Friday, December 18, 2009

...CutePDF writer makes my job easier.

This is a cool little free add-on that makes my work easier. It allows you to print any document into a .pdf file. This comes in handy.
You can get it here: http://www.cutepdf.com/

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Digital Business vCards

People notice when you pay attention to detail. Something small that I just thought about doing that can make a good impression is to email your project teams vCards, Digital Business Cards,  to everyone when you start the project. I wish everyone did that for me instead of me having to enter each persons information into my outlook.
Outlook even allows you to include a photo in your v-card. I think it's a good idea to include a professional photo.
In the future I think I'll request that everyone send me theirs in return, to make my job easier and more organized.
Here is a quick training video:
How to get the most out of your Vcard.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

The GC's scheduler is building a reputation.

The GC's scheduler shows passion and interest in the schedule. If a sub is causing the schedule to slip, the scheduler is actually upset about it. Most schedulers I've seen just take down the information.
This scheduler takes it seriously so people take it seriously. He inspects what he expects.
Reputation - In my first meeting with the scheduler he has already built a reputation for someone that is passionate and cares about his job!

Building Relationships

I need to work on building relationships with some people on site:
The Owner and anyone working directly for the owner. The engineer, commissioning agent, general contractor, other subs and our own subs.
What are some ways this can be done?:
1. Doing good work on time.
2. Communication
3. Remembering Names
4. Spend time with people: Lunch, hockey games.
5. Small gifts: Bagels or Donuts

I'll add more to this later. :)

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Baptist ED Lessons Learned

Coordination
1. Verify all tie in points, acid waste, sewer, storm with sitework sub. Sitework sub must participate in coordination process.

2. Coordination Drawings – Create a completion schedule for the drawings. Push for all trades to get there drawings done on time. Document where everyone is and who is late in the meeting minutes. If someone drops the ball note in the meeting minutes that they will have to move if they are in the way.

3. Include the civil sub in coordination. Coordinate tie-in points outside the building.

Insulation
1. Get the spacing required around the duct by the insulator in writing from the insulator for each system. Supply, return, secondary.

2. Pipe stub out from CV coils before the insulator insulates. Because if we are behind and they insulate the coils we have to tear the insulation and burn it to do our piping. The repair of this insulation costs a lot.

Start-up
1. At the beginning of the job – Be sure to meet with the GC, Drywall contractor & sheet metal contractor. Agree on which walls are priority walls (the get built first) and highlight these walls on a set of drawings.

Plumbing
1. If the space between the front of the WC carrier is more than 8 inches it usually requires additional leg supports.

2. Get a copy of the Mill-work cut sheets for the plumbing super as soon as the GC has it.

Mock-up
1. Provide a mock up of the insulation around the duct for the drywall contractor so we can see what the spacing requirements are.

QC
1. Be sure duct stays covered.

2. Be sure all pipe ends are capped when installed.

3. Meet with field crew – Let them know that knocking holes or cutting big holes in drywall is not acceptable. Show photos KHS&S gave me.

4. Talk to supers. Let them know you expect them to have weekly meetings with their men to go over how we expect work to be done. If something is not done properly, review this with all the men so they learn the correct method. Go over quality with the men.

5. Find out immediately what the final finish floor elevation will be in the bathrooms. (I’m having an issue at Memorial with the lav waste arms not being installed at the right elevation)

6. Find out immediately what the finish wall thickness will be including tile and grout in bathrooms. (There always seems to be an issue with the 18” ADA requirement to center of water closet.)

Change Order
1.Whenever Nash moves anything for coordination, document it on a Nash work order ticket.

Contract
1. PO – Include a line item that says the supplier will take back any extra material with no restocking fees or any fees.

2. nclude duct detector installation in the sheet metal subs contract.

Inspections
1. Be sure the plumbing insulation inspections are complete before releasing the GC to drywall.

Management
1. At least have a monthly job meeting, maybe biweekly or weekly: field staff & subs

2. In-house meetings often. Communicate what is expected.

3. Take more of a leadership role with the supers. Don’t assume they will do what needs to be done.

4. House Keeping. When walking the job check the gang boxes to make sure they are organized. Check the field containers and make sure they are organized.

Productivity
1. Weekly walk through – To ensure everyone is working and has material laid out in front. And Quality control. Ask what each man will be doing.

2. Provide a sketch for everything e.g. lav drops, shower valves, medgas outlet drops for installers.

3. Walk yard with Yard guy. Let him know your expectations and follow-up OFTEN! Communication. Communication

4. Supers must tell guys what is expected. 3 coils per day, 2 lav’s per day, 100 feet of pipe per day. Etc. e.g. Follow-up with this often.

Relationships
1. Take drywall management to lunch early in the job. Build relationships with other subs.

Plumbing & Mechanical
1. Find out where the hard ceiling are early in the job and have access panels laid out. Be sure pipe id for these rooms is above the access panels.

Doc Control
1. Create a tool binder for both supers to keep the delivery & pick-up tickets of tools in.

2. Create a prefab delivery ticket binder.

3. Keep an invoices on hold tab in the PM report binder.

4. After monthly % complete is updated, print out an updated copy and keep it in a binder for future reference along with the marked up old copy.

5. Keep a binder with all credit invoices from suppliers, when a credit comes through to be approved, make a copy and keep it in this binder as complete.

6. Create a book to record all mistakes that cost us money.

7. Record every single PO written in an excel file. Record invoices so they are deducted from total so there is a running balance of outstanding money owed.

8. Create a email file and hard file for notice to proceeds

Organization
1. Make notes on everything about everything you do.

Renovation
1. If it’s a renovation project, have the superintendent verify what’s shown as existing and to remain is still in place and is actually usable.