The 7 Solutions that an Engineering or Construction Outsourcer Should Provide
Outsourcers are more than outside help.
They’re part of your team. Find out what to look for if you outsource construction or engineering work. Sometimes you just need more people for a project; Maybe your company is growing faster than you can handle right now. Or maybe you need more specialists than you currently have on staff. Everyone needs a little help sometimes. That holds true whether you’re an individual or a large corporation. One of the great things about outsourcing is its customisability. The remote team can provide as little or as much help as you need. There are many cases where you’d need construction or engineering outsourcing solutions. And companies do it for different reasons. Find out when’s the right time to consider outsourcing and what you should expect. Also, learn about the role of a client services supervisor and why you need one. So the next time you need to outsource construction projects, you know what to anticipate.
The Seven Solutions
Outsourcing solutions used to focus on back office and administrative support at best. Over time, it expanded to other administrative duties like accounting and human resources. Outsourcing solutions have come a long way since then. Nowadays, you can expect highly technical and specialised solutions for your company. Take a look at a few solutions to expect:
1. Planners & Schedulers
How do you get a finished product to market? You need a qualified person to oversee everything that goes into production. Whether it’s one person or a team, you need someone to trust to make sure the process goes smoothly and efficiently. Planners and schedulers in this segment of outsourcing wear a variety of hats. They may schedule and plan for materials to go to manufacturing. They can also be overseeing the production process and handling any challenges that arise.
Businesses need to develop and implement new products all the time. It helps them keep a competitive edge, and the right outsourced team can get you there. These engineers and technicians have a variety of skills, including:- Preparing weekly/monthly supply chain schedules
- Assess and manage inventory targets
- Coordinate with production manager to schedule and rotate materials as needed
2. Detailers
The little touches matter with any engineering project. That’s where a detailer comes in. These professionals read and interpret blueprints, in addition to analysing reports. Their goal is to make sure that the designs meet all required functional and performance specifications.
An engineering outsourcing professional specialises in detailing will also complete the following tasks:
- Interpret angles, dimensions, and measurements, in addition to determining how much material is needed for a design.
- Complete offshore work, such as jackets and platforms.
- Have the ability to edit and create parts drawings.
Simply put, they have their eye on the little things that are easy to miss when creating a design.
3. Quantity Surveyors /Estimators
Estimators perform several duties, including:
- Helping you to prepare tenders. An estimator will look at issues such as the number of hours the job will take to complete and pricing for supplies.
- Preparation of packages for any procurement inquiries that you make.
- Remeasuring of any quantities you specify to ensure they’re accurate.
- Cost impact assessments related to any changes to live jobs.
These professionals ensure you don’t make mistakes with the fine details related to the materials you use and the time it takes to complete a job.
4. Revit Architects
Managing a project in Revit can become complex, especially when you have several engineers involved. Each will likely submit their own designs, as well as making changes to existing models. A Revit Architect helps to keep all of this information in order. They’ll collaborate with your in-house team to ensure the project meets all Building Information Modelling (BIM) best practices. Your architect may also be able to contribute their own 3D visualisations.
5. Drafter
Your drafter helps you to make your designs “shop-ready”. They convert your detail drawings into pieces that are ready to present to clients. Plus, they review all final drawings so they can create material take-offs (MTOs). Other roles that they can cover include searching out quotes for the services and materials you’ll need for a project. They also liaise with vendors on your behalf, as well as reviewing your tender documentation
6. QA Engineers
These professionals conduct all of the quality assurance work required for your materials. They’ll compile certificates and registers, in addition to maintaining your company records. That’s so important because compliance is a major issue in construction and engineering. A QA Engineer ensures that nothing falls through the cracks in that area of the project. They’ll also help with the interpretation of engineered drawings. This means they can provide valuable input about construction methods, materials, and the quality standards that you need to meet.
7. Modellers
Your modeller plays a key role in turning initial designs into manufacturing-ready drawings. Their particular expertise lies in creating 3D models for modular building units, such as those used in high and mid-rise residential projects. They’ll also work directly with your Product Engineer to develop manufacturing documents. Furthermore, they’ll conduct technical analyses of your drawings to validate:
- Structural issues
- Plumbing
- Electrical systems
- Mechanical issues
When to Consider Outsourcing Solutions
There are a variety of reasons to use engineering outsourcing. When is the right time for you? Take a look at some signs it is time to look at engineering outsourcing solutions:
1. Potential Issues Meeting Project Deadlines
You may have an array of specialists at your disposal in-house. But sometimes a project comes along that may be a little too much to handle on your own. This is where engineering outsourcing can come in. Outsourcing solutions can give you the extra manpower to meet deadlines on time. The right provider has access to experienced specialists. These professionals know the industry and understand the possible challenges.For example, imagine that you have a construction project. You’re on a tight deadline. Outsource construction specialists may help move the project along faster.
2. Lack of Expertise
No one really has experts at everything on their team;It’s impractical. So what do you do when you get a project that needs a little more expertise than you have? It’s time to look into outsource construction specialists. The right remote team can help complete your project dream team. Imagine covering all your engineering and construction bases to complete your working ecosystem. Think of it as boosting your team’s capabilities, not hiring outside help.
3. Cost Concerns
At the end of the day, you worry about your bottom line. You’re in the business to make money and hiring numerous in-house employees can cut into that bottom line. Outsourcing solutions can give you the help you need at a fraction of the cost. And this cost-effective solution can help propel your business forward.
Client Services Supervisor
Does your potential outsourcing solution have a client services supervisor? These supervisors are an indispensable member of your outsourcing team and besides bridging you with your offshore team members, they can wear many hats too! They can take care of logistics between your in-house and remote team. Also handling other aspects like payroll, human resources, and operations. The ideal client services supervisor is your outsourcing concierge. They make sure that the remote team integrates seamlessly into your project. These supervisors dedicate all their time and energy to you. They give you the freedom to focus on other things knowing that you have their support as and when you need it.
Pros and Cons
Outsourcing may not be for everyone. But their customisable solutions work with most proactive business owners’ needs. Some of the positive aspects of outsourcing include:
- Lower overhead costs
- Fast(er) turnaround time
- Increased focus
- Access to trained specialists in the engineering and construction fields across the international pool
- Effective resource management
Some may still have some concerns about hiring an outsourcing service. You may have reservations in areas such as:
- Lack of control
- Trust issues
- Concerns about quality
Choosing the right provider can minimise or even eliminate these concerns. Address these concerns in your initial conversations with your outsourcing provider. Together you can work out a solution to address your concerns.
The Takeaway
People choose to outsource construction and engineering tasks for a variety of reasons. Some projects may require more specialists than you have currently on-hand. Other times, the scope of a project may be too big for the in-house team. Using engineering outsourcing solutions can even out the workload and provide a boost to the existing team. Sometimes people turn to outsource construction solutions for one simple reason: profit. It may be too expensive to expand an in-house team. But outsourcing talent can give you the help you need without the high overhead costs. When you decide to hire an outsourcing provider, there are a few solutions to expect. And this is our take – You should have a client services supervisor or dedicated manager to bridge the gap between your onsite and offshore teams, allowing them to work cohesively. You should also expect a multitude of specialised solutions for engineering and construction. Cybalink Solutions, who specialise in the engineering and construction outsourcing gives you the option of hiring the professionals you need in one place.
Get in touch today to book a confidential call with our co-founders Kim Lombardi and John Rodgers.
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