Submitted by BlueprintCPD on
Environmental issues have become big news in the past decade and the implications for the construction industry are significant.
Tougher laws and more serious penalties have been introduced in a bid to discourage behaviour that might negatively impact the environment.
Submitted by BlueprintCPD on
Maintaining a consistent standard of quality in the construction industry is no accident - this is where quality management comes in.
It’s not only about making sure your product or service is consistent, but also how you go about achieving this.
There are four main elements to quality management: quality planning, quality control, quality assurance and quality improvement.
Submitted by BlueprintCPD on
There is no place for guesswork when it comes to figuring out exactly what lies on or below a site. These features can have a big impact on a future development, potentially even bringing the project to a halt.
A site classification will assess whether there are any geotechnical features that could have ramifications for development, or whether any contaminants are present on the site.
Here are some questions to consider when investigating a site:
Submitted by admin on
Whether you’ve been in business for decades, or just getting started, knowing where you stand now and where you want to be in the future can help set you on the path towards your goals. It’s a simple process but one so often overlooked, and the benefits are well worth the time. Coming up with a list of core business objectives will help you identify your speciality and target market. It’s all about recognising your personal and professional ambitions and making decisions that will steer you towards those goals.
Submitted by admin on
With the importance of securing the right subcontractors and suppliers to aid the on-time and on-budget delivery of building projects, the requirement to correctly evaluate tenders received is an important and necessary skill.
Submitted by admin on
In order to run a project to client expectations, procuring suitable subcontractors is one of the most important of your tasks. Your choice of subcontractor must ensure:
Submitted by admin on
An essential part of a construction company’s daily routine is the administration of contracts, between it and suppliers, sub-contractors, or clients. All payments and delivery terms will be detailed within a contract, with any disputes generally settled by reference to it. This is why contact administration is important to the smooth running of individual projects, its components, and the construction company as a whole.
Essentially there are three parts to a contract, which is best produced as a formal written document:
Submitted by admin on
When preparing to go to contract with a client, you’ll need to pay particular attention to clauses that may need to be added over and above those found in standard contracts available form State governments and building associations.
Working to a checklist will help both builder and client consider all contract information that will be needed.
What does a contract cover?
Submitted by admin on
Disputes are not uncommon within the building industry. Mediation is a process by which these disputes can be resolved without recourse to the courts, an action which can be both time consuming and expensive. The mediation format is structured to encourage open communication between the parties in dispute.
When a dispute cannot be resolved internally the issue can be directed to the courts, but there are also other alternatives:
Submitted by admin on
Environmental compliance is an important issue. It applies to construction worksites, building companies and contractors who must adhere to all current legislation. The penalties for breaches of environmental law can be severe and land you in court (with even accidental breaches possibly resulting in prosecution).
Ignorance is no defence and everyone in your business is responsible for minimising risk and being aware of the issues relating to your business and the site. Compliance is achieved through a comprehensive approach which involves: