Check if “unsuitable” soil/fill is really contaminated. It might me that it was just wet or not compact-able. It may not be contaminated.

Avoid paying for removal of “contaminated” material unless it really is. Some people will assume “unsuitable” means “contaminated”, this may not be the case.

Unsuitable (not contaminated) could be used for sound barriers, or other non structural areas.

Tagged with: contaminated • fill • removal • soil • sound barrier • unsuitable

Filed under: Cost • Testing

If everything on a project is going well, take the time to look for things that have been overlooked.

Going too well may mean something is wrong.

Tagged with: overlook

Filed under: Planning

Allow for wet weather days.

You should get a list of the average number of wet weather days for the area of your project (if the project can be affected by the weather). This will allow you to put this into your plans.

The contract should allow you to get extensions of time because of wet weather above the average for that area, and also allow you to claim extra costs for that time.

Tagged with: delays • time extension • variation • wet weather

Filed under: Contract • Planning • Time

If you have control of the system at the start of a project, make sure the project (or even at the program level, project office level, or company level) uses a document and accounting system that can record and output everything.

This would include costs, labour, forecasts, statistics, billing, budget, expenses, changes etc.

It should be able to output things like:

• Weekly reports.
• Monthly cost summary
• Invoices
• Labour costs for a period
• Expense breakdowns
• Cost to date
• Variance
• Total cost at completion

This should all be available from one package or a number of modules that are automatically linked together. You do not want to have multiple spreadsheets that people record things in that are not linked. The result should be a significant reduction in paperwork.

Certain inputs could only be allowed by certain people (by log in), such as:

• Accounts (accountant)
• Billing
• Labour (site manager)
• Design hours (design manager)

Individual hours by each person could be input (linked) from time sheets. All staff/employees should have adequate training so that the system is used properly

To start with, I recommend looking at the list of project management software at Wikipedia.

Tagged with: accounting • budget • changes • expenses • forecast • labour • statistics • system

Filed under: Cost • Documentation • Planning

Keep track of and in contact with colleagues, former colleagues, industry contacts, old friends in similar or related industries, clients, former clients, uni friends, etc.

This can help getting introductions, building trust for new projects, and save you time getting information.

When you have a good relationship with these people, you can comfortably call them for specialized information (availability of resources, upcoming projects, advice etc).

You are not aiming for inside or illegal information, just smooth and easy discussion of things that would take you a lot more work to find out otherwise.

Tagged with: contacts • information • introductions • trust

Filed under: Communication

Make sure your team members know their roles, job description, and what they should be working on.

You as the project manager or line manager should define and clarify the role each team member plays.

When they first start, they should be given:

• Clear directions on what they should do
• What they are responsible for
• Their scope (what they can and cannot change)
• Who to report to
• A buddy for procedural questions
• The next tasks for them to work on once they finish the first one. This allows them to keep working if they finish one task and cannot find you to get directions on the next task.

There should be no confusion on what they are supposed to be doing, how they should do it, and where they can find the tools to do the task.

Tagged with: job description • job roles

Filed under: Communication • Human Resources • Training

Get certificates that are required for your job.

This will save you time, and enable your company to place you on projects immediately if you are selected (without having to wait for you to get the required certificates).

For example:

• First Aid
• Construction industry card (e.g. Blue Card – www.bluedogtraining.com.au)
• Pink Card (e.g. Queensland Rail)
• Drivers license
• Machinery licences

Tagged with: blue card • certificates • first aid • license • pink card

Filed under: Training

When starting at a job / project get to know the main acronyms for your work. E.g.
IFC – Issued for Construction
WAE – Work as Executed

Make a list of the main acronyms that relate to your project, program, or company.

A company or department wide list should be available in the intranet for all employees.

A project specific list (or a condensed list that covers most common acronyms) should be made available for each project member.

This should also be available on the intranet, stored by project.

Make sure they are easy to find.  Not a spreadsheet that is in a sub-folder of a sub-folder etc.

Tagged with: acronyms

Filed under: Communication • Documentation

If you are in the water industry or an industry that deals with pipes, valves, or pumps then make sure you have a copy of the pipe sizes available, internal diameter (ID) and outside diameter (OD), and also the flange types and codes (table, ANSI, etc).

You should pin it to a wall in easy view.

Pipe mismatch mistakes are very common in projects, often because the project manager (or procurement manager in larger projects) did not match the designed pipe ends to the supplied equipment.

If you don’t already have a clear copy of the pipe specifications, most good drafting departments will have one or a source to get one from.

Tagged with: ANSI • flange • internal diameter • outside diameter • pipe • pipe size • pipe specifications • pipes • pumps • valves

Filed under: Design • Procurement

Forms and templates should be easy to find on your company intranet.

An external auditor should be able to visit your company and use a computer to find all the forms, templates, etc easily and without instruction.

Search functions should be able to find forms by their code number directly or by their name.

This is a role for business management or the project office, but it affects project managers significantly.

A good, easy to use system saves a lot of time and money.

Tagged with: forms • project office • system • templates

Filed under: Documentation