COST-EFFECTIVE USE OF MANPOWER FOR MANUAL POTHOLE REPAIR

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation annually spends more than $30 million for repairing potholes. The production and productivity of pothole repair crews during 1980 and 1981 were compared with the department's performance standard. Crews were observed using an air compressor or a gasoline-operated tool for cutting. For compaction, either a 4to 6-ton roller or a walk-behind vibratory roller was employed. Delays in crew deployment and during the repair operations were responsible for low production and productivity. Major delay categories were analyzed in detail and were found to be associated directly with ineffective management on the part of the crew foreman. Realistic reduction of the frequency and duration of delays through the exercise of leadership and effective management is discussed. The resulting time savings are incorporated into productive time to compute the production and productivity potential of five-person, six-person, and seven-person crews. It is shown that a crew of five, equipped with the slower (gasolineoperated) cutting tool, can achieve the recommended performance standard.