Delays on fabrication jobs tend to occur in small amounts of time over a period of days or weeks. By recognising the potential delays that could occur on a fabrication project and devising ways to prevent them from happening, you can avoid potentially costly overruns.
Drawings Change After Cutting Starts
Late changes to dimensions or specifications of steel parts already cut mean having to start again with new material. The worst thing is to have drawings changed after they have been used to start cutting steel parts. Try to get all drawings fully signed off by all interested parties before any steel is cut. After that, any changes will effectively mean starting a new job with its own program and lead time.
Material Lead Times Catch People Out
Mild steel sections such as universal beams and columns are generally held in stock by Fabrication Companies in Gloucester and can usually be delivered within a day or two. However, smaller sections, unusual gauges, stainless steel sections and large box sections can take anywhere up to several weeks for delivery from the mill or stockholder. It is therefore very important to establish the current turnaround time for any such material from your chosen Fabrication Company before committing to a delivery date and then ordering the material as soon as the quote has been accepted.
Site Surveys That Miss Real Clashes
Where steel is ordered from rough measurements or from old drawings, there is a high probability that upon arrival at site, the items will not fit around existing structures, services etc. A professional site survey conducted prior to commencement of fabrication to professional measurement standards (i.e. RICS) will highlight any such problems prior to commencement of fabrication rather than discovering them on site and incurring considerable time and expense to put right.
Finishing Processes Add Their Own Schedule
Galvanising, powder coating, painting, grit blasting, anodising etc are all processes that are carried out off-site by a separate company. Typically they have a huge queue of work and can take a week or more to complete. This needs to be factored into your quote and programme and cannot be treated as an afterthought once you have completed all of your welding.
Site Access Gets Assumed, Not Confirmed
Site access (lorry parking, space for erection, location for the crane) for Steel Erection is often assumed to be sufficient but should be confirmed with the site prior to delivery date being fixed. This should be in written form and confirmed with the site contact prior to the Fabrication Company Gloucester delivery date.
Weather Windows for Outdoor Work
Welding, steel erection or coating applications outdoors all rely on reasonable weather and even a few wet days can end up costing more than the lost days themselves, once the crew and plant have been re-booked. Engineering work adheres to professional engineering standards to ensure safe working conditions for site welding and steel erection. Allow a sensible weather contingency period for any outdoor work and treat each proposed install date with a healthy scepticism.
Most of these delays can be avoided if adequate time is allowed before any cutting of steel.
