Specialist Contractors in Technical Solution - Term Paper Example

Specialist Contractors in Technical Solution Name: Course: Tutor: Institution: City and State: Date: Introduction Construction involves the process of preparation and formation of buildings as well as building systems. The process begins with the planning, financing and designing. Construction projects involve a series of activities that enable their effective implementation. The activities form part of the critical or non-critical activities. Critical activities determine the overall execution of a project since they form the backbone of the project (Joseph, 2001 p.123). Other activities therefore exist around the critical activities as complementary activities. An employer therefore requires a team of people to work on a project and ensure its success. The process involves human multitasking where it requires several talents and skills for effective execution of the project. The overall project falls under the management of a project manager, supervision under construction manager, construction engineer, design manager, or project architect (William, 2004 p.114). A contractor becomes the person overseeing the overall project implementation after undertaking proper planning for the project. The planning process involves the product design, budgeting, time scheduling, activity scheduling, among others (Thomas 2005 p.131). The process enables the contractor determine the critical activities as well as the non-critical activities for proper scheduling. The planning process must also consider the impact of the project on the environment and safety measure for the stakeholders. The project manager must involve the society in planning to understand the effect of the construction project on the community and effects of the project delay on them (Samuel & Walter 2008 p.139). The critical activities determine the overall time duration of a project and enable the drawing of a budget for the project. A construction project faces major risks due to its critical nature. Some of the risks include cost overruns, structural collapse, litigation, accidents, among others (John 2000 p.163). Due to the numerous activities and issues, surrounding construction a contractor needs to obtain additional workers to help with the project activities. The contractor may acquire additional workers in form of employees or subcontractors. Specialist Subcontractor and Complex Technical Solution A subcontractor may be a company or a person that a general contractor hires to undertake a fraction of the construction job (Kumar 2011 p.145). A subcontractor performs a specific activity under the mandate of a general contractor like the electric installation in a building under construction. The purpose of a subcontractor includes relieving the contractor of some duties, working at a lower pay or high level of expertise in the subject matter. Generally, he undertakes subsidiary activities such as plumbing, roofing, brickwork, electrical installation, and plastering among others. Subcontracting enables the main contractor carry out the complex projects and ensuring effective execution of the basic activities. There exist three types of subcontractors involved in a construction projects: Nominated Sub-Contractor This person receives nomination from the architect or the contract administrator in charge. The appointment of the subcontractor therefore does not involve the general contractor. There exist a direct contractual relationship between the nominated subcontractor and the employer (Justin & Marc 2008 p.182). However, the contractor has a right to object the nomination in cases where the subcontractor fails to meet acceptable standards (Joseph, 2001 p.53). The architect may then nominate another candidate that meets the projects’ standards. The advantage of involving a nominated subcontractor involves the opportunity for the client to hire a person of choice. The direct responsibility to the client ensures the subcontractor represents the client’s interests in the overall execution process. A problem however exists since the contractor requires a person capable of working under his supervision for standardization purposes. Domestic Subcontractor This subcontractor holds a direct contractual relationship with the general contractor. The contractor therefore allocates all the subcontract duties and makes their approval. The subcontractor therefore owes responsibility for his duties to the main contractor since the subcontract duties affect the performance of the contractor (Joseph, 2001 p.59). Named Subcontractor They possess similarities with the domestic subcontractors since they receive appointment from the main contractor (Kumar 2011 p.178). They ensure specific jobs attain professional execution. Intermediate Building Contract (IC) mainly use named subcontractors. Technical Solution This process involves the selection, design and the implementation of a project to requirements. These elements incorporate the product, it components and the lifecycle relates activities in isolation or as a combination. The process relevance occurs at every level of product architecture and related activities. The process focuses on the evaluation and selection solutions that meet the predetermined requirements (Thomas 2005 p.169). They include design approaches, preliminary designs or design concepts. It involves the development of detailed designs to match the highlighted solutions. The designs should contain the relevant information required in the manufacturing, coding and execute the designs into products. The process also involves the implementation of the designs into products or product components. These activities interact and depend on each other’s execution. Technical solution often uses prototypes or pilots to gather relevant information in developing a technical package or testing compliance to requirements. The process also covers the product related lifecycle operation conducted concerning the products and product components. They comprise of the selection and adaptation to existing processes for the purpose of developing and use of new processes. The requirements management offers information for the technical solution execution. It offers both product and product component specifications to guide the design and implementation processes. These specifications emerge from previous requirements or current development processes. For the sake of project maintenance and sustainability, user needs and defects detection may guide the product development. Variations in the operating environment may present new requirements that need consideration. The detection of such requirements may occur during the verification of products during measurement of the actual performance against the set standards. Processes of technical solution enable the maintenance and sustainability of design efforts. The processes improve on the quality in making decisions for the selection and tradeoff of activities. Solutions therefore comprise functions, releases, features, and components that facilitate the execution of product development. For the purpose of future reference, the management in charge installs the relevant information and data with the product. Interfaces, purchased parts, and tradeoffs facilitate future updates on the product to facilitate the understanding of the product. Relationship A subcontractor exists to assist the contractor with the areas of his specialty. The purpose of subcontracting involves the division of labor since the contractor cannot perform all the duties singlehandedly. Some areas of the construction process require high level of expertise such as electric installation. The contractor hires an expert to cover these specific jobs and ensure quality of product. Technical solution assists the subcontractor in attaining this goal (Nicholas & Graham 2002 p.162). The subcontractor needs to know and analyze the requirements specified before embarking on his project. This process of selecting and evaluating solutions help the subcontractor take a design approach that caters for the requirements of the project. Development of detailed designs enables the incorporation of the requirements in every aspect of the design. The detailed information acts as a guideline for the work requiring execution and the specific requirement of every activity. The implementation process offers the subcontractor guidelines for the execution of the plans. This involves transforming the designs into an actual product. Technical solution enables the in-depth understanding of the product and its components. The knowledge obtained assist in the design for improvement of the product. It also enables the subcontractor comprehend the requirements of the product and certain standards set for measurement purposes. He can then plan for the scheduled work in accordance to the requirements and measure performance against set standards. Deviations from the set standards indicate the areas in need of improvement or modification. View Point Introduction The contractor hires a specialist subcontractor to work in a technical area in the construction process (Nicholas & Graham 2002 p.197). A subcontractor concentrates on his area of expertise other than the overall construction process. This enables him become an expert in his area of focus. Repetitions of work leads to high level of experience and enables the subcontractor predetermine the expected challenges in his work. He can tell the materials required to perform his duties before embarking on the actual construction work. The insight can help in planning for construction materials for the work at the planning stage. A subcontractor can assess the viability of a project even before its execution. He can propose changes to the design of his project to meet the standards of the overall project. Detection of problematic areas in advance help the project manager makes modifications of the project to avoid conflict. Subcontractors can predetermine the effect of their work on other activities of the projects. Sometimes his job description may interfere with the work of other subcontractors or construction workers. This interference may cause negative impacts on the overall project and may cause project failure. It therefore becomes necessary for the project manager to involve the subcontractors in the planning process. They can contribute in assessing the project designs to determine their viability and weaknesses. The manager could then modify the designs to incorporate the subcontractor’s suggestions to avoid poor quality in execution. Lack of involvement may result in conflict of critical activities with the complementary activities. In cases of emerging problems in the project execution, the subcontractor may assist the project manager by developing alternative technical plans for the project. A subcontractor has knowledge of various technical aspects of the construction projects to his expertise. The manager should therefore make consultations when in need of alternative designs for a project. A project therefore requires the expertise of the subcontractors to enhance the quality of the construction products. Value Expected By the Client Clients understand value as the amount of benefits they derive from a project. The client becomes the employer since he owns the overall project. The client determines the initiation of a project to meet certain needs. The existence of a project therefore exists for meeting the client’s requirement. The client outlines the basic requirements of the project and the expected outcomes of the project. Various needs lead to the identification and the design of a project. The needs identified guide on the choice of the project made. Needs therefore form the backbone of projects and determine their implementation process. The employer holds absolute right to the project and has the ability to initiate and terminate a project. If a client initiates a project for the construction of a school, the project manager must ensure that the project considers all the school facilities. In the planning process, the client identifies his vision of the product. In case of a building, he provides the visual concept of the building in question. This concept assists the design manager come up with a logical building design that matches the client’s idea. The client then outlines the specific requirements of the product to meet his standards. A client may specify the color of the painting on the walls, the type of wood to use for the flooring, the type of roof to use, and the accessories among others. These specific guidelines further enable the designer to create a detailed design for the building. This ensures that the product matches the client’s specifications in detail (Amarjit 2001 p. 88). The clients expect the execution of the project to their standards and specifications. The project manager leads the construction team in undertaking activities that conform to the specifications. This begins with communicating the requirements to the various workers. The workers must obtain a detailed explanation of the project and its purpose. Understanding the project enables the workers perform according to set standards. Poor communication may cause misunderstandings that may affect the implementation of the project. The project involves different workers with varying skills and talents. Each worker must consider the requirements in their works to ensure harmony in the overall project. For instance, the interior design of a theatre differs from that of an art gallery. A client may require a product that may prove difficult to produce (Nicholas & Graham 2002 p.123). The project manager must make the client understand the technicalities of the project before its implementation. This may involve the experts such as the architect and designers. They should discuss the design plans of the project and point out the factors that may become impossible to implement due to limitations of technology. They should then make alternative suggestions that may help in meeting the client’s expectations. Quality management process ensures the consistency of the organization, its products, and services. It involves the process of quality planning, assurance, control, and improvement. Adoption of quality management by a project manager ensures the delivery of products according to the client’s requirements. Quality management does not only focus on the products but also concentrate on the means to achieve the product (John & Steven 2003 p.204). High quality processes lead to high quality products and vice versa. The project’s activities must lean towards the client’s specifications. The performance of a project therefore depends on the extent to which the activities and the product have met the client’s requirement. This provides the guideline against which the manager evaluates the progress of a project. Value therefore becomes the affordable quality. Measurement of value occurs as the amount of quality that the client can afford from the budget estimates. The subcontractor therefore takes the role of quality management like other workers. This involves the evaluation of his performance against the client’s specifications. The work of the subcontractor involves development of innovative measures to transform the client’s ideas into actual products. This requires the use of high level of technology that can modify basic activities to the desired activities. The subcontractor may use technology to determine the interaction of the project’s activities with his duties. The technology may make complex ideas easy to understand and implement. Complex specifications therefore require high level of expertise found in the subcontractors. There needs to be a balance between the client’s specifications and the rules and regulations of construction (George 2000 p.86). The subcontractor faces challenges in determining the extent to which the client’s requirements dictate the project implementation. Some clients may have unrealistic ideas for the project that may conflict with set construction regulations and standards. The client’s requirement should take priority but that does not mean that the subcontractor may break the law. Instead, the subcontractor must find innovative ways to incorporate the client’s ideas regardless of their complexity. Specialist contractors take specific roles, which enables easy monitoring and evaluation. Incorporating the client’s ideas into the project gives confidence to the client of proper implementation of his ideas. Innovative methods combined with high level of skills leads to a high quality product. Supply chain management offers a crucial perspective to the role of specialist subcontractors (William et al 2008 p. 94). The efficiency of the supply chain determines the flow of activities in the overall project. The subcontractor complements the activities of the contractor. His work therefore depends highly on other activities within the project. For instance, the electric installation or plumbing cannot begin before the construction of the walls. The subcontractor therefore relies on the completion of the critical activities. The speed of their completion determines the amount of time available for the subcontractor to execute his duties. Sometimes the execution of activities may fail to meet the deadline due to unavoidable circumstances. This leaves the subcontractor with less time to carry out his activities. He must come up with measures that will minimize the execution time to avoid delaying the completion of the overall project. Appropriate technology meets this objective by minimizing time as well as costs incurred. The client requires the completion of the project within certain duration and within set budget limits. Use of high level of technology by the subcontractor ensures the attainment of these objectives. Variations of different stakeholders require consideration. In some cases, a number of clients may initiate the same project. These clients may have different perspectives of the project and their requirements may differ. Every client may individually have an idea of the outcome of the project and may require the adoption of his ideas. In such a scenario, the clients need to compromise and come into agreement concerning the project requirements. The subcontractor uses his expertise to incorporate the varying ideas into the final product (John & Steven 2003 p.111). For instance, a residential house may incorporate both modern and traditional components. The subcontractor must find innovative measures addressing the technical aspects of the project. The aim of this involves the assurance of client’s satisfaction with the final product of the project. The subcontractor takes care of specific jobs that highly determine the performance of the project. For instance, poor lighting may lower the market value of a property. The details need special attention offered by specialist subcontractors. Therefore, regardless of the number of clients involves, client satisfaction remains crucial. Conclusion Construction involves different experts to ensure the execution of a project to the client’s specification. With the growing demand for professional construction personnel, contractors have seen the need to subcontract their work. Subcontractors concentrate on a limited scope of work hence gaining a high level of expertise in the field of work. Construction projects involve complex activities and products that require high level of technical analysis in their implementation. The contractor may lack high level of expertise in certain fields making it necessary to delegate duties to an expert (Dossick & Schunk 2007 p. 54). A subcontractor deals with the technical areas and utilizes high levels of technology to facilitate the process. Technology assists him in designing and implementing complex designs. The continuously changing tastes and preferences pose the need for the subcontractors to keep improving their processes. The quality of a project and its product largely depends on the ability of the contractor and subcontractor to deliver on the client’s requirements. The subcontractor takes care of the details in execution of a project such as plumbing and electric installation. The specific details complement the critical activities to enhance the performance and the quality of the products. Specialist subcontractors have high level of expertise gained from the lengthy experience obtained from repetitive activities. This leads to the improvement of their performance at their various fields of expertise. The value expected by the client comprises of his specifications for the expected product. Clients have varying needs and their uniqueness require specialized attention. The subcontractor utilizes high level of technology to translate the client’s specifications into the implementation process (Amarjit 2001 p.76). His high level of expertise facilitates this process since he can derive a number of alternatives to facilitate the process. A specialist subcontractor can therefore predict the outcomes of a project before its commencements. This information can help in mitigating risks that the project implementers may face. Specialist subcontractors therefore assist in the innovative delivery of complex solutions. References Joseph, A. D. 2001. The Architect’s Handbook Of Professional Practice. Wiley Publishers. William, R M, Hal J 2004. Construction Jobsite Management. Sydney. Ashgate Publishers. Thomas J K 2005. Smith, Currie & Hancock’s Common Sense Construction Law. Melbourne. Excel Publishers. Kumar N J 2011. Construction Project Management: Theory and Practice. Mumbai. Shiva Publishers. John G C 2000. A Practitioner’s Guide To Construction Law. 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