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This happened at a construction site for a general contractor where I used to work. I was in charge of construction management, and my job involved reviewing plans for upcoming construction projects with my supervisor and preparing the necessary documentation, such as progress inspections.<\/p>\n
At that time, based on a suggestion from the site crew, we decided to adopt a certain construction method. During the course of the work, we discovered that the design did not fully align with on-site conditions in some areas, which necessitated a revision of the construction plan.<\/p>\n
So, I went to the subcontractor to ask them to make the necessary revisions to the drawings. When I got there, my boss said the following to the subcontractor:<\/p>\n
\"Since this is required for the as-built drawings, please make sure to include it in the cross-section drawings as well. Also, please enter it into the earthwork calculation sheet.\"<\/p>\n
Cross-sectional diagrams are generally30<\/span>About [number] sheets. Since there are 4 or 5 cross-sections drawn on a single drawing, the working section is approximately150<\/span>...as well.<\/p>\n Naturally, the representative from the subcontracting company was reluctant. While he responded that they would \u201ccertainly\u201d make revisions to the structural drawings and development drawings, he countered that cross-sectional drawings and earthwork calculations \u201cwere not within our scope of work.\u201d<\/p>\n But in the end, the subcontractor gave in. They even went so far as to revise the cross-sectional drawings and the earthwork calculations.<\/p>\n My boss acted as if it were only natural, but I felt very sorry about it.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve had to ask subcontractors to prepare documentation for these projects before, and they\u2019ve usually agreed readily, saying, \u201cWe\u2019ll take care of that!\u201d<\/p>\n However, they no longer take on work that goes beyond the scope of their core business. This is because, even for subcontractors, expenses just keep piling up without any actual revenue coming in.<\/p>\n Furthermore, since field work is done during the day and revisions to drawings and quantities are made during breaks or after work is completed, the physical strain is also significant.<\/p>\n If they're willing to cover the costs, there's a good chance they'll take on the project.<\/p>\n However, if we continue to force projects onto subcontractors in this way, they will eventually stop accepting them. The day will come when they tell us, \u201cWe won\u2019t take on any more work from your company.\u201d<\/p>\n The reason for this lies in the changing role of general contractors.<\/p>\n General contractors have an enormous workload. Recently, they have even come to handle tasks that should be performed by government agencies. For example, it is now standard practice for site supervisors to prepare bid drawings and quantity takeoffs, as well as documents for construction change orders.<\/p>\n Strictly speaking, this is the client\u2019s responsibility; the general contractor\u2019s role is to draw up a construction plan based on the design drawings and change orders, and to carry out the construction work on-site.<\/p>\n However, if we are required to prepare order drawings and documents for construction change orders as well, it could lead to chaos on-site. We already have a full plate with our regular progress management tasks, planning for future construction work, reviewing construction methods, organizing photographs, preparing reports, and so on; if we are also forced to take on the government agency\u2019s workload, we will run short on manpower.<\/p>\n When that happens, general contractors tend to adopt the attitude of \u201cLet subcontractors handle whatever they can!\u201d Just as numerous projects were once outsourced from public agencies to the private sector under the directive\u2014or was it a decree?\u2014\u201cLet the private sector handle whatever it can!\u201d\u2014something similar is happening now.<\/p>\n In line with recent trends, even major general contractors are facing a labor shortage. However, rather than simply lacking people, they feel there is a shortage of \u201cpeople who are truly capable\u201d and \u201cpeople who approach their work with passion.\u201d<\/p>\n When I was working at a well-known general contractor, I saw several people who said, \u201cI\u2019ve never seen anyone compromise so easily.\u201d They were just going through the motions, as if to say, \u201cWell, I guess this is good enough.\u201d<\/p>\n Even when something wasn\u2019t clear, they\u2019d just brush it off with a \u201cOh, well,\u201d and when it came to quality control, they\u2019d settle for \u201cThis is good enough,\u201d without seeking any further improvements or enhancements. As a result, they often ordered the wrong materials or drove foundation piles into the wrong spots at certain construction sites.<\/p>\n Furthermore, the quality of the construction management documents we received was poor\u2014or rather, we didn\u2019t receive any at all. It was to the point where even when we reached out to them, they still didn\u2019t provide them.<\/p>\n There are many people who simply pass along documents received from subcontractors to clients without checking them. The growing number of people who cut corners like this may also be one of the factors contributing to the unfair shifting of work onto others.<\/p>\n General contractors need to adopt the attitude that, \u201cIt\u2019s about time we started doing what we\u2019re supposed to do ourselves!\u201d This isn\u2019t just for the company\u2019s sake\u2014it\u2019s for their own sake as well.<\/p>\n Lately, I\u2019ve been hearing from various sources that the skill level of engineers at general contractors is steadily declining. It\u2019s only natural that this would happen if they keep unfairly shifting the workload onto subcontractors.<\/p>\n First and foremost, I want you to use your own mind and hands. It\u2019s only by doing things yourself that you\u2019ll gain experience, improve your skills, and earn the trust of others.<\/p>\nIf things continue like this, our subcontractors will cut ties with us.<\/h2>\n
Just as general contractors handle the client's work<\/span><\/h2>\n
Because they outsource all their work to subcontractors, the technical capabilities of general contractors are declining.<\/h2>\n
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