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

You should document (in writing) any design changes or delays caused by the client.

This is very important for claiming cost or time extensions.

A good change management system is important. Spreadsheets can suffice for small projects with a small number of changes, but for larger projects, a good database system will help reduce the time required for change management.

You will need to record things such as (these are in no particular order):

• change title
• time delay
• extra costs (design, construction stage services, extra construction costs, administration costs, extra workshops, safety)
• who requested the change (which person from the client organisation
• approval status
• risks associated with the change (extra risks arising from changes in the design)
• change details
• why it is needed
• name of responsible person
• associated design drawings or packages
• cost codes (linked to your accounting system)
• date of change request
• change impact (minor, moderate, major)
• consequences
• date completed

It would be ideal if these can all be entered on one page in a system. You should then be able to output reports showing just some parts (say change title and cost), without having to duplicate information into spreadsheets etc.

You do not want to have multiple systems or spreadsheets that all have different versions of the information and are not linked.

There should only be one place where all the information on the change is recorded.

Tagged with: change management • change system

Filed under: Client • Design • Documentation

If your company is the design contractor but not involved in the construction phase you should instruct the client to notify you for your company’s input for any design discrepancies.

If your company has designed something but the field conditions on site mean a change is needed, the client or their contractor may try to back charge your company for the design changes they had to do on site.

You should include language in the contract that they must first give you the option of giving input before proceeding with changes that may result in back charges to your company.

Tagged with: back charges • Construction • design discrepancies

Filed under: Client • Contract • Contractors • Design

Your company should have a set time or point that reviews of the design process are carried out. Often at stages like 30%, 60%, 90%, 100%.

You should do this as part of the quality assurance / quality control system.

Don’t just leave it until the end.

Tagged with: quality assurance • quality control • review

Filed under: Design • Quality

Don’t get blanket approvals on drawings or designs without each one being marked as approved by the client.

A client may send documentation stating that the designs or drawings are approved for construction, but unless they mark each drawing as approved and return them to you, you have no proof that they actually did review each of them. Without the marked approval, the client could deny they saw a particular drawing or design.

Get each design or drawing individually marked as approved.

Tagged with: approval

Filed under: Client • Design • Documentation

Make sure contractors are aware of the details of designs.
E.g. types or colours of pipe, colours of wires, flange types required.

Make sure those details are in the contract between you and them.

Make sure any reminders you give them on details are in writing (and recorded).

Tagged with: details

Filed under: Contractors • Design • Documentation

Make sure drawings have cautionary notes for areas of potential conflict (e.g. electrical wiring near nail fasteners).

Tagged with: conflict • drawings

Filed under: Design

Get agreement on the final designs with subcontractors before submitting them to the client.

You need subcontractor buy-in to the design. This gives you the opportunity to confirm they can actually construct it, and gives them the opportunity to support you in your delivery to the client.

Tagged with: buy-in • subcontractor

Filed under: Contractors • Design

It is important to clarify the ownership of drawings your company produces.
Make sure the contract or agreements clarify the ownership of drawings and documents.

Some clients may expect the drawings or designs to be their property once a project is delivered. If your company’s drawings or designs are proprietary or are designs you use on other projects you will need to state that your company keeps the ownership in the contract.

If you don’t have this in the contract, it can make a difficult sticking point with the client at a later stage in the project.

Tagged with: Client • Contract • designs • drawings • ownership

Filed under: Contract • Design

Make sure your team has a comprehensive project work plan.

This should show details of design assumptions

Tagged with: assumption • Design • plan

Filed under: Design • Planning