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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, we decided to adopt a construction method proposed by the site crew, but during the project, we discovered some areas where the design did not fully align with on-site conditions. This required us to revise the construction plan, so I had to go to the subcontractor to request revisions to the updated drawings.<\/p>\n
Then, during the business meeting, 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
There are about 30 cross-sectional drawings. Since each drawing contains four or five cross-sections, the total number of working cross-sections amounts to about 150.<\/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
However, in the end, the subcontractor relented, and we ended up having them revise the cross-sectional drawings and the earthwork calculations as well... My boss acted as if that was only natural, but I felt terribly 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 refuse to do any work that goes even slightly beyond the scope of their core duties. As a subcontractor, this means our expenses just keep piling up without any return on investment.<\/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 you\u2019re willing to cover the costs, they might be more likely to take on the job, but if you try to force it on them, they\u2019ll eventually stop accepting your work. There will undoubtedly come a time when they tell you, \u201cWe won\u2019t be taking on any more work from your company.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, the reason behind this was that the role of general contractors was changing.<\/p>\n
Recently, even tasks that should be handled by government agencies are increasingly being carried out by general contractors. For example, it has become commonplace 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 client\u2019s 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 upcoming construction work, reviewing construction methods, organizing photographs, preparing reports, and so on; if we are also forced to take on administrative tasks, 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, not only was the quality of the construction management documents we received poor, but in many cases, they weren\u2019t submitted at all. It was a situation where they wouldn\u2019t be submitted even when we asked for 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
Lately, I\u2019ve been hearing from all over 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
General contractors really need to adopt the attitude that \u201cWe\u2019ll do what we\u2019re supposed to do ourselves!\u201d This is for the good of the company\u2014and, ultimately, for their own good. First and foremost, I want them to use their own brains and get their hands dirty. It\u2019s only by doing the work themselves that they\u2019ll gain experience, improve their skills, and earn the trust of others.<\/p>\n
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