When you add up all of the meetings, phone calls and emails involved with a construction project, a lot of information gets shared during the life of that project. Fortunately, everyone can at least speak the same language by using the portable document format (PDF) universal file format. These days, …
4 Ways to Increase Trust Within Your Construction Business
Carol DunnAs covered in “What it costs you to not collaborate,” having a high-trust environment in your construction company results in significant benefits, not the least of which is higher profit margins. Employees are more engaged, loyal, and productive. External partners collaborate with you on a project more effectively. Projects are …
Top 3 Characteristics of Successful Bids
Carol DunnBeyond trying to get work, a bid is a way for you to persuade the firm issuing the solicitation to work with your company. In an ideal scenario, you’ll take the time to customize the bid for the soliciting firm and take the opportunity to prove that you clearly understand …
MEP Force 2020 Takeaways, Day 2
Carol Dunn“It’s not the same as the party in the park, but I think this one is going to be just as entertaining,” said Todd Weyandt in anticipation of the virtual House Party which followed the discussion recapping day 2 of MEP Force 2020. Guests James Simpson, Travis Voss, Nathan Wood, …
MEP Force 2020 Takeaways, Day 1
Carol DunnStats: 1300 attendees, 4 continents, 6 countries As Todd Weyandt put it in the MEP Force 2020 Facebook Live recap, “2020 is the year that keeps on giving.” Over 1,300 people have had the opportunity to connect this week with others during MEP Force. There is a genuine hunger for …
MEP Force Live Recap Blog 8/31 – 9/2
Carol DunnMEP Force Blog Update 6, Day 3 4:45 pm: Takeaway Moments by Jeff Sample (eSUB) Construction is a fundamental part of our human world. “When we have clarity of terms, we have clarity of communication . . . We can pull on the rope together in the same direction.” This …
The 3 Best Reasons for Connecting with MEP Industry Peers
Carol DunnThirty-three years ago, when I first entered technology sales (selling RAM chips, floppy disks and 10 MB hard drives), “networking” was all the rage. I remember attending networking “happy hours” in the Denver-metro area where people in business attire were crammed shoulder to shoulder trying to accumulate as many business …
4 Benefits of Tilt-up That Are Making Construction Easier
Carol DunnTilt-up concrete, a form of precast construction, is a two-step process. According to the Tilt-up Concrete Association, slabs of concrete that usually form the load-bearing portion of a building are cast on the ground next to the building. Once cured, the panels are tilted by crane vertically into place side …
What it Costs You to Not Collaborate
Carol DunnConstruction is one of the largest contributors to the U.S. economy, with an average of $1.3-trillion per year in new and refurbished structures alone. While construction is a financial business, it’s also a relationship business based upon trust. Autodesk and FMI (Fails Management Institute) surveyed 2,500 construction professionals worldwide about …
Construction Starts Increase in June
Carol DunnIn an article published July 16, 2020, the chief economist for Dodge Data & Analytics (DD&A) reported that new construction – or construction starts – “increased 6% in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $641.4 billion.” This gain follows a 3% gain between April and May and comes …
Do You Have Time to NOT Use Panzura?
Carol DunnIf you’re working in the cloud, you might spend a lot of time waiting to open and download files. It may be frustrating. It may be annoying. But the bottom line is, all that extra time costs you money. Today’s large files and slow download speeds can combine to hurt …
Cal Poly Introduces Future Project Managers to Bluebeam
Carol DunnIn his courses on construction management at Cal Poly College of Architecture and Environmental Design in San Luis Obispo, CA, Andrew Kline includes instruction on Bluebeam Revu. As the future project managers learn about building information modeling (BIM), virtual design and construction (VDC), jobsite management, and fundamentals of construction, one …