schedules,  errors  in  these  estimates  can  multiply many  times.  Be  careful  in  their  preparation! MATERIAL ESTIMATES A  material  estimate  consists  of  a  listing  and description of the various materials and the quantities required to construct a given project. Information for preparing  material  estimates  is  obtained  from  the activity  estimates,  drawings,  and  specifications.  A material estimate is sometimes referred to as “a Bill of Material   (BM)”   or   “a   Material   Takeoff   (MTO) Sheet.” (We will discuss the BM and the MTO a little later in the chapter.) EQUIPMENT ESTIMATES Equipment estimates are listings of the various types  of  equipment,  the  amount  of  time,  and  the number of pieces of equipment required to construct a given  project.  Information,  such  as  that  obtained from  activity  estimates,  drawings,  specifications,  and an  inspection  of  the  site,  provides  the  basis  for preparing the equipment estimates. MANPOWER  ESTIMATES The manpower estimate consists of a listing of the number  of  direct  labor  man-days  required  to  complete the  various  activities  of  a  specific  project.  These estimates  may  show  only  the  man-days  for  each activity, or they may be in sufficient detail to list the number  of  man-days  for  each  rating  in  each activity—Builder  (BU),  Construction  Electrician (CE), Equipment Operator (EO), Steelworker (SW), and Utilitiesman (UT). Man-day estimates are used in  determining  the  number  of  personnel  and  the ratings required on a deployment. They also provide the  basis  for  scheduling  manpower  in  relation  to construction   progress. When  the  Seabee   Planner’s   and   Estimator’s Handbook,  NAVFAC P-405, is used, a man-day is a unit of work performed by one person in one 8-hour day  or  its  equivalent.  One  man-day  is  equivalent  to  a 10-hour  day  when  the  Facilities   Planning   Guide, NAVFAC  P-437,  is  used. Battalions set their own schedules, as needed, to complete their assigned tasks. In general, the work schedule of the battalion is based on an average of 55 hours per man per week. The duration of the workday is  10  hours  per  day,  which  starts  and  ends  at  the jobsite. This includes 9 hours for direct labor and 1 hour for lunch. Direct labor includes all labor expended directly on assigned construction tasks, either in the field or in the shop, that contributes directly to the completion of the  end  product. Direct  labor  must  be  reported separately  for  each  assigned  construction  item.  In addition  to  direct  labor,  the  estimator  must  also consider  overhead  labor  and  indirect  labor.  Overhead labor  is  considered  productive  labor  that  does  not contribute  directly  or  indirectly  to  the  product.  It includes all labor that must be performed regardless of the assigned mission. Indirect labor includes labor required to support construction operations but does not, in itself, produce an end product. ESTIMATOR An  estimator  is  a  person  who  evaluates  the requirements of a task. A construction estimator must be  able  to  mentally  picture  the  separate  operations  of the job as the work progresses through the various stages of construction and be able to read and obtain accurate   measurements   from   drawings. The estimator  must  have  an  understanding  of  math, previous   construction   experience,   and   a   working knowledge  of  all  branches  of  construction.  The estimator  must  use  good  judgment  when  determining what effect numerous factors and conditions have on construction  of  the  project  and  what  allowances should be made for each of them. The estimator must be  able  to  do  careful  and  accurate  work.  A  Seabee estimator  must  have  ready  access  to  information about  the  material,  equipment,  and  labor  required  to perform   various   types   of   work   under   conditions encountered  in  Seabee  deployments.  The  collection of  such  information  on  construction  performance  is part  of  estimating. Since  this  kind  of  reference information   may   change   from   time   to   time, information  should  be  frequently  reviewed. SCHEDULING Scheduling is the process of determining when an action  must  be  taken  and  when  material,  equipment, and  manpower  are  required.  There  are  four  basic types  of  schedules:  progress,  material,  equipment, and  manpower. Progress schedules coordinate all the projects of a Seabee  deployment  or  all  the  activities  of  a  single project. They show the sequence, the starting time, the  performance  time  required,  and  the  time  required 9-2