Value Added

We were at an industrial plant in Ohio a few weeks ago to look at an existing overhead crane rail system that the client was looking to upgrade. The plan was to simply replace the existing crane rails with new ones that would run smoother. We were called in at the request of the installer of the new system, who wanted an independent structural evaluation of the area where the new crane rails would be installed. At first glance, it seemed like a very simple structural evaluation. It became a lot less simple as we started to look at the existing crane rail and how it was installed years ago when the building was constructed.

As we got deeper into the inspection, it became obvious that the old crane rail system had been connected to the building structure in some questionable ways. The existing system had not failed, nor had it caused the building structure to fail. However, the install of a new system that carries different loads certainly could cause failure not only to the crane rail, but to the building itself.

PDMi’s structural evaluation was able to identify several areas that needed to be structurally enhanced in order to carry the load of the new crane rail system. As it turns out, making the call to PDMi to do a simple evaluation of the structure may have saved the building owner thousands of dollars in future structural damage, not to mention the headache it would cause.

This is one of many instances over the years that PDMi has been called in and Value was Added to a project. If we can be of help on your next project, give us a call.

Summertime

If you are like me, you love all the things you can do during the summer months. As the song says “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy”. Whether you’re enjoying the golf course, picnicking with family and friends, going to see your favorite baseball team play or cooling down at your favorite waterpark, always keep the perspective that living should be easy (I didn’t say not busy – just easy).

As much as summer living should be easy, building projects are not always easy. All too often, we see projects that are made difficult by decisions that are made or decisions that are not made. We are working with a client that is going through changes in how they will be using their facility in the future. They called us to attend the kick-off meeting for the renovation project. As the meeting started it quickly moved to a discussion by the owner’s staff about who was moving where and what to do with the vacated space. It became apparent that a project that could be “easy “was becoming difficult due to the staff trying to solve problems before goals and program requirements were set. To get them back on track, we

• …went back and started from the beginning to carefully identify all their needs and projected future growth of each department. Constraints were identified and “needs” were distinguished from “wants”.

• …organized the programing process and quickly came up with a solution that addressed each of their identified needs so a floor plan could be developed for review & approval.

This is just one of many experiences that have repeatedly proven to us that the success of a project depends on the quality and integrity of the initial programing and planning. The programing and planning phases lay the foundation for the detailed design and construction phase. We would like to help you keep your next project “easy”. Give us a call.

Two Ways – which will you choose?

There are normally two ways to accomplish any task. Generally speaking either way can get the job done, but without a doubt one way will lead to success and the other way will lead to unexpected (or maybe expected) consequences. As a good friend of mine would say “The best way to predict the future is to invent it”. My prediction is that the air conditioning unit may work – at least until it falls out of the window, which it will.

Sadly all too often we have clients that try to short cut the design process on their building projects. They look for a quick fix. This inevitably leads to poor designs, unexpected cost over runs, construction schedules not completed on time and product performance that will not live up to expectations. In past ebits we have talked often about the value of planning before you do the detailed design/engineering documents and completing the design/engineering documents before you start building. These are great concepts that we stand firmly behind. But you can have the best planning, designing, and building only to find the systems/components of the project are flawed or are not right for your application.

So to help you not get caught in a quick fix, you will need to take the time to have detailed documents completed. Without these documents the construction phase is guided only by guess work.

Good construction documents should…

• …Communicate the design parameters and details to the contractor and the agencies. PDMi uses 3D modeling as a great tool to accomplish this.

• …Provide Constructible Details. Just because a detail can be drawn on paper (or for that matter, dreamed up in your mind) does not mean it can be constructed. The PDMi staff has spent many years alongside contractors to understand constructible details.

• …Specify Material Selection. The right materials used in the right places will assure a project's success.

We know that good Detailed Design documents will guide your project. Give us a call to talk about how PDMi can work with you on your next project.