Shave Just Two Seconds per Brick: Small Efficiencies Multiplied by Thousands
Executive Summary: by improving just 2 seconds per brick, a mason can work 1.7–3.4 fewer weeks per year, worth $1,700–$4,800+ in wage savings annually.
Potential time savings per period:
- Per day: 0.2–0.5 hours
- Per week (5 days): 1.3–2.7 hours
- Per month (20 days): 5.5–11.1 hours
- Per year (250 days): 69.4–138.8 hours (≈ 1.7–3.4 weeks)
Assumptions
- Skilled bricklayer output: 500–1,000 bricks/day
- Time saved per brick: 2 seconds
- Week = 5 workdays, Month = 20 workdays, Work year = 250 workdays
Results: 500 Bricks/Day
| Period | Seconds Saved | Time Saved (h:mm:ss) | Decimal Hours | 40-h Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 1,000 | 0:16:40 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Week | 5,000 | 1:23:20 | 1.4 | 0.03 |
| Month | 20,000 | 5:33:20 | 5.6 | 0.1 |
| Year | 250,000 | 69:26:40 | 69.4 | 1.7 |
Results: 1,000 Bricks/Day
| Period | Seconds Saved | Time Saved (h:mm:ss) | Decimal Hours | 40-h Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 2,000 | 0:33:20 | 0.6 | 0.01 |
| Week | 10,000 | 2:46:40 | 2.8 | 0.07 |
| Month | 40,000 | 11:06:40 | 11.1 | 0.3 |
| Year | 500,000 | 138:53:20 | 138.8 | 3.4 |
Show the Work
- Seconds per day saved =
2 × bricks/day- 500 bricks → 1,000 sec
- 1,000 bricks → 2,000 sec
- Scale up:
- Week =
sec/day × 5 - Month =
sec/day × 20 - Year =
sec/day × 250
- Week =
- Convert to hours:
hours = seconds ÷ 3,600 - Convert to 40-hour workweeks:
weeks = hours ÷ 40
By improving speed 2 seconds per brick, a mason can work 1.7–3.4 fewer weeks per year.
Time savings of 2 seconds per brick equals 69.4–138.8 hours per year. At union wages, this translates to $1,700–$4,800+ annually depending on location.
Wage References (mid-2025)
- Milwaukee, WI: $25–$35/hr
- Ohio (Local 23): $33.24/hr + benefits
- Illinois: ~$28.19/hr average, ~$31/hr at 75th percentile
Annual Savings by Location
500 Bricks/Day (69.4 hours/year saved)
- Milwaukee ($25/hr): $1,735
- Milwaukee ($35/hr): $2,429
- Ohio ($33.24/hr): $2,308
- Illinois ($28.19/hr): $1,956
- Illinois (75th percentile $31/hr): $2,152
1,000 Bricks/Day (138.8 hours/year saved)
- Milwaukee ($25/hr): $3,470
- Milwaukee ($35/hr): $4,858
- Ohio ($33.24/hr): $4,615
- Illinois ($28.19/hr): $3,912
- Illinois (75th percentile $31/hr): $4,304
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