Posted on April 16, 2024
High-quality MEP engineering is critical to your building project and construction timeline
The otherwise unusually long lead times and supply constraints of 2021, near the middle and end of the brunt of the COVID-19 lockdowns worldwide, are most people’s first real experience with supply chain challenges. However, construction projects faced supply constraints long before (and after) the pandemic, albeit without quite as much global consequence and media coverage.
Construction and engineering is a dynamic field, dependent upon the tight cooperation of:
- Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and telecommunications (MEPT) engineers,
- Construction managers
- Builders
- Equipment providers
- Contractors
- And suppliers around the world producing everything from floor tile to light sconces.
Navigating supply chain issues is such an important part of a building project our MEPT engineers build delays, issues, and constraints into project planning timelines. R.E. Dimond and Associates has several effective strategies for managing these challenges, ensuring project timelines are met, and highlighting how engineering professionals like Mike East, Vice President of Mechanical Engineering, provide real-world solutions.
How equipment issues impact most construction projects
Equipment issues are one of the leading procurement challenges. Installing or removing a roof-mounted heating and cooling system, for instance, requires using a crane. Depending on the building’s size, the surrounding street space, and permit requirements, cranes designed to work at specific heights may be necessary and hard to come by.
Equipment like electric vehicle chargers, solar panels, condensing units, or made-to-order equipment can dramatically adjust project timelines. Long lead times in procuring critical equipment can derail project schedules, leading to costly delays.
Sometimes delays are caused by global supply chain disruptions, like a plant suffering a natural disaster. Or it could be sudden spikes in demand. Understanding the reasons behind these prolonged periods is the first step in developing a proactive response and give engineers a clue about how long a delay might last.
Strategies for Keeping the Project Schedule
- Identify what equipment we need early. By identifying and specifying necessary equipment early on in the project, engineers can mitigate the risks associated with long lead times.
- Keep in constant contact with suppliers. Establishing a strong communication channel with suppliers allows for real-time updates on equipment availability and potential delays. R.E. Dimond and Associates maintains many long-time relationships with trusted suppliers.
- Adapt and improvise with flexible planning. Adaptability in project planning can compensate for delays. This might involve rearranging project phases to accommodate equipment availability.
How MEPT engineers can work on realistic timelines, not just best-case scenarios
When a large procurement package of equipment for Monroe County Community Schools was at risk due to supply-chain management issues, our engineers were able to secure alternative equipment that still met the school district’s tight budget and critical timeline to minimize learning disruption.
A crucial aspect of project management in the face of supply chain issues is setting realistic expectations with clients. Projects rarely devolve into worst-case scenarios, but they’re also rarely best-case scenarios. We help set realistic expectations in two ways:
- Transparent communication designed to keep clients informed about the potential impact of supply chain disruptions on project timelines. When we know something, you’ll know something.
- Collaborative planning by understanding what’s most important to you. If your project needs to accommodate building users by a certain date, or for a specific event or use case, we’ll work on adjusting everyone’s priorities accordingly.
The R.E. Dimond pre-purchasing advantage
Pre-purchasing equipment can be a strategic move to counteract long lead times. This approach is similar to how most northern US cities buy large amounts of road salt in the summer instead of waiting for the winter when supply and demand naturally raise the price. By procuring critical items in advance, we can secure their availability and stabilize project timelines.
Pre-purchasing is one of many significant benefits we offer clients. Our engineers have decades of experience working with suppliers, contractors, and partners around the Midwest and the US. Our scale and those relationships enable us to work efficiently. Plus, we understand what’s most likely to happen and what could happen, and we tell customers in advance what we expect. When new challenges arise, we meet those needs strategically and with the benefit of size, scale, and experience.
