Work Packages For Field Engineers (How To Make Work Installable In Construction)

Work Packages for Field Engineers (How to Make Work Installable in Construction)

Actually, the title should probably be work packages for crews by field engineers. But this is a really, really cool concept. I’m so excited to share it with you because installation work packages need to be our focus. Not just submittals, not just having a pre-con meeting, but an actual installation work package.

The Trade Partner Preparation Process: Six Steps

If you look at the trade partner preparation process, where you have the buyout, the pre-mobilization meeting where you basically explain to the trade what’s going to be required, and then before construction, you have your pre-con or your preparatory meeting. Then once they start work, you have your first in place inspection. Then you do your follow-up, and then you do your final.

This is what Hensel Phelps calls the six-step process, and it’s beautiful. I call it the trade partner preparation process because the trade partner right here is going to do their work, and basically, we have to plan, build, finish.

The Plan-Build-Finish Framework

The buyout meeting is where we buy out the right scope. Pre-mob is where we tell them what we want as the project delivery team. The pre-con is where we onboard and orient the foreman for the crew and make sure, we’re clear on expectations. First in place inspection is where we make sure the crew is off to the right start. Follow-up, this mainly happens with zone control. And then final, this is where you inspect before they demobilize and you reconcile any change orders. And hopefully you’re paying retainage if you are holding retainage.

And it’s all plan, build, finish. This is the core of Lean doing one thing at a time.

Field Engineers Don’t Write RFIs They Prepare Trades

And so, when we think about field engineers or project engineers or office engineers, they do not write RFIs. They do not do submittals. They prepare trades. They prepare scopes. And RFIs and submittals just happen to be tools that we use along the way.

So, there’s a definite delineation here. When we start work, we have got to be ready.

Introducing Installation Work Packages: Full Kit for Crews

So, one of the things that I have been encouraging our teams to do is to have an installation work package. And we lifted this off of best practices and some of it from advanced work packaging. But let’s say hypothetically that as a part of full kit that the crew has an installation work package when they start.

Well, where did this installation work package come from? And are we going to have a whole bunch of overhead cost to create it? We’re not oil and gas. We don’t have all that money. How are we going to do this? I have an answer for you.

How to Create an Installation Work Package: Build It During Normal Process

In this normal part of the process, we know we’re going to do buyout. So, here’s my question. Why can’t we write down any pertinent inclusions and exclusions and clarifications and just make sure that immediately and yeah, Procore is going to be met instead of having it hidden in some meeting minutes in Procore, have it immediately be added to this work package.

Now when we submit the requirements to the trade and they send us their safety plan, send us their quality plan, send us their emergency numbers, when that comes back, instead of hiding that somewhere, why don’t we just add it to the installation work package, whatever information is relevant.

That means the office engineer, project engineer, field engineer is putting relevant information that the crew needs in that package and that instead of making some random meeting notes or meeting minutes, we’re just building that package as a normal part of what we do.

Pre-Con Meeting: Add Visual Checklist and Takt Time to Package

And then the pre-construction meeting happens and we are creating a specific checklist. We have gone through and done our build your Lego sheet. We have identified our Takt time. We have some specific requirements. We have a visual. Maybe we have some manufacturers’ key considerations.

Why don’t we just put that into the work package right then and there?

Field Engineers: Add Lift Drawings to the Package

And then if there’s a lift drawing oh my gosh here’s where the field engineers come in. This is super exciting. If there’s a lift drawing or anything that the field engineers prepared, add that to the package.

And this is where I’m going to get you back, meaning get you back on my side. Mostly visual, mostly bullets, mostly simplified, not a lot of text. We have AI to help us out. Sure, we can have lots of text in the background, but we’re going to make this simple.

And this work package literally is what the crew uses, and it’s what we use for our first in place inspection, follow-up inspection, final inspection.

Hensel Phelps Red Folders: Now Digital in Canva

Now, Hensel Phelps used to call these red folders. Basically, where you were chunking it in and you would take the red folders out in the field. And I love that. But in Canva, which is one of my favorite programs, we can just start pulling this information in there automatically.

And one of these days, project management software should basically say, “Here’s a document. Do you want to add it to the work package?” There are faster ways to do it. If I was going to do this today, I would do it in Canva.

AI Cover Sheet: Most Important Things Crews Must Know Daily

And then the cover sheet of the installation work package would be the simplified summary. I would literally put the PDF into AI and say, “Please give me a cover sheet of the most important things that the crew must know that they can review on a daily basis.”

I mean, this is genius. And AI is going to help us out big time here.

Here’s how to create installation work packages:

• Buyout meeting: add inclusions, exclusions, clarifications to work package immediately – Why can’t we write down any pertinent inclusions and exclusions and clarifications and instead of having it hidden in some meeting minutes in Procore, have it immediately be added to this work package. Normal part of process, we know we’re going to do buyout. Just make sure immediately added to work package.
• Pre-mob meeting: add safety plan, quality plan, emergency numbers to package – When we submit requirements to trade and they send us their safety plan, send us their quality plan, send us their emergency numbers, when that comes back, instead of hiding that somewhere, why don’t we just add it to installation work package, whatever information is relevant. Office engineer, project engineer, field engineer putting relevant information crew needs in that package.
• Pre-con meeting: add visual checklist, Takt time, manufacturers’ key considerations – Pre-construction meeting happens and we are creating specific checklist. Gone through and done our build your Lego sheet. Identified our Takt time. Some specific requirements. Have visual. Maybe have some manufacturers’ key considerations. Why don’t we just put that into work package right then and there.
• Field engineers: add lift drawings and any preparation to package – If there’s lift drawing or anything field engineers prepared, add that to package. This is where field engineers come in. Mostly visual, mostly bullets, mostly simplified, not a lot of text. We have AI to help us out. Sure, can have lots of text in background, but going to make this simple. Work package literally what crew uses, what we use for first in place inspection, follow-up inspection, final inspection.
• Use Canva to pull information in automatically, AI creates cover sheet – Hensel Phelps used to call these red folders. In Canva, which is one of my favorite programs, we can just start pulling this information in there automatically. Cover sheet of installation work package would be simplified summary. Literally put PDF into AI and say, “Please give me cover sheet of most important things crew must know that they can review on daily basis.” AI going to help us out big time here.

If your project needs superintendent coaching, project support, or leadership development, Elevate Construction can help your field teams stabilize, schedule, and flow.

Field Engineers Prepare Trades, Not Just Write RFIs

And I want to make the point that the field engineer not just provides the layout, but any preparation here and the FE, PE, or OE can make sure that as we’re going through this process that we’re pulling in relevant information into this work package.

And then guess what? This work package, as we create templates, we can get better and better and better and better at them as we go, and especially as one crew moves to another zone.

A Challenge for Field Engineers and Project Teams

Here’s what I want you to do this week. Start creating installation work packages for your crews. When you do buyout meeting, add inclusions, exclusions, clarifications to work package immediately. Don’t hide it in meeting minutes in Procore.

When trade sends back their safety plan, quality plan, emergency numbers, add it to installation work package. Whatever information is relevant. Instead of making random meeting notes or meeting minutes, just build that package as normal part of what you do.

At pre-con meeting, add visual checklist. Add your build your Lego sheet. Add Takt time. Add specific requirements. Add visual. Add manufacturers’ key considerations. Put that into work package right then and there.

If there’s lift drawing or anything field engineers prepared, add that to package. Mostly visual, mostly bullets, mostly simplified. Use AI to help. Put PDF into AI and say, “Please give me cover sheet of most important things crew must know that they can review on daily basis.”

Use Canva to pull information in automatically. As you create templates, get better and better at them as you go, especially as one crew moves to another zone. This is the way to help trades prepare in this framework.

As we say at Elevate, installation work packages for crews by field engineers: buyout to final inspection. Pull relevant info into package, mostly visual, AI helps with cover sheet.

On we go.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between field engineers and RFIs?

Field engineers do not write RFIs. They do not do submittals. They prepare trades. They prepare scopes. And RFIs and submittals just happen to be tools that we use along the way. Definite delineation here. When we start work, we have got to be ready.

What is the trade partner preparation process?

Six steps: buyout (buy out right scope), pre-mobilization meeting (tell them what we want), pre-con (onboard and orient foreman, clear on expectations), first in place inspection (crew off to right start), follow-up (zone control), final (inspect before demobilize, reconcile change orders, pay retainage). All plan, build, finish.

How do you create installation work packages without overhead cost?

Build it during normal part of process. At buyout, add inclusions, exclusions, clarifications immediately. When trade sends safety plan, quality plan, emergency numbers, add to package. At pre-con, add visual checklist, Takt time, manufacturers’ key considerations. Field engineers add lift drawings. Just building package as normal part of what we do.

What tools help create work packages?

Canva is one of favorite programs. Can just start pulling information in there automatically. AI helps with cover sheet. Put PDF into AI and say, “Please give me cover sheet of most important things crew must know that they can review on daily basis.” AI going to help us out big time.

What did Hensel Phelps call work packages?

Red folders. Basically, chunking it in and would take red folders out in field. Now digital in Canva. As create templates, get better and better at them as go, especially as one crew moves to another zone.