In the weeks before handover, there is an increase in site visits and inspections to correct as many defects as possible. Are you behind in your Operations Prior to Handover (OPH) and hoping to increase productivity? Here are five tips that will help you during this key phase of your project.
1. Define defects based on a common designation
Properly carrying out operations prior to acceptance is achieved by “defining a relevant defect list in advance”, explains Lucie Ares, site engineer at REPONSE Group.
Avoid confusion and multiple ways of naming the same defect (fix paint, paint to be fixed, review paint, etc.). Consider creating a short and simple defect list, using common vocabulary, to ensure that stakeholders have a clear understanding of the defects identified. You will improve clarity and avoid wasting time revisiting the same defect multiple times.
2. Assign the defect to be corrected to the right team member
Correcting defects involves juggling a great deal of information and various stakeholders (architect, subcontractors, clients). Creating a list of team members for each batch of defects to be corrected will reduce your risk of errors and oversight. This will improve your ability to follow the progress of each team member in their operations.
3. Planning your site visits
An up-to-date schedule is key to avoiding planning mishaps. The most complicated part is properly assessing site challenges to quantify the time and resources that will be required. Consider organizing and planning your visits by area and batch, and properly allocating your resources. This way, you will avoid stressful general visits that will require a lot of effort in a very short period of time.
4. Tracking defects starting from the design phase
The amount of defects to be corrected will no longer be a time issue! By regularly conducting pre-OPHs starting at the structural works phase, you will avoid a spike in activity at the time of acceptance.
5. Managing all of your actions through construction software
“I’ve used a digital solution to identify and correct defects. We had planned to spend three months on this phase. We have nearly completed it in a month and a half.”Dominique Perrault, Architect – Palais des sports de Rouen
“Remember the correct photo and confirm that the note made on site was in fact regarding the electrical outlet in apartment 41 on the 7th floor of the building...” Can you imagine still performing this type of operation manually in this day and age? This is where going paperless really shows its potential. No more testing your memory! On the tablet, you will find defect lists with the proper designation, team member names, batches of defects that have been corrected and those that still need to be addressed. All of the information is up to date and saved.
Pre-handover management requires methodology and organization. Adopting construction software as a work tool is bound to help you simplify all of these steps. As a result, you will increase productivity and gain time when it comes to planning.
