Perform the Job as a Team… WHY?

By Alberto Munguia

In a world rich in technology, social media, and many electronic ways of communication within projects, we often forget that we are dealing with people that should share the same goal.

Designers, local governments, contractors, and inspectors need to be aware that the only effective way that a contractor can make money and complete a project on time is by performing the work right on the first try. The only way an inspector can authorize payment to a contractor is when he or she is able to demonstrate that the work done by the contractor meets quality specifications. The only way that the owner of the project can accept the work is when it has been demonstrated that the project will provide the service for which it was undertaken—according to design.

It is, therefore, beneficial for everybody to perform the job as a team, collaborating to solve issues ahead of time before they become problems. Sometimes we forget that the construction phase of a project is the last phase of a design process. And the design is not only what is on the CAD drawings. It is what gets built with people that operate equipment, coordinate the delivery of material, and, most importantly, interact.

Therefore, design-construction integration is fundamental to ensure that a project will provide the service for which it was undertaken. A fundamental activity to reach this integration is the ability to write daily reports that record the design-construction interaction, which can prevent unnecessary risks and determine the success of the project.

We invite you to read Highway Construction and Inspection Fieldbook where we discuss guidelines and key factors for writing effective daily reports and the risk involved if it is not properly done

About the Author

Alberto Munguia Mireles is a civil engineer by trade and project management professional by specialization. He has more than 24 years’ experience providing engineering services during the construction and inspection of infrastructure projects. Since 2010 he has been dedicated to aggregate civil engineering, construction management, quality control and quality assurance methods used by experts during the construction and inspection of highways in Texas. He is well-known for his expertise in monitoring and controlling construction processes and his ability to mitigate negative risk. www.cs4highway.com