In my business we track cost by the hour. It is essential for the foreman to know how you estimated a job.
Every estimate I do is put together by units. Every electrical apparatus has a unit and that is what you multiply by the quantitites to estimate the cost of a job.
My foreman know what the units are and that I expect them to not only meet but exceed the units.
Say you are estimated your crew could install 100 feet of pipe in 8 hours and they are only getting 90 feet up you are missing your units, thus losing money, if they are getting 100 feet up they are meeting there units, thus breaking even, 110 feet, they are beating there units, thus you are profitting more.
It is essential for the foreman to know what is expected of them everyday. My foreman build daily workplans for there crews and every work plan has listed the units they need to make.
With this system in place I can tell you any day of a project were we stand as far as making money or losing money.
