When starting a construction project it is essential that you create a DPC (Detailed Program for Completion) to save time. Let me tell you more about it here.
Starting the project
What happens is that someone high up in an organization decides they want something “built.” It could just be an office fit-out that technically doesn't involve much construction, but has to be done by experts in the construction industry. The Customer faces problems from this point onwards!
They first need to gather a team of internal employees and all these people fight among themselves about what their own departments need! “I need more space, so your department will have to make do with fewer employees”! After they have been at this for some time, the Client will appoint Architects and possibly Engineers to begin developing the Project Plan and designing the Building . This starts another round of discussions with even more people involved in them!
Architects present their design concept and Engineers struggle to fit in M&E services! Then the Customer doesn't like it and neither do the employees involved! “My lady with a bad back can’t sit under an HVAC outlet!” and “I’m claustrophobic, so I need to put more windows in there!” Eventually, and it usually takes a full calendar year, some sort of agreement is reached and there are Design Plans for the Building Project which are submitted to Town Planners and Building Control for approval. The original submission, almost, it seems, as a matter of principle, is rejected for one reason or another! Back to the drawing board, so to speak, but this involves very little input from client personnel. All it takes is modifications from the Architect or Engineers and the Application is resubmitted and, this time, approved! Detailed planning permission granted – and it’s only been 18 months since “someone” decided they wanted it!
Using a detailed program for completion
We have Project Plans for Building Design and Construction! Courtesy of AutoCAD and Plotters, these are presented, along with the BoQ and specifications, and requested proposals. A main contractor is chosen and work will soon begin on site. Rule of thumb: The actual “construction” will be done in six months or less!
A quick mention of what I considered “ambiguous”! Whenever I see “project”, “plan” and “construction” together, what do I think? The Detailed Program for Completion (DPC)! Now what I can say is based on a difficult experience when I had contracts working on the client side. If construction clients have a “ Detailed Program ”, the 18 months they waste arguing internally is reduced to about 6 months!
CHECK OUT: WHY YOU NEED A DETAILED PROGRAM TO COMPLETE
In short
This isn’t just to show how smart we “muddy boot brigade” are! It makes a strong case for potential construction clients to hire one of us as their own Project Manager as they immediately get the idea that they will have to develop Project Plans for building design and construction. The only downside, again due to the difficult experience, is that we ended up being very unpopular, because of all the toes we stepped on, with everyone except the person who employed us!
