Every time an accident happens, this general contractor churns out posters. Can a piece of paper really reduce accidents?!
Do you really think a single piece of paper can reduce accidents? I’m currently at a plant site. The architectural and civil engineering work I’m in charge of is already nearly complete. The actual construction work on-site is being carried out by a super general contractor working as a subcontractor, but from what I’ve heard, there’s been a string of accidents recently…
Design Outputs Are Useless! Is There Any Point to the Work of Consultants Who Don’t Know the Field?
The Reality I Saw at a Certain Traffic Congestion Mitigation Construction Site I (Sekisan Shiroto) would like to express my gratitude for the many comments I received on the article I posted the other day (”How Do You Set the ”Daily Work Volume’ Used in Schedule Charts?”). I read through every single one, and I am truly grateful. …
How much longer will the media continue to report in a biased manner, referring to them as “civil engineering workers”?
The Hidden Prejudice Against Civil Engineering That Permeates Society What kind of image do people have when they hear the term “civil engineering worker”? The other day, I saw a news report about a “civil engineering worker” who was arrested in connection with a certain incident. I currently work as a civil engineering construction manager, but before that…
Calling for Firsthand Accounts from the Construction Industry: “Starting at 30,000 yen per month” to Protect Japan, a Country Prone to Flooding. Will the Installation of Water Level Gauges Become Standard Practice in River Construction Projects?
Can you install a water level sensor for as little as 30,000 yen per month? Amnimo Co., Ltd., a Yokogawa Group company that provides sensor- and cloud-based solutions, announced its “Simple Wireless Water Level Measurement Service” in January 2020. This all-in-one package—including a wireless water level sensor, communication, and cloud services—comes with no initial costs…
The Paradox of General Contractors: Pushing Tedious Work onto Subcontractors While Rushing to Serve Their Clients
The Arrogance of General Contractors: “Just Pass the Troublesome Work Off to Subcontractors” This happened at a construction site for a general contractor I used to work for. I was in charge of construction management, and my job involved reviewing plans for upcoming projects with my supervisor and preparing the necessary documentation, such as progress inspections. So…
"The Fusion of Sports and Construction Sites": Why Were Mizuno Work Boots So Well-Received by Tradespeople?
Why Mizuno Makes Work Shoes Mizuno Co., Ltd. is a long-established sports equipment manufacturer founded in 1906. Although the company is strongly associated with sports, it also manufactures work shoes for a wide range of industries, including civil engineering, construction, and transportation, and is currently rapidly expanding its…
More Important Than the Olympics! The Job Market for “Interim Storage Facilities”
Job Openings for Olympic Construction and Interim Storage Facilities If you had to choose just one of the most important construction projects currently underway in Japan, which site would you pick? Would it be the Chuo Maglev Line, which has been making headlines due to allegations of bid-rigging? Or perhaps the 2020 Tokyo…
They're Using the Wrong Reinforcing Bars! The Clash Between the "Construction Supervisor's Ideal" and the "Reality at the Reinforcing Bar Fabrication Plant"
"The Construction Supervisor’s Ideal" vs. "The Reality at the Rebar Fabrication Shop": A Problem with Rebar A problem has arisen regarding rebar. As is often the case, the "ideal" and "reality" at construction sites differ. Which of these—the “construction supervisor’s ideal” or the “reality at the rebar fabrication shop”—do you, the people on site, identify with more…
Reasons Why the "Technical Proficiency" of Small and Medium-Sized Construction Companies Is Low, Just Like That of Project Owners
Shortage of Construction Engineers to Train Younger Staff Currently, small and micro construction companies lack engineers who can train younger staff. Or rather, to be precise, there is an overwhelming shortage of engineers who can teach the “Four Major Management Areas” or who are capable of implementing them. Qualifications such as the First-Class Construction Management Engineer or Second-Class Construction Management Engineer…