Raising the Bar on Construction Readiness: Why Frontline Supervisor Capability is the Next Assurance Frontier

For many of our customers, the Construction Readiness Assessment (CRA) is a proven assurance step—ensuring the people, processes, and plans are in place to start construction with confidence. This research challenges CRA users to go further: beyond “Are we ready to start construction?” to the deeper “Are we positioned to succeed?”

The Construction Industry Institute (CII)’s new RT-414 Playbook for Developing the Next Generation of Frontline Supervisors builds directly on that assurance mindset, advancing how we think about readiness in three critical CRA categories: Project Team, Human Resource Management, and Planning.

This research confirms and extends what we know about the role of Frontline Supervisors (FLS). It recognizes that Frontline Supervisors, often employed by contractors but pivotal to owner success, are the linchpin in executing the plans, processes, and safety culture your CRA verifies. It challenges us to not only confirm that the right number of supervisors are in place, but that they are equipped—through targeted training, leadership development, and technology readiness—to lead crews effectively in the workforce and technology environments over the next 15 years.

By integrating the Playbook’s insights into CRA-driven discussions, owners and contractors can move beyond “Are we ready to start?” to “Are we ready to succeed under the conditions the future will bring?”

Shout-Out to the RT-414 Research Team

The Playbook for Developing the Next Generation of Frontline Supervisors was created through the cross-sector collaboration of industry leaders, contractors, owners, academics, and advisors. Special thanks to the RT-414 research team for their contributions: 

ExxonMobil, Chevron, Bruce Power, Irving Oil, Black & Veatch, Kiewit, Zachry, McDermott International, Southern Company, Bechtel Global, Burns & McDonnell, Dematic, Pathfinder, Baker Construction, Deloitte, and Arizona State University. 

Their combined expertise ensured this Playbook is grounded in real-world challenges and opportunities that span the entire construction industry ecosystem. 

Future-Proofing Project Execution: The Playbook for Developing the Next Generation of Frontline Supervisors

Why it matters for both Owners and Contractors 

Frontline Supervisors are the critical link between strategy and safe, productive execution in the field. In most capital projects, these supervisors are contractor employees, yet their performance directly determines whether safety, quality, and schedule goals are met.

For contractors, the playbook offers a clear, structured approach to developing the next generation of supervisors.

For owners, it provides the tools—like the Owner’s Reference Guide—to evaluate a contractor’s ability to build and retain these capabilities. Ultimately, it is owners who can act as the catalyst for change, setting expectations during procurement and contractor selection that FLS capability be treated as a priority alongside safety, quality, and cost.

By anticipating the workforce and technology shifts outlined in the Playbook, owners can drive the industry toward a new generation of supervisors ready for the challenges of 2040.

Key insight from the research 

As part of its work, RT-414 used scenario planning to explore three plausible futures for the construction industry through 2040:

• Conservative Advancement – steady progress in tools and methods with gradual workforce changes.

• Tech Boom – rapid adoption of advanced technology, including AI, robotics, and automation.

• Labor Bust – significant workforce shortages requiring higher productivity from smaller crews.

Across all three scenarios, Artificial Intelligence (AI) consistently emerged as a transformative factor in how Frontline Supervisors (FLS) plan work, make decisions, and integrate technology in the field.

The Playbook identifies AI literacy—alongside leadership and trade skills—as a “no regrets” investment for both owners and contractors. In practice, this means supervisors will need to:

• Confidently prompt AI tools to obtain useful outputs.

• Interpret AI-generated data and insights accurately.

• Apply AI outputs effectively to lead crews safely and productively.

From AI-driven project management tools to adaptive eLearning, and from real-time decision support to automated reporting, FLS will need to confidently prompt, interpret, and apply AI outputs to lead safe, efficient crews. Owners who partner with contractors to embed these skills now will be positioned for greater project success in every future. 

Why this is impactful for long-term planning 

This research is more than a training guide, it’s a scenario-based, risk-resilient strategy for building the leadership capacity your projects will depend on for decades. Organizations that adopt these principles can: 

• Strengthen Project Team readiness by ensuring leadership positions are filled with proven, future-ready supervisors. 

• Elevate Human Resource Management by securing, retaining, and developing skilled FLS through structured training and career pathways. 

The Challenge 

The CII Playbook makes one thing clear—your future project performance will be shaped by the readiness of your frontline leaders. 

• For owners: Are you making FLS capability a formal evaluation criterion when selecting contractors? Are you prepared to push for supervisors who are ready for both the human and technological realities of the jobsite in 2040? 

• For contractors: Are your FLS development programs aligned with the skillsets required across all three future scenarios? Are your supervisors being trained now to integrate AI tools into field operations without disrupting safety, quality, or productivity? 

And most importantly, what will you do differently this year to ensure your frontline leaders are ready for the decades ahead?