Irish construction company JJ Rhatigan is using the Powerproject Site Progress Mobile app from Elecosoft to implement a site-led approach to project management while maintaining consistent delivery standards across its projects.
An early adopter of BIM software, the Galway-headquartered company decided to upgrade its construction planning software as it took on larger and more complex projects. It wanted dynamic, intuitive technology that would allow site teams to capture more data to further improve its construction planning and execution capabilities.
After considering a number of software options, Rhatigan chose Powerproject in part because its Site Progress Mobile app would integrate data from site teams.
“Bringing in Powerproject and Site Progress Mobile has been central to restructuring our project delivery and operations,” said Shane McHugh, senior planner at Rhatigan.
The app enables planning staff to get feedback directly from site engineers, managers and contractors without spending huge amounts of time on calls and in meetings.
McHugh added: “Our ethos is to give site teams ownership of their programmes. Powerproject’s templating abilities allow us to do this consistently – and when combined with Site Progress Mobile, we gain an even more competitive edge. We know we’re getting real boots-on-the-ground feedback directly from the delivery team.”
Training the team
Initially, Rhatigan trained 50 staff on Site Progress Mobile, and these employees have acted as internal software champions to ensure all site teams are maximising the software’s value. The company has also developed training materials including video instructions on its digital training platform, accessible through its online learning hub.
Within six weeks of its roll-out, staff were using the construction planning app to update tasks and capture photo evidence in real-time, helping the business’s planning team to track project progress and identify where further improvements could be made.
McHugh explained: “Through Powerproject and Site Progress Mobile, we have a very robust, as-built journal, documenting what happens on a certain day or within a certain week and how it has impacted the project. When we complete tasks earlier than anticipated, it enables us to capitalise on every gain.”
Tracking multiple baselines
Rhatigan also uses Powerproject to track multiple baselines, creating both a customer programme and an accelerated, internal programme to minimise the impact of slippage. And because these baselines are being managed through the same software, data only needs to be inputted once.
“By monitoring client and internal baselines, we receive early indicators if something is affecting project progress. We just didn’t have that capability before,” McHugh said.
Data gathered through the Site Progress Mobile app is integrated into a bespoke dashboard, which underpins Rhatigan’s analytics. The company’s project and contracts managers review programme data weekly, while high-level information is reported to senior management monthly.
Rhatigan is in talks with Elecosoft to create a fully automated, Powerproject Business Intelligence dashboard within the next 12 months. This will enable everyone in the company – from senior management to site engineers – to access the most up-to-date information on-demand, to support smarter decision-making.
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