Construction Project Management For Reinforcement Work | Microsoft Project Software

Learning outcomes

The construction project includes several activities to complete a single project, and this is not everyone’s cup of tea (“Construction Management – Basthatfield”, 2018). This industry’s processes demands a professional help to manage the project (“Construction Project Management | Coursera”, 2018). The resources and the activities must be coordinated well for meeting the desired objectives. Thus, project management is the needful option for the industry (Landau, 2018). Project management ensures proper planning, coordinating, managing and controlling throughout the completion of the project (“Introduction to Project Management”, 2018). The project’s completion is ensured to accomplish on exact time, quality and with the estimated budget. Microsoft project software helps in all the phases of the project such as- planning, scheduling and controlling. However, it significantly improves communication (SURAJ UMAR, 2013). Project management is an application which is integrated with various tools and techniques (Kerzner, 2013). These integrated elements helps the users to manage the projects base on cost, time, quality, schedule and coordination (Halpin, Lucko & Senior, 2013).

Project Overview 

Section 2: The second section provides the details like the purpose, scope, limitations and information flow. Further, it is also enclosed with a process map.

Section 3: The third section of the report evaluates the implementation of project management package like Microsoft Project software, along with 4D BIM tool and ADePT methodology in the construction project.

• To control, uncontrolled processes.
• To implement adequate planning.
• To implement maintenance of plan.
• To ensure management support.
• To track the cost exceeding in the operations.
• To ensure that the engineering specifications are effectively implemented at the site.
• To ensure that the quality of the work is not affected and the expected performance is delivered.
• To discard the issues related to lifting the screens.
• Checking the problems in the processes such as striking, and collection of used materials for passing it to the next floor.
• To include the required security measures and secure the worker’s life at the site.
• To identify the risks of the related processes.
• Ensuring training of the exact process to be followed by the managers and the laborers.
• To gather the perspectives of the subcontractors and workers, for improving reinforcement process in construction management.
• For improving the use of materials at the site. For instance, crane, human resource and material resources.
• For managing the stressing system.
• To avoid unnecessary delay in the work.
• To avoid messy surrounding at the site, to curb off any accidents.

The construction of a 50 storey tower in the city center location is the project. The main purpose is to check and manage the reinforcement work in the construction of the building, using an effective package and tools. The main part of construction is reinforcement of the design as per the drawing. The following are the activities of this project, which are sequenced as follows- Screen lifting; column reinforcing and formation; position forming of the band and perimeter beams; formation of beam; metal deck positioning; reinforcing and cable stressing process; and execution of concrete floor slab. The intension of reinforcement is to protect its fall, lifting screens externally for column forming and protection from public access for the three storey height. In a span of four days, the floor construction cycle is required to be completed. Initially, the first couple of days are assigned for preparing the forms, then the next day is assigned for final reinforcement and the last day is assigned for concreting.

Many people and processes required for this project to complete, so it is difficult from one single person to handle all the activities. Thus, technology is like Microsoft Project software is suggested for effective project management (Mochal & Mochal, 2011) (Wilczewski, 2014). It is witnessed that this project awaits the need of effective project management, where the co-ordination, resource utilization, budget estimation, risk management, quality, project completion time, progress of the tasks and other important aspects are taken care (“Project Management for Construction: Labor, Material and Equipment Utilization”, 2018). The processes like Formwork, Reinforcement, Stressing, Concrete, Screens and Crane are the construction project management’s key packages. The project managers will be relieved only if a right project management tool is selected (“Construction Project Management 101”, 2018).

Information supplied by PM	Information supplied by RS
Engineering Design	Laborer details
List of roles and responsibilities	Project updates
Cost plan	Training programme schedule
Project Schedule(Includes data and time allocated for the package and the project)	Scheduled report of the operations
Training programme	Expenses plan
Security programme	Details of the plan for storing the used materials.
Reports of the schedule.	Other information
Risk Management report	Reporting any kind of potential risks
Project Brief	Report of the delivered machinery/ materials

Information supplied by CS	Information supplied by RS
Scheduling the crane for lifting the screens.	Details of the fixed screens for any reinforcement.
Health and safety programme
Expected delays
Completed process

Information supplied by CS	Information supplied by RS
Progress of the concrete operation.	Expected progress of the operations.
Schedule of concreting operation
Curing schedule
Details of concrete
Health and safety programme

Information supplied by FS	Information supplied by RS
Progress of the formwork operations and operation schedule.	Expected progress for the scheduled operations.
Health and safety programme

 

Project Overview

Information supplied by SS	Information supplied by RS
Progress of the screen lifting operations and operation schedule.	Expected progress for the scheduled operations.
Health and safety programme

Information supplied by SS	Information supplied by RS
Schedule of pre stressing operations	Expected progress for the scheduled operations.
Scheduling stressing operation	Strengthened concrete details
Completion of stressing operation	If any defaults in the stressing
Scheduling post stressing operation

IDEF0 is a model, whose elements include boxes and arrows. The functions are denoted by the boxes, as the activities and processes. Whereas, the data or objects are denoted by arrows (Badica, Badica & Litoiu, n.d.). Using IDEF0 assists to find the process’s view. The following are the important features of IDEF0 (“IBM Knowledge Center”, 2018):

• Abstraction
• Hierarchical decomposition.

Date	Information	Supplied from	Supplied to
16/03/2018	Completion notice	Project Manager	Substructure specialist
21/03/2018	Notice of completion- reinforcement system	Substructure specialist to the project manager	Reinforcement specialist
6/04/2018	Updates of the project. Requirement of health and safety Important information related to reinforcement package like delivery and availability of the site.	Project Manager	Reinforcement specialist
1/05/2018	Health and safety programme Schedule for the operations. Any kind of potential risks Expected delays	Reinforcement specialist	Project Manager
6/06/2018	Reinforcement work. Managing the materials.	Reinforcement specialist	Concrete Specialist
21/06/2018	Concrete work Managing the materials.	Concrete specialist	Stressing specialist
10/06/2018	Completion of reinforcement work Storing of unused materials.	Reinforcement specialist	Project manager
25/06/2018	Completion of concrete work. Storing of unused materials.	Concrete specialist	Project manager
25/06/2018	Construction of core bases is complete- erection of structure to support slabs can begin Concrete	Concrete specialist	Project manager
16/04/2019	Completion of the whole project	Project Manager	Substructure specialist
6/05/2018	Pre and post Stressing operations	Stressing specialist	Concrete specialist
6/05/2018	Concrete package	Concrete specialist	Reinforcement specialist
1/05/2018	Formwork package	Formwork specialist	Concrete specialist
21/04/2018	Crane scheduling and operation	Crane specialist	Screen specialist
21/04/2018	Screen Package	Screen specialist	Crane specialist
OUTSIDE PACKAGE COMMUNICATIONS (During package duration)
	Completion of core bases, to proceed with superstructure package. Health and Safety programme Communication related to other plans
	Stressing package
	Concrete package
	Formwork package
	Crane package
	Screen Package
	Project manager
5/04/2019	Commencement of main construction
	Construction of main Reinforcement frame	Concrete Specialist

At the beginning of any project, objectives must be realized which is possible by a systematic approach like planning and implementing, and it works towards the success of the project. To enforce such benefits for the project, effective tools, applications and methods will be beneficial. The success of project management has surged to great heights, due to its sophistications (“Construction Project Management | Coursera”, 2018). On the other hand, it has come up after facing a lot of challenges (“Introduction to Project Management”, 2018). All the industries faces issues in terms of system development and its management. The problems demand alterations, which leads to the project’s success.

Generally, any industry finds project management a bit challenging, to handle the risky and complicated activities. The technology has gifted the industries with tools and applications that has drastic impact on the project’s success (Kerzner, 2013).

The Microsoft Project software is evaluated in the below section (“Introduction to Project Management”, 2018). The tasks include Concrete Floor Cycle Project Based on Construction Management. The human resources are Project Executive, Senior Project Manager, Project Engineer, Project Admin, Project Accountant, Project Scheduler, Senior Superintendent, Safety Manager, Layout Engineer, unskilled Laborer, Equipment and Facilities, Contractor and Sub-Contractor.

This project requires communication between the project managers, Reinforcement Specialist, substructure specialist, concrete specialists and laborers, for successfully constructing the building. Project manager needs to check the following and communicate well with the laborers (“Reinforcement Guide”, 2018) (“Project Management 101 for Commercial Concrete Polishing Contractors”, 2018):

1. Reinforcement and formworks conditions.
2. Steel bar bending accuracy

• Dowel bars

1. Joints

The above mentioned factors will be helpful, if they are checked before the reinforcements is embedded as a formwork. The reinforcement drawing must be completed and designed correctly, if not it can distort the diameters of the framework and result in wrong reinforcement.

The reinforcement package includes site clearing and removal of trees, to clean the site and start the actual work, as per the implemented design.  Next, the approval is taken to start the work. Approvals are required for electricity, water, land etc. General excavation takes place for cleaning the site. Then the layout will be drawn and authority will be divided to its specialists. The Reinforcing, Position and formation of columns and perimeter beams will be taken care by the reinforcement specialist and the concrete work will be handled by the concrete specialist. Similarly, respective activities will be divided by the project manager. Further, placing reinforcement and formwork for concrete will take place. Followed by, reinforcing along with stressing cables. Then the installation of sewer lines, installation of other utilities and pouring concrete takes place. Only then, the concrete floor slab will be placed. This is how the floor cycle will be completed. The other remaining work like raising the walls and finishing of the construction work will be carried out.

IDEF0 Model

The overall construction programme takes care of managing the entire construction work, with MS project software for improving the reinforcement process in construction management. The delay of construction work is managed to avoid any delivery issues. The resources like crane, human resource and material resources are managed at the site. Further, the stressing system is managed. Safety at the construction site is enforced with health and safety programmed, to avoid any accidents.

1. It is cost effective.
2. It provides a graphical representation of the building design with a four dimensional view.

• It has smart designing features(Ahmed, Emam & Farrell, 2014). 

1. It is mainly helpful in plan’s development stage.
2. It is helpful an effective tool for developing the plans and for scheduling process.
3. Having a project manager with 4 BIM skill is beneficial for the construction project.

• It helps in identifying any kind of defects in the schedule, and eliminated any inconvenience.
• It is an intelligent tool to handle the data and parametric rules.

1. It is cost effective, as it saves the cost for scheduling and on reworks.
2. It significantly brings together both the, design and construction.

• In the beginning, it open fires more expenses to upgrade the previously used hardware and software.  
• Lack of skills to use and implement 4D BIM tool in the project.
• Lacks providing the required training for the users.
• Difficulty to cope up with the industry standards (Hardin & McCool, 2015).
• The lack of availability of necessary software to implement 4D BIM.
• The team is not provided any access to the model.
• The present process is also a type of barrier.

1. It has effective features to handle change management (Schultz, 2002).
2. It helps to prioritize the tasks in the construction project.

• It helps in taking the right decision.

1. It effectively defines the roles and responsibilities of the people involved in the construction project (Austin, Baldwin, Li & Waskett, 2000).   
2. It has the capacity to eliminate the limitations in drawing.
3. It is easy to access the document and share them.

• It is simple to work and manage.
• It offers instant and accurate searching solution for fluid management.

1. It helps in optimizing the performance.
2. It saves energy, which has a big contribution to decrease the life cycle cost.
3. It is easy to build schedule and also retains the data of the users.

• ADePT helps in customizing the document. Then it also supports emailing, printing and downloading the files.
• It has other features like remembering the contacts, earlier messages and signatures for instantly attaching and forwarding the required attachments like drawings, list of products etc.
• For increased convenience, it is developed as a native application for iPad, and mobile devices.

1. It offers dynamic performance.

• It also is capable to provide technical reports in multiple languages like English, French and German.
• It helps in prioritizing and in managing the critical dependencies. 

• The important point to be noted is that, ADePT is complex if the design is not understood.
• It is very much expensive to be implemented, which is the other important barrier.
• It is effective only prior to the planning phase.
• Design commission is over run.
• Delay in construction processes.
• Complexity of understanding the design, due to large processes taking place.

The delays are avoided with the help of the reinforcement package. All the process are controlled. Adequate plan is implemented and maintained. Project management is supported. The cost of the operations are tracked. Quality of the work is ensured. Delivery time of the project is scheduled and worked accordingly. The risks in the schedule are highlighted. The material collection process is taken care, to avoid messy surrounding and to utilize the used materials.

Security measures are checked. The stressing system is managed. The schedule is updated automatically. It helps to effectively maintain the resources and eliminates the coordination conflicts. Reinforcement process is monitored successfully.

The critical appraisal of Microsoft project software is evaluated in the following section. It is determined that Microsoft project software offers the follow (“How to analyse an MS Project Plan“, 2018):

• It matches the industry standards.
• It has the capacity to handle risks.
• It indicates the encountered issues.
• It covers the complete lifecycle of the project.
• All the tasks are linked with each other.
• The power of Microsoft project software is increased with Gantt chart, which provides the bars that corresponds to the duration of each task.
• The timeline of the project and dependencies can be clearly understood.
• The critical path can be easily viewed with the Gantt chart.
• The implementation cost is less, when compared to the other methods.
• It effectively resolves the issues of scheduling tasks, human resources and material resources. Here, the available resources are easily scheduled.
• For effective risk analysis of the projects, the add-ins can be included for the Microsoft project software (“Schedule and Cost Risk Analysis in Microsoft Project”, 2018).

It is determined that the MS project software has the capacity to provide the overall construction programme and helps in providing a detailed programme of the selected specialty trade package. Microsoft Project Software is concluded as an effective tool that helps the project planners and the project team throughout the project. Therefore, it successfully helps in producing and maintaining a completely integrated and coordinated project programme. When it is compared with ADePT and 4D BIM, the ADePT methodology and the 4D BIM tool are helpful only in certain stage of the plan, but Microsoft project software is effective in all the stages of the programme. MS project software is recommended for the project managers, despite of their expertise because, human beings are prone to do mistakes and MS project software with its smart techniques and concepts helps to curb the mistakes.

The implementation of project management decreases a lot of obstacles in the activities of any business. Because, the advanced technologies have intelligent features that helps to effectively enhance the management process (Carstens, 2012). For instance, they work towards fulfilling the objectives of the project and decreases the chances for failure of the project (Skenderi, 2013). As, project management focuses on project’s initiation, planning, execution and project closing (“Project Management: Tools & Techniques”, 2018).

Process	Input	Output
Plan Schedule management	v Project management plan v 4D BIM v ADePT	v Schedule Management Plan
Define activities	v Schedule Management Plan	v Activity List   v Activity Attributes v Milestone List
Sequence Activities	v Schedule Management Plan Project Scope Statement v Activity List v Activity Attributes v Milestone List	v Project Schedule Network Diagrams
Estimate Activity resources	v Schedule Management Plan Activity List v Activity Attributes v Resource Calendars	v Activity Resource Requirements v Resource Breakdown Structure
Estimate Activity duration	v Schedule Management Plan   Project Scope Statement  Activity List v Activity Attributes v Activity Resource Requirements v Resource Breakdown Structure v Resource Calendars	v Activity duration estimates
Develop Schedule	v Schedule Management Plan v Project Schedule Network Diagram v Activity Lists v Activity Attribute v Activity Resource Requirements v Resource Calendars v Activity Duration Estimates v Project Scope Statement v Resource Breakdown Structure v Project Staff Assignment	v Schedule Baseline v Project Schedule v Schedule Data v Project Calendars v Project Management Plan Updates
Control Schedule	v Project management plan v Project Schedule v Work Performance Data v Project Calendars v Schedule Data	v Work Performance Information v Schedule Forecasts v Project Management Plan Updates

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