 - June 21, 2026, and focuses on one of the primary objectives for construction supervisors: completing projects on time and within budget. Students will learn practical strategies for improving productivity and controlling jobsite costs. The course explores methods supervisors can use to monitor project performance, manage time effectively, and keep construction projects running efficiently.

This class specifically focuses on construction cost and applies principles and practices associated with cost awareness and production control to different elements of a project. Cost control begins with the estimate then cost analysis, production scheduling, reporting, production control and ends with project evaluation. The information will be studied by solving common construction problems, the consideration of case studies and discussion of common cost control issues.

This is one of the courses that counts toward the Certificates in Construction Practices, Project Management, and Construction Supervision: Building. This class is 100% online. Students should expect to spend 3-5 hours a week on course work from April 13 - June 21, 2026.

It is important that the student keep up with the class and not fall behind in this construction management distance learning class. Course modules will be made available to students on Sunday of each week. Class work must be completed before the following Monday. Students will not be able to work ahead of the class although reading assignments will be made available in advance. Students should provide at least 3 contributions to the class discussions each week to gain the maximum points.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the estimating and quantity take-off process and how they are associated with construction cost control

• Be able to evaluate subcontractors and participate in the subcontractor selection process
• Learn how to increase productivity by using labor and equipment efficiently
• Gain additional insight into the process of planning labor crews and preparing for labor costs
• Learn several techniques for managing subcontractors at the job site
• Understand how to the evaluate project after completion and determine strategies for future projects
• Learn about schedule acceleration methods and how to apply them
• Be familiar with the content of a typical construction estimate
• Know who has responsibilities for cost control and understand the risks associated with construction contracting
• Understand the general relationship among project estimating, productivity planning, measurement, project planning, scheduling and project control
• Know how to identify labor cost problems and solve the problems using project cost data
• Learn strategies for using cost control data to influence the work and minimize negative cost impacts
• Know how to participate in a project debriefing and understand the value associated with debriefing
• Learn how the schedule is used as documentation for changes and disputes

Students will purchase the textbook, STP Unit 5 Participants Manual: Improving Productivity and Managing Project Costs.

The deadline to receive a refund for event registration is (7) seven business days before the event. Cancellations received after the stated deadline will not be eligible for a refund.

GBCA Construction Fundamentals Tuition Reimbursement Program

GBCA recognizes the importance of continuous learning and career development for all its member companies and their employees. In line with this commitment, we implemented the Construction Fundamentals Tuition Reimbursement Program. This program aims to incentivize and support our members in pursuing further education by offering reimbursement for successfully completed courses.

For more information about eligibility or to apply for this program, please visit the GBCA Construction Fundamentals Tuition Reimbursement Policy here.