Drawing Management on Construction Projects

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How to Manage Your Drawings

As a service to the industry we  present a series of seven articles on Drawing Management on Construction on Construction Projects. Starting with the fundamentals, the drawing block, and continuing through revision workflow and change control, we end with recommendations for evaluating commercial DMS (Document Management Systems). The final part contains a list of references where you can learn even more.

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Drawing Management on Construction Projects (Part 7)

This is part 7 of a 7-part series of articles on Drawing Management on Construction Projects. (Back to Part 6 – Drawing Scheduling, to the Table of Contents)

Implications for Document Management Systems

It should be clear by now that drawing management is focused on managing the drawing list. Therefore any document management system that you seriously consider using on a construction project must include features that allow you to efficiently manage the drawing list. Continue reading Drawing Management on Construction Projects (Part 7)

Drawing Management on Construction Projects (Part 6)

This is part 6 of a 7-part series of articles on Drawing Management on Construction Projects. (Back to Part 5 – New Revisions and Change Control, to the Table of Contents)

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Drawing Scheduling

The drawing list is the core element of drawing scheduling. Start with a detailed list of project components, and make a list all their sub-components that require drawings (using the WBS). Convert that list into a list of placeholder drawing sets, with one placeholder for each sub-component. The placeholder drawings should include an estimate the number of drawings required and their approximate complexity, which collectively gives you an estimate of the total design cost and drawing production time. Continue reading Drawing Management on Construction Projects (Part 6)

Drawing Management on Construction Projects (Part 5)

This is part 5 of a 7-part series of articles on Drawing Management on Construction Projects. (Back to Part 4 – Workflow Information, to the Table of Contents)

New Revisions and Change Control

New drawing revisions are made for a variety of reasons:

  • Adding detail as the design evolves
  • Scope, schedule, design or other changes (change orders, variations)
  • Responses to technical queries and requests for information
  • Corrections of mistakes and omissions

Continue reading Drawing Management on Construction Projects (Part 5)

Drawing Management on Construction Projects (Part 4)

This is part 4 of a 7-part series of articles on Drawing Management on Construction Projects. (Back to Part 3 – Classification Systems, to the Table of Contents)

Workflow Information

Workflow Steps

Workflow information records revision production and approvals. This information is recorded on a per-revision basis, which means that each revision has its own completely separate workflow information. A revision workflow for a drawing consists of a series of workflow steps, typically following the following sequence: Continue reading Drawing Management on Construction Projects (Part 4)

Drawing Management on Construction Projects (Part 3)

This is part 3 of a 7-part series of articles on Drawing Management on Construction Projects. (Back to Part 2 – Drawing Identification, to the Table of Contents)

Classification Systems

A Classification System is a generalised method of organising and finding construction documents, including drawings. Typically it is based on the drawing code components. The classification is often extended by adding additional classification fields, which are not part of the drawing code, but are useful for filing and finding documents. Examples of additional classification fields include elevation, supplier company, contract, etc. Continue reading Drawing Management on Construction Projects (Part 3)

Drawing Management on Construction Projects (Part 2)

This is part 2 of a 7-part series of articles on Drawing Management on Construction Projects. (Back to Part 1 – Drawing Management, to the Table of Contents)

Drawing Identification

Drawing Codes

Drawings are uniquely identified by a Drawing Code. The drawing coding system is defined by the project. Obviously, there should never be two drawings with the same code. Continue reading Drawing Management on Construction Projects (Part 2)

Drawing Management on Construction Projects (Part 1)

This is part 1 of a 7-part series of articles on Drawing Management on Construction Projects. (To the Table of Contents)

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Drawing Management

Managing drawings on construction projects is an essential part of project management. The basic goals of drawing management are to manage drawing production, and to be able to quickly find the current revisions of all drawings. Drawing management therefore has two main components:

  1. Planning and tracking production, including the work associated with updating revisions
  2. Ensuring that everyone is working with the correct drawing revisions

Continue reading Drawing Management on Construction Projects (Part 1)

Managing Documentation on EPC Projects

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EPC Projects Require Better Document Management

In Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) projects the engineering component of the project taken on by the EPC contractor includes considerable design review and coordination activities. In comparison to Design-Build contracts, there are many more parties involved in design and design review, leading to many more interfaces that must be coordinated. This adds additional requirements for the EPC project’s document management system (DMS), which can be challenging to implement in a typical DMS. This article outlines the most important documentation processes for EPC projects and explains their effect the project’s DMS requirements. Continue reading Managing Documentation on EPC Projects

The ITA Contractual Practices Checklist for Construction Contracts

ITA Working Group 3 Members authors of contractual practices checklist

ITA Working Group 3 Members

Writing Contracts is Difficult

Writing contracts for construction projects is challenging. Writing contracts for construction projects with underground components, e.g. tunnels and caverns, is especially challenging. In addition to the innumerable issues that must be considered on a normal project, you must also consider all the surprises likely to occur during excavation. The essential problem is that underground works have additional risks caused by the uncertainty of ground conditions, which can cause knock-on effects on the rest of the project.

Continue reading The ITA Contractual Practices Checklist for Construction Contracts