Factor affecting construction work scheduling

Developing a work plan for construction work in a contract required some basic important information. In a contract, it will always emphasize "TIME". In other words, TIME IS THE ESSENCE OF A CONTRACT. 

Generally, the term "time is the essence" simply means that a contract must have a starting date and closing date. This will be a guide for any work plan. Whatever scope of works is involved in order to complete a project, it shall be done within this period of time. This limited time available for any construction work in a contract will determine which construction method to be applied. The agreed construction period in a contract will also directly affect the type of machinery to be used and how much manpower need to be engaged. 

Despite the time frame given, manpower, and machinery we are chosen, when we plan a construction schedule, the bottom line is how much we are going to pay for all the costs. We shall be aware of the cost implications versus the agreed contract sum. In other words, when planing a construction work schedule, these major two (2) factors shall be balanced off. The two important factors are always "Time" and "Cost".

In general, to shorten the construction period, more manpower or machinery is required or more advanced construction technic is needed.

Document control in construction management

Document control is part and parcel of the important area for construction personnel to look into. The important of this are to help every party involved in a particular construction work get the right information at the right time and it help protecting interest of every party.

Due to the heavy work load personnel tend to be distracted from performing a proper document control. For example, there is important documentation that already being distributed to respective personnel, however the sender had overlook on the acknowledge receipt of the document. Thus if there will be an issue arise mentioned that the document was not received or the sender have not do the submission yet, then the sender will having problem to proof that he actually had distribute that particular document.

Looking at the scenario above, this can indirectly affecting the smooth progress of the project. The document might be needed for the purposed of material approval, notice, application of extension of time or progress claim or design change. When this issue of document control become so critical it will start affecting the completion of the construction work. Some of the issue might have to be solved at arbitration level.

For the sake of a well manage construction works and meeting the goal of any construction project, document control should not be taken lightly. I have to be part of the construction procedure. Regardless how it supposed to be carried out, whether by incorporate any document control software or conventional method, Document Control Have To Be Executed in such a manner which will have a positive impact on the project or construction works.

construction cost estimation : Flexible pavement

Cost estimation for construction of flexible pavement is very important to enable a smooth construction activities in road constructions. In order to do cost estimation of Flexible pavement for road, there are numbers of important information that we need to know about the flexible pavement. Below are some of the important parameter required to enable the cost estimation.

 

1. Flexible pavement structure, dimension and quantity.

2. Construction material required

3. Construction Methodology or work method statement

4. Construction work duration 



 

General flexible pavement structure

(credit to Kontraktor Malaysia Facebook)

Construction Material for flexible pavement.

1. Suitable soil (well compacted) for sub-grade
2. Down Crusher Run ( Crush and well Graded Granite stone) for Flexible pavement Sub-base and base course
3. Prime Coat
4. Asphaltic concrete Binder Course (ACB)
5. Tack coat
6. Asphaltic Concrete Wearing Course (ACW)





Construction project stages

Construction is not about physically constructing a structure only but lot of other things involve. Construction in-whole are involving a few stages. Those stages start with setting goal by the owner (consultant/contractor's client) then followed by designing stage. Once the designers completed their design, they must first get approval from the client prior to the call for tender. Designer have to get their design as closed as they can as what had been describe by their client. This is important as to minimised any interruption during construction period due to design change. It is also important for the client in order not to burst their allocated budget for the whole project.

Upon approval of their design then consultants can proceed with the tender stage. This can be done via open tender such as through media advertisement. However some might one to call for invited tender. Invited tender is a bidding process where consultant will look for list of trusted, well reputable and competent contractor to submit their tender price for the purposed construction work.

After submission tender price, together with the client consultant, have to evaluate and come to a conclusion to whom must they award the contract. Another important part of this process is to counter check if client budget is enough. If the price they get burst their budget, the client might want to reduce the scope of work or call for another round of tender. Usually this is termed as re-tender process.

                                                    

Next before the construction can really start, upon deciding who is the contractor that can do the construction work, client will send an official "Letter of Intent" or most of the time, Client will  issue "Letter of Acceptance" or "Letter of Award". Once the official letter was sent out to the winner of the tender, consultant then need to prepare the contract document for both parties to sign.

Right after the signing process, by procedure wise, only then the awarded contractor can proceed with their physical construction work. While dealing with the construction of the structure, it is vital for every parties to keep their record of everything or important event as accurate, complete and safe as they can. This is because  those entire documents might have legal value in it. Among the records are letter of Award, Construction site diary, construction test and inspection approval, design change record, instruction from the client, records of construction meetings (site meeting, technical meeting and others important meeting or discussion) and may more.

Another important document that have to be kept properly and can be access by all parties involve is the "Master Work Program". This will show, when contractor going to start a certain work and when will they finished. Other than that, by having this master work program, client, consultant and contractor can monitor their construction health. Construction health is whether the construction work is ahead of schedule, on time or delayed. If the progress of the construction work shows delay, this is where all parties need to know why, and how to speed-up the progress or client might need to revised the construction completion date by granting Extension of Time base on valid reason as mentioned in the contract to the contractor. However if the records shows that reasons behind the delay is due to contractor negligence, client can by virtue of the signed contract and by any applicable law, penalised the contractor. Commonly happened is contractor being slap with the "Liquidated and Ascertained Damages (L&AD)" as allow in the contract.

                                                             

Upon completion of all of the construction scope of work and if the client satisfied with the end product, Client then will issue a letter of completion to contractor. This letter normally termed as "Certificate of Practical completion (CPC)". As mentioned earlier, "construction in whole involving a few stages", then bare in-mind, the issuance of CPC does not meant that the whole construction is over. Upon issuance of the CPC, another stage that will follow is the "post-construction" stage. This is a stage where all constructed structure being put into real test. The in-operation of the structure and all other components reassemble a complete structure will reveal all defects to the structure have. Defects in construction simply mean works that is done but does not functioning well. When this happened, client together with their consultant need to identify if is a defect due to contractor works or not. If it the answer is "yes", then client can request the contractor to rectify the defects as long as the defect occurred within the defect liability period. Inspection on the defect must be performed in the present of client, consultant and contractor and list of defects must be served officially to the contractor.

When the defect liability period is over, client has to close the construction account which normally termed as "closing of project account". In this stage client will released whatever money due to their contractor and consultants or recouped back whatever amount due to them from the contractor or consultants.

The next and final stage of the whole construction project is the post mortem by client them self. By performing this stage, client can evaluate, in overall, the cost, the construction period, functionality of the project and whether or not the project achieved their earlier goal. The result of the post-mortem will provide a better understanding and can be incorporated into the new project that they wish or planned to do.

Construction manager delegation of power

cConstruction manager or project manager is an important element for any construction field. Thus, it is important for them to be available at all time during construction period. However in real life, everybody need sometime to rest or leave for what ever reason. In view of this situation, it is always a good practice to perform "power delegation" procedure. This is a procedure to authorised a competent personnel to take over the manager duty when ever he or she will be on leave for a substantial period of time such as one week. Most of the construction company only make known the delegation of power to the person affected but in most cases they fail to notify other organisation on the issue. This scenario seems to be only a minor matter any it would not affect the construction work but it do affect the works if drastic or urgent decision is required in which the decision only can be make by authorised personnel. Hence any delegation of power shall be make official and all organisation that involved shall be officially inform.

The content of the delegation of power shall clearly stated the name of the person that will take over the responsibility, his scope of work and his limit of authority. If required may be the period he or she be in power also shall be stated.

How to Create A Work program with Microsoft Excel version 2010

Creating a simple work program and display it as a Bar chat is relative cheap. This can be done by doing it with Microsoft Excel. However It is very tough to display the critical path and it seems to be impossible to show the logic link between bars. Another disadvantage of this is that it might only practical and applicable to a small scale project that having not more than ten (10) activities. It is due to the complexity of the process in creating the bar chart and it is very time consuming. Below are free step by step guidance to produce a simple work program using Microsoft Excel.

Step 1.
 Open the Microsoft Excel Program and create table as picture below (table can be customized according to what information you want to display.

Step 2:
Insert your the task in the task column and task ID  in the ID column and arrange it according to level of work or in words it shall be the work breakdown code.

Step 3:
Set the DURATION column by highlighting the column and right click. The dialogue box will appear. from the dialogue box, select "format cell". I should appear like picture below.

After selecting the "format Cells", a dialogue box will appear as below.

 Now Under category, Select Number. I set the decimal point to "0" decimal places. then click OK.

Step 4:
Now start Insert Number of duration. See the following Picture.

Step 5:
In this stage or step 5, for column level as " Start " and " finish", highlight both column, Right click and select " Format cells", a dialogue will appear and under the " Category" select Date and set the " date format". See picture below.

Step 6:
After you select your date format which is shown under the "type" tab. Click "OK". Than Start by inserting the start date as per sequence of work. As a guide you can fill the sequence number base on the ID into the "Predecessor" and "Successor Column". Picture below.

For the "Start", "Finish", "Predecessor" and "Successor" column, If you are familiar with Excel Function or Formula, it is better to use the features since with that Features you can easily create links between cells. Or else you will have to fill and calculate it manually.

Step 7:
Next step is to group task under a major task. To do this, First select "Data Tab". See Picture Below.

Then, identify which is the major task. Next highlight the "Rows" which represent minor tasks that form the major task. Picture Below

 After Highlighting the minor task, Click on the " Group" Icon under " Data Tab". It will automatically display the Sheet Like picture below.

The finish product is as picture below.

After you fill in all the data you needed in the table. It is now we can start to create the " Bar Chart".

Step 8

To create the “bar Chart” , First highlight the Row and column that contained the “ Task”, “Duration”, “start” and “Finish”. Next, Click on the “Insert tab” , then go to “ bar”  then click the icon “ Stacked Bar”. See picture below.

Once you click on the icon “ Staked Bar”, a Bar chart will automatically appear in your work Sheet. It shall look like the picture below.

Step 9:

Next, in the Start and finish Column, Identified the Earliest date to start work. Right Click on that cell, then click “ format cell”. A dialogue box like below will appear.

Inside the dialogue box, under category, click on “number”. Once you click on the “number”, under the sample, you will see a set of number. In this example the number is  41703.00. This number is actually represent the date of 05/03/2014. See picture below. Write down this number on a piece of paper. After you done with this step, Click the “cancel” tab. The dialogue box will close by itself. Next, do the same thing to the last date which you are going to complete your work or task. You will need those number to customized the date axis range on your chart later on.

Step 10.

Right Click on the “X” axis and then Click “ format axis”. Refer to picture below.

After you click the “format axis” a dialogue box will appear as below.

Inside the axis option check the minimum value to fixed and insert the number for start date which you write down earlier  in step 9. Do the same for maximum Value but inset the number which will represent the last completion date of the work.

Still on the dialogue box, click on the number, then go to the category And choose “ date” and choose the date format type which you want to display on your chart. After that step, you can choose the alignment tab in the dialogue box to align the position of your date. See Picture below.

One you done with it, click “Close”. Your Chart Should appear like this.

Step 11

Right click on the “Y” Axis and click Format Axis. A dialogue box like below will appear.

Inside this dialogue box, look for the “ Category in reverse order”.  “Checked “ the box and next Close the dialogue. Your chart should be displayed as below.

Step 12

In the Chart, Right click in between two bars. Then Click “select data” . See picture below.

One you had click on the “select data” a dialogue box as below will appear.

Click on the “Duration” follow by clicking on the “move down” button. This will change the position of your “Duration”.  Once you done with that, Click “ OK” tab. It will close the Dialogue box. This action will make your Chart look as this following picture.

Step 13

Still on the chart. Right Click on any of the green bar. 

Then, click on the “fill colour” icon. Picture below.

Choose the “no fill” . Your chart should be as follows.

Repeat this step 13 but now do the same for the bar that is “red” in colour.The end product for this step  shall be displayed as below.

Step 14

Now identify the “Critical Path” and recoloured it into red. You should have a Bar chart as below.

Step 15

If you want to show both “ Start” and “ Finish” date, Click on the bars that represent the “Start” bar

 (already recoloured with no fill in step 13),then click the “ Add data level’. 

Your chart will look like this.

Now the start date had been inserted. However the date been displayed and overlap with other information. We don’t want this display. Hence we need to re format the “ X “ axis. To Do That we need to change the Minimum Value and the maximum value of “X” Axis. See the pictures below.  For Minimum value, entered value that is less than 41703 and for Maximum Value entered number greater than 41848.

Next, for the “finish date” do the same procedure as what had been done for “ Start Date”  but for  “ the Finish date” click on the “finish Bar” which had been recoloured earlier with “No Fill”. Your end product shall be displayed as follow.

Basically, Your work program created with Microsoft Excel is now completed. However  for a better presentation of Your  Bar Chart, you Can present it as Chart on its own or you can rearrange is such a way  to be display with full description.

a) Bar Chart represent the work program  on its own.

b) Work program with full description.

Congratulation. You just finish creating the work program by using Microsoft Excel.

Construction Industry in year 2014

Year 2013 is a year that full of challenges to all of the construction industry players. Some might have it as a nice Year but for some it is not a prosperous year. Whatever it is, soon the year of 2013 will become history.

As we are approaching the new year, 2014, let we start equip our self with fresh strategy to tackle new challenges in this construction field. Embrace the technology and  increase our knowledge in construction. We might need to refurbish our machinery, plant and Equipment for 2014. We might need to increase our manpower to fulfils the next year commitment. We might need to start looking for new strategy to secure more contract.

The bottom line is, how good have we done in year 2013 in solving any issue that we facing with regards to this construction work. It will always be good to look back on what we had done and learn from there for betterment. For the year to come let us refresh our knowledge in this industry. Here, in this blog, There are articles that are useful for next year planning. Just take a look at the archive and you will find it useful.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2014.

Project scheduling

“I have been in this construction industries for years by now; I got the experience and knowledge. That is why I don’t really need to produce a work schedule. It’s all in my head.”

Have you ever met a person that telling you the same reason as above? If you throw me that question my answer is “YES”.

There is no doubt that those who already successfully completed construction projects already know all the sequence of works and what does it takes to complete a project. However I still want to emphasized that it is important to have a systematic work schedule. The reason is you are not going to supervised each and single task of a project by yourself. In actual fact, if you are project managers or coordinators you will have to deal with your construction supervisors, subcontractors, client, consultant and suppliers. All of these parties will be interested to know what your work schedule is. The information stated in your project will enable them to delegates, giving instruction, executing and monitoring the progress for whatever necessary works to complete the project. Without your project schedule every parties involve will be in the dark.

Why do I emphasize that it is important for you to have a proper project schedule? Here is the reason why?

Project scheduling will allow us to analysed our cash flow against our work plan whether what we plan can be achieve with the current available cash in hand, current machinery, plant and equipment and also manpower that we have. After analysed , if we found out we can’t complete the project with our current resources, then we have to explore other option on how to complete the project before we make any decision to proceed with the work schedule. In other words Project scheduling will help us to minimize our losses in term of Value.

Work without a plan is a plan to fail. Without a project schedule we will be lost. We do not know when to start, how long it take for us to complete the project, what is the sequence of work, When to start our procurement of material, when to mobilized essential machinery to start a particular task, what is the effect of public holiday and bad weather have to our plan and the list goes on. Missing the step of preparing a proper project scheduling can lead to a situation that it is too late for us to amend the damages that already happened during construction period.

 It is a compulsory requirement in most of the contract document. We are required by our client to submit our project schedule for our project for their approval.

It is a tool that will help us to defend our self when we have to stop part of the work due to the instruction by the client which leads to the delay in completion of the project.

It is very essential instrument when we decide to make a claim for extension of time and also to claim for our loss and expense (if allow in the contract). If approval to our claim is granted it can save us from the liquidated and ascertain damages which might be imposed to us as per mention inside the contract (if any).

Project Schedule will help us to monitor our project health whether we are ahead of schedule, on track, slightly delay or even fall under sick project which is bound for contract termination.

Project schedule will help us to instruct our team on what task to do, when must it start and when must it finish.

All of the reason listed above, have their impact on the monetary value. To summarize all of this we can say that a Project scheduling is a tool that will guide a construction project from the beginning until completion and a tool to maximize the profit for a project. As what business person had and will always have in their head, “The purpose of making Business is to make more money not to lose it in whatever circumstances”.

Site management for contractor.

Site management is a very important field that shall not be neglected by any contractor. Armed your project with proper site management personnel which will help contractor to ensure a smooth work flow environment and in return will help in the success of a project.

Site management is inclusive of 

1. Site safety

2. Work place arrangement eg: site access road, storage and machinery yard and site office.

3. Site personnel

4. Sequence of works

5. Documentation

Each of the listed area above, need to be properly address and plan in order to make the site management that is going to be implement will achieve its objective.

A construction site that was operated without a well-planned site management always resulted as an unsafe site. For example, a site without proper site management, we can see construction waste is everywhere and this will pose a great danger. If accident happened, there will be lost in working hours and this lost is equal to lost in productivity which can be translate to money.

As we already know the important of site management in construction, now the question is how to put it into practice? The key to a good site management is to develop the site management plan or guideline. The content of this site management plan shall consist of all of the listed above. Personnel need to be appointed and their authority and responsibility clearly mentioned. layout of the site shall also be include to show the planned location of any important machinery yard, office, store or even where a heavy machinery shall be station during construction to ensure smooth activity.

There is some more parameter that can be included and it depends on the type of construction. If one cannot develop your site management plan it can always be out source by engaging professional.

Part of site management is the arrangement of site. The picture below can explained what site arrangement is.

MAKING MONEY OR LOOSING IT

Hai All. This week I am making internal audit for a firm under provision of "Construction Management Services in civil, Building & Infrastructure works". Great..The Quality Management System (QMS) Manual was nicely in place and fullfill all the ISO 9001:2008 requirements. Procedure and processes to achieve their goal all had been properly documented and followed. The question here is how do they can loose so much in a project !!!!!!. It cause millions.

It is no body fault. That is construction. After a light conversation with the owner, I realise Who is the culprit behind all the event that make them lost so much. Here is it.

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Project planning( Click this to purchase at Amazon) had failed.
The project had been awarded, However they could not start the construction due to le land accusation problem.

Time.
The above issue was only resolve almost a year after the contract awarded. Cost increase.

Project Pricing.
Pricing was done and accepted however there is no clause allow for price fluctuation variation order. From tendering until start work, it take almost two years!!! market price for almost all construction material had increase and the worst part is it goes up above their pricing. It is not contractor fault. They had include such situation in their budget but they still get beaten.

Service provider.
Their main service provider had pull out from that project to avoid the losses. They pull out without making any profit. They make such a loss in form of had not been able to captured other opportunity to make money  from other project. They don't dare to take the opportunity due to the reason that the project they had committed to is a mega project to them. Hence they can't wait any longer and decide to give up the project.

The firm decision.
To continue with the project no matter what it takes. They cannot pull out because of legal implication on them. They will be blacklisted!!!!!....They had to proceed with a lost.

Minimising the Lost.(Click this link to purchase)
Actively look for ways to minimise losses. Negotiating Skills required...!!!!!


Moral of the story.
1. Step back If you are not prepared to continue.
2. planning is a way to maximize your profit and ability.( Click here to buy).

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Related Article in this blog :
Top Secret of successful construction project.
Project planning guide
Tendering Guide
Quality Documentation filing
Tendering : Evaluate your financial capacity
Construction tender bidding procedure and processes
Big money in Construction Industry
Making Money in Construction
How to reduce the construction cost
Winning a tender
Important of project Planning
How to bid and win any tender
Construction Management

Top secret of successful construction project.

Being a contractor is always about making money by delivering projects to client. The question is, do you have a proper tool to make your dream come true?

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Here is the secret.  Successful contractor always have this four Alphabets in his mind.

" P-D-C-A" which is stand for , P=Plan, D=Do, C=Check and A=Action.

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As a contractor, in actual fact, all of them is doing the same thing. However the missing link is, this PDCA is always not documented properly and been compile into a manual. it is OK if all this PDCA work can be done alone by the owner of the firm but how about is this task is given to their staff ? For experience staff they might already have the idea on how to do it but it always not the case for newbies.

In view of this situation I attach herewith the link on part of the PDCA process. This process I name it PROJECT MONITORING PROCESS. it come together with how to monitor a project and what are the form that required in order to properly documenting the progress of a project. feel free to take a look on the list below.

Project monitoring process
Investigation form
project status review