Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI, CDT
Senior Member
Username: rliebing
Post Number: 1373
Registered: 02-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - 08:42 am: |    |
130220
IT’S THE SPECS…XXXXXX !
by Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI, CDT
Cincinnati, OH
Be careful what you put in place of the X’s, because although we need to call attention, we should not offend-- I am sure you can insert many different words-- depending on the current venture.
Really, we need to stop moaning about our plight or that of our work-- and soon. There seems to be a growing lack of understanding and impact of our work, to the point where it is all too often perceived as “needless” cost, complex to a fault, divisive, etc. We “fight back” but the problem persists and no real progress is seen!
In reading the personal bios of the folks running for CSI offices, you quickly see that most place education as a necessary pursuit. Their endeavors involve not only CSI, but in many cases includes related organizations and people. In this is the mostly unspoken “suggestion” that CSI put forth an effort to become the educational source for the construction industry not including the specific trades or other education provided by various organizations [e.g., apprenticeship and work programs].
Despite the training and education effort by special interest groups, there is a necessary function to provide the highest possible value in information and education impacting everyone in the construction industry. This levels the playing field, and is an opportunity for increased respect between all participants in construction work-- from a single trade worker or manager to the whole of the organizations in their relationship to others.
It is well-known that construction these days is highly complex, often very specialized, risky, time oriented, efficiency controlled and in need of close and well-coordinated efforts. CSI is quite possibly the single entity that is prepared to coordinate and contribute valuable information and education to the overall project construction effort-- providing a resource that others can call upon for upgrading and augmenting their efforts. In this, every project participant can
better understand the function and direction of their colleagues on-site and off.
While we usually do not set a precedent, it really is the specifications that go into detail on the issues the drawings cannot depict , in grasping the whole of the project-- you know that! But communication throughout the project team is essential to the point of having a uniform understanding of the construction process, and , is highly influential in producing projects on time and as designed and documented. That entails a project wide [and indeed industry wide] level of education and understanding that CSI can offer. We can do more, however, as a service to our members but more importantly to the industry overall. Our expertise is unmatched in communications and understanding of projects. This is not to demean contractor personnel, but their orientation is in a different direction and perhaps not as widely based as CSI. Project construction moves on documentation and communication; contractors move on execution! Obviously, the two efforts MUST coordinate and support each other-- and CSI can be a prime mover in that work too. Work has started! PARTICIPATE.
The opportunity is golden; the results more than promising; the benefits accrue to all participants. |
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