COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Resource Management for Formwork & Concreting Operations course. This program is designed to develop your skills in efficiently managing labour, materials, and equipment across formwork and concreting activities. Effective resource management is fundamental to achieving project success, ensuring cost control, minimising delays, and maintaining high standards of safety and quality on construction sites.
This course begins by introducing the concept of resource management, its critical role in formwork and concreting projects, and the direct impact that good resource planning has on program timelines, budget performance, and overall project outcomes. It also outlines the key responsibilities of supervisors and project managers in allocating and controlling site resources.
Understanding the exact requirements of the project is essential before resource planning can begin. This section focuses on interpreting project documentation, assessing formwork and concrete needs, and clarifying deliverables, schedules, and performance expectations to ensure all resourcing aligns with client and project objectives.
Labour is one of the most significant resources in any formwork and concreting operation. This section covers how to accurately estimate workforce numbers, allocate the right skill levels across tasks, and plan for site supervision, safety officers, and critical support services to maintain operational efficiency.
Workforce productivity management is crucial to keeping the project on schedule. This section explains how to set achievable targets, monitor individual and team outputs, identify factors affecting productivity such as fatigue or absenteeism, and implement adjustments to maintain optimal performance.
Choosing the right formwork system significantly affects both cost and efficiency. This section outlines the selection process for formwork types based on project needs, and covers the planning for hire, logistics, maintenance, assembly, stripping, and proper storage to maximise formwork lifespan and project safety.
Material procurement must be planned with precision to avoid costly delays. Here, we explore strategies for ordering concrete, reinforcement, and formwork accessories, managing supplier lead times, and coordinating deliveries to maintain continuous site progress without causing material pile-ups or shortages.
Managing the logistics of concrete supply and placement is critical to maintaining pour quality and efficiency. This section addresses booking deliveries to match site capacity, coordinating pumping and truck access, managing site readiness before pours, and responding effectively to concrete supply or weather-related delays.
Access to tools and equipment must be planned well ahead of time. This section focuses on scheduling pumps, vibrators, cranes, scaffolds, and other equipment, ensuring all assets are serviceable, tagged, and ready, and planning for backup tools to avoid downtime during critical phases.
Budgeting is essential for keeping the project financially viable. This section provides guidance on estimating resource costs, allocating budgets to labour, materials, and equipment, and tracking expenditure against budgets to identify overruns early and implement cost-saving measures where possible.
Monitoring actual resource usage ensures control over project costs and timelines. This section explains how to record daily labour, material, and equipment use, identify instances of wastage, inefficiency, or overuse, and apply corrective actions to improve site resource efficiency.
Close coordination between the formwork and concreting teams is vital for smooth project progression. This section covers sequencing work, managing handovers, avoiding delays due to incomplete tasks, and fostering strong communication channels between supervisors and site crews.
Managing subcontractors is often necessary for specialised works. This section addresses defining clear subcontractor scopes, integrating them into broader site planning and communication systems, and monitoring their compliance with quality, safety, and productivity expectations.
Safety must be prioritised when deploying site resources. This section focuses on planning for the safe use of plant and equipment, ensuring workers have the correct PPE and site inductions, and managing critical safety risks such as formwork stability and concrete pressure loads.
Environmental considerations are increasingly important in construction. This section highlights strategies to reduce material wastage, manage concrete washouts, dispose of waste responsibly, and plan for recycling and reusing formwork materials where feasible.
Time is a critical resource in construction programs. This section focuses on setting realistic timeframes for formwork assembly and concrete placement, identifying critical path activities, managing weather delays, and making schedule adjustments to stay on track.
Quality control must be maintained across all stages of formwork and concreting. This section outlines how to ensure materials and workmanship meet project specifications, how to monitor formwork setup and alignments, and how to conduct thorough pre-pour and post-pour inspections.
Accurate record-keeping supports resource management and compliance. This section explains how to maintain detailed records of labour, material, and equipment use, prepare daily diaries and cost-tracking reports, and leverage resource management software and apps for more efficient documentation.
Continuous improvement is key to better resource management outcomes. This final section encourages regular review of project resource performance, identification of efficiency improvements, and updating of systems, templates, and procedures to build stronger resource management practices in future projects.
By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to plan, allocate, control, and optimise resources effectively in formwork and concreting operations, helping to drive projects toward safer, faster, and more profitable outcomes.
Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Introduction to Resource Management in Formwork and Concreting
- Definition and importance of resource management
- Impact of efficient resource management on project success
- Responsibilities of supervisors and project managers
2. Understanding the Scope and Requirements of Work
- Reviewing project plans, specifications, and schedules
- Identifying resource needs based on formwork and concrete works
- Clarifying project deliverables, milestones, and quality standards
3. Planning Labour Requirements
- Estimating workforce numbers and skill levels
- Allocating roles for formworkers, steel fixers, and concreters
- Planning for supervision, safety personnel, and support trades
4. Managing Workforce Productivity
- Setting daily and weekly output targets
- Monitoring performance and adjusting task allocations
- Managing absenteeism, fatigue, and productivity dips
5. Selecting and Managing Formwork Systems
- Choosing appropriate formwork systems for project type
- Planning for hire, transport, assembly, and disassembly
- Managing maintenance, repair, and safe storage of formwork
6. Material Procurement and Scheduling
- Ordering concrete, reinforcement, formwork materials, and accessories
- Managing lead times, deliveries, and supplier coordination
- Avoiding material shortages and excess inventory
7. Managing Concrete Supply and Placement Logistics
- Booking concrete deliveries to match site capacity and pour rates
- Coordinating pumping services and access for trucks
- Managing delays and site readiness before pour
8. Equipment and Tool Resource Planning
- Scheduling availability of pumps, vibrators, screeds, cranes, and scaffolding
- Planning for tool servicing, tagging, and replacement
- Ensuring spare equipment availability for critical tasks
9. Budgeting for Labour, Materials, and Equipment
- Estimating costs based on project quantities and rates
- Allocating budgets to resource categories
- Tracking expenditure against allocated budgets
10. Monitoring and Controlling Resource Usage
- Recording daily usage of labour, materials, and equipment
- Identifying resource wastage or inefficiencies
- Taking corrective actions to optimise resource use
11. Coordination Between Formwork and Concreting Teams
- Sequencing tasks to avoid work clashes and downtime
- Managing handovers between formwork, steel fixing, and concreting stages
- Maintaining open communication between supervisors and crews
12. Managing Subcontractors and External Resources
- Defining subcontractor responsibilities and deliverables
- Integrating subcontractors into site planning and communication systems
- Monitoring subcontractor performance and compliance
13. Ensuring Safe Resource Deployment
- Planning safe use of plant, equipment, and lifting devices
- Ensuring proper PPE availability and site inductions
- Managing formwork loads and concrete pressures safely
14. Environmental Considerations in Resource Management
- Minimising material wastage and spoilage
- Managing concrete washouts and waste disposal
- Planning for recycling and reuse of formwork materials
15. Managing Time as a Critical Resource
- Setting realistic schedules and timelines for formwork and pours
- Identifying critical path activities in the construction program
- Managing weather delays and program adjustments
16. Quality Control in Resource Management
- Ensuring materials meet specifications and standards
- Monitoring workmanship and formwork alignment during assembly
- Conducting pre-pour and post-pour inspections
17. Reporting and Record-Keeping for Resource Management
- Keeping accurate records of material use, labour hours, and equipment movements
- Preparing daily diaries, resource logs, and cost tracking reports
- Using resource management software and mobile apps effectively
18. Continuous Improvement in Resource Management Practices
- Reviewing project outcomes against initial resource plans
- Identifying areas for efficiency improvement
- Updating systems, templates, and procedures for future projects
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.