Corporate Sustainability (CS) and Corporate social responsibility (CSR)

Now a day’s the world’s leading companies are taking significant steps to improve their “Corporate Sustainability (CS) performance to manage business responsibly, create value in business and ensure their capital growth.

For this purpose the companies create a "green" strategy along with social, economic and environmental factors for making decisions toward long-term business success.

Sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) takes into consideration corporations’ obligations not just to investors, but to the communities they serve and the environment as well.

So it may be said that driving corporate sustainability strategies can produce innovation across all parts of the organization to promote longevity through transparency and proper employee development.

A case study by Goldman Sachs in June 2007, clearly shows that how responsible companies make good investments and commercial benefit. The study of six industrial sectors – energy, mining, steel, food, beverages and media – found that companies considered leaders in implementing environmental, social and governance policies designed to create sustained competitive advantage had outperformed the overall stock market by 25 per cent since August 2005. Within their own sectors, 72 per cent of these leading companies had outperformed their peers over the same period.

The past ten years has experienced huge developments in the field of corporate sustainability. Thousands of companies around the world have instituted commitments and policies to incorporate and disperse universal principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.

So every company must outline a model for corporate sustainability to generate maximum value not to the bottom line but to the environment and society at large.

The stages for successfully adopting corporate sustainability:-

Bring up to date your company’s stated visions, mission and list of values or principles to make sure that sustainability is at the heart to let your company being identified publicly, both internally and externally, as sustainability-driven.
Design corporate sustainability strategy to influence synergies among issue areas and to deal adequately with trade-offs.

Recognize all the stakeholders in your business ranging from shareholders, employees, suppliers, customers, the communities. Persuade them to take part in your innovation and build up sustainable opportunities themselves.

The company should aware of carbon management and life-cycle assessments, and designing operations to use less energy and water. The companies can also find out sustainable sources of raw materials, components and energy. By addressing waste all through the supply chain, a company will decrease its costs.

Companies should implement new creative ideas related to sustainability in order to familiar with the rapidly changing environment. Companies will be accustomed with state of the art technology that can transform the product. New solutions that improve recycling and waste redirecting can ultimately reduce costs and increase profits.

People are the most significant renewable resource and the strongest asset to any organization. A strong development program must be initiated for a company's achievement or breakdown. All Employees will have to be methodically analyzed and evaluated to get into their true inspirations and aspirations. In order to get the greatest potential of the company, all employees must work towards improvement rather than perfection. Programs along with comprehensive training and evaluating should be put into practice that rewards star performers.

Embed a focus on innovation for sustainability in every part of your business and bring into line all business systems with the company’s vision of sustainability.

The companies should build up the internal capability to anticipate and help shape regulations. This needs working with other companies as well as rivals to expand industry standards.

Companies must arrange for a full review of its product to find the most harmful product to the environment and work accordingly to get the product better or phase it out. This will represent the company as a true “green” company to the public. Developing compact and eco-friendly packaging is a good first step, but companies also should consider the notion of biomimicry in product design.

Build up and apply partnership projects with public or private organizations (UN entities, government, NGOs, or other groups) on core business, social investments and/or advocacy.

A company will be in a position to better understand the purchasing demand of the eco-minded consumer if it adopts more sustainable practices internally. These include applying new delivery methods or technologies for cost saving and creating monetization models that transmit more to services than to products. Companies should build up business models that unite digital and physical infrastructures.

By applying sustainability, a company will get the ability to expand itself into new and different industries and creates business platforms that enable customers, suppliers and partners to manage energy in radically improved ways. Another opportunity is to develop products that require less or no water, as compared to similar products that are water-intensive.

Pursue social investments and charitable contributions that tie in with the core competences or operating context of the company as an integrated part of its sustainability strategy.

Supporting supply and distribution networks for mutual benefit, for example by jointly sourcing products, developing standardized supplier training modules, or aligning local procurement policies.

Put responsibility for execution of sustainability strategy in relevant corporate functions (procurement, government affairs, human resources, legal, etc.) and make sure that no function is operating in divergence with sustainability commitments and objectives of company.

Evaluate risks and opportunities on a constant basis at both enterprise and product level and take on due diligence to guarantee for identifying any negative impacts caused by its operations and activities.

Create open environment within the company as well as the community to get better performance and increase profits. An open culture always encourages employee involvement in respect of innovation and imaginative processes.

Reaching out to the community makes a much bigger team that brings evaluation from all angles. Companies are looking inward and realizing changes must be made to fulfill environment needs such as energy efficiency, limiting product waste and toxicity, and designing innovative products.

Posted by Rajib Dey
Business Development
Global Associates
A pioneer company in construction estimating
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General Contractors now embrace latest construction technology to win more bids

Recently the construction industry is undergoing a tough situation due to recession. As a result the general contractors from all discipline are loosing jobs in their own countries and migrating to other countries for finding jobs.

Now the construction market become so competitive and the contractors are choosing alternative ways like lowering their bids, adopting new types of construction, going down-market for better job etc.

But the contractors can overcome this situation by adopting latest web based technologies. These technologies help contractors to create the cost estimates required to bid on projects in other regions more effectively.

Among these technologies the most important are online plan rooms, bid management software, takeoff and estimating software, building information modeling (BIM), and cloud-based project management software.

Online plan room
With the development of online planroom now, contractors have the option of either doing everything online by going to a physical planroom. Here the contractors will find Plans, Specifications, Addenda, Bid Invitations & Planholders available 24x7.

Contractors can manage and track plans, order prints, arrange for deliver, and compile a historical record of plans and specs. The contractors can also download these to estimate costs and bid on the projects. The contractors will be able to search for construction projects by type (e.g. commercial, industrial, and transportation), by trade (e.g. HVAC, concrete, and plumbing) and by location.

Of late, the process is further accelerated by integrating online plan rooms with backoffice software.

Bid Management Software
By applying bid management software, contractors can easily bid on jobs in other regions. The software centralize and simplify the distribution of Bid Invitation and Bid Management for General Contractors. The contractors will be in a position to know how much they spend, and set the parameters to alert when the cost of a desired spot exceeds the designated amount. As per the situation the contractors can decide whether to raise their bid or settle for a lower ranking.

A sub contractor receives a bid invitation and can submit a proposal after downloading supporting plans and project specs. From there the general contractor can evaluate bid proposals, view a project’s history and statistics, and prequalify their sub contractors all online.

These types of software help buyers (i.e. general contractors) connect with sellers (i.e. subcontractors and suppliers). These software contain some advanced features like contractor pre-qualification, bid solicitation and response tracking, and document management.

Onscreen Takeoff and Cost Estimating
Contractors get the ability to complete the entire estimate process from digital plan takeoffs, estimating materials and labor, and creating bid reports all on one screen. This helps contractors to win bids in less time.

After calculating the material quantity, estimating software draws real-time pricing information from national databases, thus letting contractors to calculate the cost precisely for any category of construction in any region.

Most companies achieve ROI from their On-Screen Takeoff software investment within the first year

Building Information Modeling
Building Information Modeling can automate measurement and costing of construction works. BIM can enhance the speed of takeoff work. With BIM the contractors can manipulate how qty's are calculated, re-assign Take off Items and Take Off quantities and generate quantities by location without changing the actual model at all.

BIM provides 4D (Adding the aspect of Time to a project phasing/sequencing) and 5D ( Adding the aspect of Cost to a project cost estimating) virtual modeling of a building. Now the contractors are using 4D BIM extensively. In 4D BIM the cost information is contained in the BIM or can be linked or associated to the building objects. Construction schedules can be created with model elements and associated with tasks and the corresponding materials, resources, and labor; all of which are optimized by location.

5D BIM can be utilized for coordination, quantity takeoff, cost estimation, project scheduling and production control. With 5D BIM the contractors can easily understand which aspects of the project are contributing to changes in cost.

Cloud-based Project Management Software
Cloud or web-based project management software facilitates contractors to create, manage, track, and share project documentation more efficiently, and communicate and collaborate with project team members more effectively.

These software can keep track of documents and seize them in one central easily-accessible place. The contractors can make decisions faster, automate documentation and reduce costs.

The status of project items like daily schedules, change orders, punch list items, requests for information (RFIs) and other project tasks can be viewed quickly.

Read more on the Software Advice blog : Technology Accelerates the Migration of Contractors

Vico Software presents Vico Office R3

Vico Software launches Vico Office R3 that generates a Construction-Oriented 5D BIM Environment for owners and contractors.

By utilizing this latest software the contractor get the ability to produce several types of BIM model with cost and schedule information.

The general contractors can computerize the task of generating location-based quantities both for estimates and for the powerful Flowline™ schedules.

This integrated construction management software is very useful for large complex building projects and can be utilized for coordination, budgeting, and project control alongwith modeling, scheduling and estimating.

Vico Office R3 converts 3D BIMs by integrating construction-caliber quantities with location, 4D scheduling data, and 5D cost estimating data to evaluate the schedule and cost impact of changes throughout preconstruction planning or throughout the project's build phase.

Posted by Rajib Dey
Senior Executive
Global Associates (The pioneer company in construction estimating)
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Bill of Material (BOM)

A bill of materials sometimes bill of material or BOM is considered as a structured list for an object (semi-finished or finished product) that contains the list of the raw materials, sub-assemblies, intermediate assemblies, sub-components, components, parts with the name, reference number, quantity, and unit of measure of each component.

The Bill of material is required by a contractor to complete a contract, or by a supplier or vendor to complete an order. A bill of material can only refer to a quantity greater than or equal to one of an object.

A BOM can be demonstrated in the following formats:
A single-level BOM – This kind of BOM shows the assembly or sub-assembly with only one level of children. Thus it exhibits the components required directly to create the assembly or sub-assembly.

An indented BOM - This kind of BOM shows the highest-level item nearby to the left margin and the components utilized in that item shifted more to the right.

Generally there are two types of bills of materials available for a product engineering and manufacturing BOM. The engineering BOM usually records items in accordance with their relationships with parent product as characterized on assembly drawings. But this is not enough to neither demonstrate the grouping of parts at each stage of the production procedure nor contain all of the data required to support manufacturing or procurement. These requirements lead to compel the arrangement of the product structure to be dissimilar so as to guarantee manufacturability. Thus, engineering and manufacturing will include the different valid views for the same product.

Theoretically, the BOM is created mechanically by the CAD system but in reality there is generally human interference or even re-entry.

The following information is visible in a bill of materials:
• Header (Product or Higher-Level Assembly)
o Product/Assembly Item Number
o Product/Assembly Name
o Product/Assembly Description
o Unit of Measure
o Revision Level
• Each Component/Item
o Item Number
o Item Name
o Item Description
o Revision Level
o Unit of Measure
o Quantity per (each higher level assembly)
o Effectivity (date in and date out or serial number in and serial number out)

Posted by Rajib Dey
Business Development
Global Associates
A pioneer company in construction estimating
Join our estimating forum

American Concrete Institute introduces four new publications useful for concrete industry

The American Concrete Institute (ACI) launches four new publications focusing on the most updated concrete-related information and technology.
All ACI members are eligible to get a special discount (up to 40 percent) on all ACI publications.
In order to avail the Publications, one can call to 248-848-3800 or visit the link http://www.concrete.org/general/home.asp for online order.

The details of the publication are given below:-
Guide to Hot Weather Concreting (305R-10) This guide deals with the problems related with hot weather concreting and provides solutions like proposed preparations and methods for use in general types of hot weather construction for example pavements, bridges, and buildings.
Price: $57.50 (ACI members $35.00)

Guide to Cold Weather Concreting (306R-10) This guide focus on concrete temperature through mixing and placing, temperature loss during delivery, training for cold weather concreting, safety requirements for concrete that don’t have construction supports, figure out strength development, procedures of protection, necessities of curing and admixtures for speeding up setting and strength gain including antifreeze admixtures.
Price: $60.50 (ACI members $37.00)

Report on Corrosion and Repair of Grouted Multistrand and Bar Tendon Systems (423.8R-10) This report contains the information associated with the evaluation of corrosion damage in structures reinforced with grouted multistrand and bar tendons. The report also includes a assessment of existing practice for assessing corrosion damage and typical repair schemes together with the historical background. Specific probable problem areas for grouted tendons are explained for each critical part of the tendon.
Price: $41.50 (ACI members $25.00)

Specification for Producing a Skid-Resistant Surface on Concrete by the Use of Epoxy and Aggregate (503.3-10) This specification demonstrate the system for generating a skid-resistant surface on hardened concrete by the utilization of a multi-component epoxy resin. The specification takes into consideration controls for resin labeling, storage, handling, mixing, and application; surface evaluation and preparation; and inspection and quality. Besides, it also provides an aggregate applicable with the coating. Also obtainable in a Metric version.
Price: $32.50 (ACI members $20.00)

Posted by Rajib Dey
Business Development
Global Associates
A pioneer company in construction estimating
Join our estimating forum

Newly launched To-Scale Plan Center - An exclusive construction takeoff software

The software is ideal for viewing plans and executing highly detailed on screen takeoffs . No other program facilitates you to work with all of your plans open at once. Easily zoom or pan from one plan to the next saving you time and helping you maintain perspective. Blueprint takeoffs are faster and easier than ever before. Now one can bid more work in less time.

Advantages :

• Faster construction estimating than ever before by taking off from multiple blueprint files on screen at the same time.
• Eliminate your printing bill for estimating, for many contractors these savings will easily pay for the system.
• Share your plans with suppliers, subs, vendors, GCs or anyone else that needs to see them.
• Save time by not waiting on blueprint pages to load or to zoom in or out.

Posted by Rajib Dey
Business Development
rajib@jobs2india.com
Construction Estimating Service

Construction Estimating Checklist: A New Era of Estimating Service

If you are a newbie in the estimating service zone then you should know about construction estimating checklist and how to organize them. it is not possible to get the help of expensive software for fancy estimate proposals. Well you need at the very least some sort of checklist. There is a lot of free e4ducation and tips online to help your design a good construction estimating checklist. From how to methods to tips, all you have to do is search on the Google.

The Checklist of Construction Estimating

But you have to follow a basic structure for your construction estimating checklist should consist. Assuming you have the name of your company and address already registered, your form should have the following main features on it: Client Information like full name, address, phone number of both work and at home, email address; Project Description like brief description of project to ensure that your estimate includes all the client wants, example would be Kitchen remodel or Bathroom remodel or roof repair and Project ID: as your business grows and you end up deciding on what software will best help you manage your business, you will need each project to have the separate id. As the hope that the client will continue to use you for other projects, each project should have their own identification.

The teamwork to create a checklist

The Estimate: Now break down all the different steps the job will entail with a cost of 10% more that you think you can do the job for. This gives the client some wiggle room to negotiate bringing you back down to where you would have estimated the job to cost but giving the client a feeling of win/win negotiations. Total the cost. But the most important part of this estimate is that it should have an expiration date. You have no control over material cost but know that your supplier revises their cost on a particular day of the week and then your estimate should be in direct correlation to that cost. Your suppliers will give you an estimate of cost in writing guaranteeing the quote till a particular date. Make sure to make note of that date and make sure to include that date in your estimate.

Now make sure to organize your estimate by phases, no more than 3 phases. As you will ask for upfront payment per phase and schedule a walk through the completion of every phase with the client. Make sure to charge them for walk through inspections as the project may require city inspections in addition to your detail inspection which cost time. But this will also help you control the client wanting to do an unscheduled inspection which would take you away from your work and may be an insurance liability.

This should give you a good idea how to get started making an effective construction estimating checklist.