CC Jul-Aug 2021

TECHNOLOGYfocus
use fitters, rather than craftsmen, to erect
them. Once again, Access Construction
job costing utilities can be used to
compare costs against traditional
methods of construction, incorporating
component delivery and resource costs to
provide more accurate budgets and
project costs.
Modular construction is also at the
forefront of the drive towards the country's
net-zero carbon targets. They have the
facilities and the need to research
alternative materials, technologies and
building methods. Building contractors on
tight margins focus on the projects in
hand. It is essential that architects and
engineers, faced with governmental
pressures to reduce carbon emissions,
speak frequently to off-site fabricators to
keep abreast of developments, and the
driving force for this must be the
opportunity to reduce a project's
construction costs,
SKILLED LABOUR SHORTAGES
Skilled labour shortages result in poor
productivity, rising costs and dwindling
profitability. Although Brexit has been cited
as a contributing factor, it is a global
problem, with an ageing workforce, poor
training programs and the nature of the
job, which is felt to be poorly paid and
dangerous (numerous surveys point out
the construction industry's poor safety
record). Skills don't necessarily just refer to
the ability to lay bricks professionally, but
also to the processes and workflows on a
building site. Incompetence in this area
leads to work not being carried out
properly and procedures missed.
The obvious outcome is that the quality
of construction on the project is lower than
it should be, and the tagging of defects
and the remedies required to clear them
becomes an expensive and unforeseen
addition to the project's costs.
Communication between the team onsite
and in the office is critical, therefore, to
both direct and monitor the daily activities
of the construction site: the comings and
goings of employees, the recording of
material deliveries and the ordering of
equipment, and the commencement and
completion of tasks.
Besides recording costs on a real-time
basis, updating employees timesheets,
even checking whether a particular
employee has the skills to do a particular
job, the information can be used by
Access Construction to compile reports
that can be analysed to discern trends
and unearth reasons why particular
aspects of projects tend to go astray.
Should tagging reveal that, for example,
light fittings have been installed incorrectly
on a number of occasions on a building
site, checking the appropriate report will
reveal which contractor and employee
was directly responsible, and to allow
them to remedy the situation.
Access Construction's mobile application
is used to maintain direct control over the
activities on a construction site, but it also
helps empower the local foreman using it,
making them a more important and
valuable member of the team.
DEALING WITH THE UNEXPECTED
There is nothing so certain as death and
taxes. The world is in flux, and many
things will change over the next couple of
decades: high tariffs on imported raw
materials (Chinese steel), evolving
transport and electricity supply
technologies, migrating populations,
changing work patterns and more.
Governments will have to define the rules
that govern our responses.
The signs are there already, and the
information is flowing. Access Construction
has the responsibility of keeping track of
such changes and keeping clients in touch
with how it affects them and their business.
It's your responsibility to take advantage of
their expertise.
www.theaccessgroup.com
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