Hello, everyone.

This is Enta.

Lately, I've been doing nothing but cost estimates and design work...

Things are pretty hectic on set, so I'm heading to Tokyo starting today lol

I’ve been doing cost estimates, and it makes me wonder—we just go through the motions of getting quotes from those three companies as a matter of course, but what’s the point of that, anyway? lol

 

For example, even for standard materials, they say you need quotes from three companies...

Well, since materials like anchors are specialized, I can understand how you feel, but,

Since the materials to be used have already been decided, all we have to do is get quotes from the various trading companies.

I always find myself wondering, "What's the point of this??" lol

When it comes to construction projects involving patents, even if we say we can’t award the contract to anyone other than Company XX, they tell us that a trading company would be fine.

 

Well, since it’s public money, of course, when it comes up in an audit or something, they’ll probably just say, “Look, we did get multiple quotes,” but it still doesn’t sit right with me.

Is there some kind of unwritten rule like that within the government office??

It’s just something I’ve been meaning to ask about, so I always end up forgetting when I’m actually talking to the government office and never get around to asking, lol.

 

While doing the cost estimate, I found myself thinking, “What’s the basis for this material?” and “I need to tell the trading company to get quotes from three suppliers for this material…”

And since things like that happen even with design changes, it's a real hassle...

Something that happened recently that really made me think, “Wow, that’s pretty impressive,” was when someone just sent me a bar chart and some manga illustrations,

They sent it to me with a note saying, “Please use this for the design. If possible, include a cost estimate as well.”

When I see "if possible," I wonder, "Does that mean I don't have to do it? Or should I do it?" But,

Basically, sending it this way is basically like saying, “Just use this document to handle the design and cost estimation!” lol

I know it’s my own fault for doing it, but I’m the type of person who feels like I can’t just say no when someone asks me to do something, so I end up doing it anyway, but,

You will also be asked to provide supporting documentation and quotes from three companies regarding this matter.

 

As specialists, we try to design our projects in a way that minimizes difficulties for the contractors, but,

Shouldn't the construction company be the one to decide that?

I'm just drawing a standard illustration, after all~ (I don't use old-fashioned drawings!)

That's what I think, you know...

If we're doing it at home, I guess I'll just have to go along with it... lol (Though I'll end up doing it anyway.)

What I hate most is when people think, “This is such a fixed outcome—it’s a waste of time, isn’t it?” (I do try to read the room, though. lol)

 

It can be pretty tough to do this kind of work when you know the field too well, can't it?

It really made me realize once again that I love being on the front lines.

 

See you later.