Construction firms and architects that are not receptive to collaborative working and make no effort to assemble fully integrated project teams are failing to deliver best practice.
This was the conclusion at the Bristol Best Practice club debate held in July. Over forty delegates were in attendance to discuss how manufacturers and suppliers can add value to the construction process.

Club secretary Andrew Carpenter says: "Manufacturers have an important role to play in the delivery of a building but all too often that expertise is overlooked or called in too late. It's incumbent on us as an industry to drive forward changes and to make our clients aware of the great savings there are to be made by more integrated methods of working."

The event saw three speakers from the 'tail end' of the supply chain talk about how integrated team working and better planning could result in cost savings and less waste throughout the supply chain, including clients.

Ron Edmonson, ceo of Waterloo Air Management highlighted the difficulties manufacturers face in trying to provide innovative products or best value quotations when the competitive tendering process is used. "Four out of five jobs for which manufacturers tender competitively are lost. In this environment, what incentive is there for companies to invest time and money in developing innovative product solutions which add value? There are savings to be made by all parties through more long-term, strategic relationships and we are working hard to convince clients of the benefits of these."

Source

Building Sustainable Design