Integrated or stand alone programme?

Here’s a good example of how things can go in a wrong direction if MEP Contractor was kept standalone and there is no integrated program.



Multiplex V/s Honeywell



http://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/markup.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWHC/TCC/2007/44…

Dear Shahul,



The issue here is that you have a contract and a scope of work that you need to complete in a specific amount of time for a specific amount of money. Wether you are a Major Contractor or a SubContractor you need a Program of Works.



Being a subcontractor or being one contractor out of 20 at site is the same thing. You have plenty of constraints that you need to consider in your program. Avoiding the problem will not solve it. You need to model your actual work that needs to be completed at site. CPM works well for projects.



With kind regards,



Samer

Hi Shahul



You are in the normal situation of a Sub-Contractor working in the Main Contractor environment.



Set down a schedule of dates where you must have access if you are to progress your works in accordance with your sub-contract programme.



I recall saying this to you in an earlier thread.



Keep sending reminder updates up to the date when they fail to give you access.



Then send out regular notices of delay.



Don’t be nice - be realistic and protect your companies contractual rights.



Grrrrrhh.



Best regards



Mike Testro.

Dear Shahul,



Subcontractors also have Contracts to complete. If you have a good size contract and it is under International Conditions of Contract like FIDIC, then you need to submit your own Program of Works. So the basic idea is that each Contract will have it’s own Program of Works.



You will need to manage the interaction with other trades; Civil, Finishes, Laundry, Signage, etc. You can include a separate activity in your program and give it the necessary duration as you agree with the Main Contractor. Utlimately, you will have your own program with all the interactions (by others). Once you have delays caused (by others) you can include the actual duration and check the impact.



With kind regards,



Samer

Hi Shahul



It is essential to know when you are going to be given access to carry out your sub-contract works and when you are contractually required to hand the area back after you have finished.



This can only be done within a fully integrated programme where the interface of all work packages is clearly

detailed.



If your start point is going to be delayed make sure you send out the appropriate delay notice and follow up with weekly forecasts.



Best regards



Mike Testro

Shahul



As a subcontractor you are bound to follow and cooperate with the General Contractor (GC) Schedule, he keeps the control. As long as he is reasonable it will hold.



I am not sure you will always have the option to have access to his schedule even if he have it posted as a web application or using other application shell such as Citrix. As a protection he might not be willing to do so. For your own good you should try to get copies of his full schedule updates and not merely a four week look-ahead filtered as to show only your work, you never know when your company will be at odds with the GC, better have as good documentation as you can.



Because it is the GC who prepares updates and manages the schedule, hopefully in coordination with all trades, it makes no sense for Subcontractors to use a sophisticated tool to keep track of the schedules.



I believe most subcontractors have no other option than to have stand alone versions with fixed or constrained dates not linked to the GC CPM. Here you can track your resource demand and availability and warn the GC of any possible shortage. For these purposes even a spreadsheet can do it.



Best regards,

Rafael