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Editorial Type: Case Study     Date: 05-2015    Views: 3785      






The Challenge for AECOM was to deliver a high quality hotel refit on time. CONJECT provided the answer, replacing handwritten defect management with an online system

With choosing and booking into a hotel now being carried out entirely online, it is interesting that global construction companies often still have paper-based defect management systems in place when tasked with the refurbishment of such properties, like the Novotel in Dubai.

The digitisation of the industry may have come on apace, but there are still areas where entrenched practices remain in force - although they can be addressed with the appropriate tools. Defect Management is one such area. Introducing a mobile solution, like conjectMI, has proven to save both time and reduce manual processing errors, leading to a refurbishment project being finished well within time and on budget.

AECOM are an international provider of construction, engineering and technical services across a broad range of sectors. With over 60 years' experience operating in the Middle East, AECOM were selected to manage the total refurbishment of the 13 floor, 4 star Novotel hotel, part of the famous Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

THE CHALLENGE
Being a refit of a high-end hotel, delivering high quality standards, including the rapid identification and rectification of defects, was a priority. Compounding the challenge of effectively managing defects, the work was carried out in multiple stages whilst the hotel remained open. In addition to the normal costs associated with poor defect resolution, delays in resolving defects would have knock-on effects on other stages of the project and could impede the day to day running of the hotel

AECOM's defect management method had been manual inspections recorded on paper-based spreadsheets and forms which were used to track the process from identification to resolution. AECOM Senior Project Manager, Amer Abuzeineh stated that with the existing method, the average turnaround time from identifying to closing a defect was 5 days. With three different companies logging defects over a 200,000 square foot site, accurate recording of defects was vital and the existing paper based system carried the risk of clerical error and the process of sharing defect information by email was administratively burdensome.

Amer wanted a more efficient way of delivering quality control, turnaround times, and better reporting than was possible using the existing paper-based system. Management tasks like the tracking of defect statuses, meeting project timescales and ensuring that high quality levels were being delivered, were all made difficult due to the lack of timely reporting.

AECOM were not using specialised software to assist with their defects management processes, so Amer along with DWTC (the client) decided to deploy an inspections and defects software solution to test the impact on efficiency and quality. Based on the selection criteria of ease of use, reliability and monitoring/reporting functionality, conjectMI mobile inspections and defects software was chosen as the preferred solution

MOBILE DEFECT MANAGEMENT
Before the solution was deployed, CONJECT consultants spent time with AECOM assessing their processes and consulting on both configuration changes to the software and changes to inspections and defects processes, to ensure the two were closely aligned. Amer commented, "The fact that CONJECT were able to easily configure their solution to match the nature and requirements of the project removed barriers to adoption of the new system. All users were able to use the system after the first training session with no issues."

Users logged in using tablets that had been loaded with the relevant floorplans. Locations, images and descriptions of defects (including the relevant trade) were marked up using the tablet. The data was then synchronised with the master version of the floorplan, either on the move or when returning to the site office, depending on Wi-Fi availability.

EARLY COMPLETION
In the three month duration of the inspections and snagging phase of the project, the team recorded 6,654 defects across a project area of over 200,000 square feet. The defects inspection, resolution and quality assurance project represented a significant commitment of project time and cost. Fast snagging identification and resolution ensured that defects were quickly and accurately snagged using conjectMI, and the information was automatically shared with the relevant parties so they could undertake rectification works.



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