How do you adapt technology to its benefit when working on design & Build projects?
Technology had always played a key role in Shapoorji Pallonji’s journey of nearly 154 years. We’ve been adopting and assimilating latest designs and simulation software to ensure better control over design and engineering. Our adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) to plan, design and manage complex projects is a classic example of timely technology adoption. When it comes to construction, we’ve been one of the early adopters of aluminium formwork in India. We were the first in India to construct a commercial building using ‘Top-Down’ methodology, wherein the top floor of building is constructed on ground first and then lifted to its final position using strand-jacks. This technology is hailed as one of the safest and fastest methods of construction by many industry experts as it avoids ‘work at height’.Â
We’re exploring suitable opportunities for implementing other efficient technologies such as precast construction, tunnel form, light gauge steel structures, etc, for mass housing projects. Our commitment to technology adoption does not stop with just design and construction; it extends to other key support functions as well. Shapoorji Pallonji has adopted mobile application-based quality checking and tracking systems (internally referred to as SPACE). These ensure real-time highlighting of quality issues, spot assigning to responsible team members, constant expediting of the status till the issues is closed and automatic escalation in case of delay in closure. As quality tracking through SPACE ensures near-zero man-hours for expediting closure of quality issues, it has resulted in better utilisation of resources.
What are the typical challenges faced during a project?
Each project comes with its own unique set of challenges. That’s what makes project management a critical job. Typically, we categorise project challenges into internal and external. While internal challenges may be dealt with sufficient depth in planning and resource allocation, external challenges are hard to negotiate. Delay in handover of encumbrance-free land, delay in receipt of statutory approvals and delay due to multilayered decision-making are a few of the pricking points for any contractor. These issues have a direct time and cost impact on the project. In addition, there are some market-driven challenges like scarcity of construction raw materials and non-availability of adequately-skilled manpower during construction. In the recent past, we’ve seen clients float tenders with some of the most complex designs, which is quite encouraging. However, feasibility aspects of constructability and project financial viability may, at times, be skipped during the concept stage, resulting in either project cost escalation or cutting corners to meet approved budget.
As an architect, I would love to work on the most complex designs; but, as a contractor, I would like to deliver the project exactly as designed within the stipulated time and budget. So, one needs to strike a fine balance between design aspiration and construction possibility. Additionally, I’ve observed that acquiring and retaining the right talent has become increasingly challenging. The market has plenty of opportunities and construction companies are losing talent not just to competitors but also to non-core companies and start-ups. We are actively working on developing a blueprint to address this issue.
What are the common mistakes made during project design and execution?
When it comes to design, only two mistakes could occur, which may eventually end-up in more tangible, visible errors. These are over-designing and under-designing. Over-designing may lead to escalation in project budget. When I say design, it applies to services such as engineering as well. On the other hand, under-designing may lead to compromise in experience and aesthetics and in some cases, even in functionality.
Hypothetically speaking, if a client is contemplating use of 100% photo-voltaic facade for the building, he/she needs to ponder over some key questions before arriving at a decision: What is the typical climatic condition at the site? Does the present concept design ensure optimal exposure to sunlight? Does the cost-benefit analysis support such a facade? In the absence of such holistic analysis, the design will be an overkill, resulting in high project budget and eventually, high O&M costs. With regards to construction, inadequate planning of activities/resources at the onset, incomplete understanding of the design intent and insufficient empowerment of quality and HSE departments are critical hurdles. The issue is that design focuses on the experience, aesthetics and functionality, while construction focuses on constructability and operability. Although, the objectives look fairly justified on the first look, if one takes a closer look, it is easy to notice the ever-existing divergence in the objectives that serves as the basis for many avoidable mistakes. Setting common goals for the design and construction teams at the onset can be a precursor for project success.