Case Studies 2021

...exciting things are coming

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We have moved!

We are thrilled to announce that Management Process Systems Limited has relocated to the capital of Yorkshire, Leeds! Recognised as one of the most famous cities in Britain and celebrated for its economic vibrancy, the bustling city of Leeds is deemed an international digital powerhouse and the largest legal and financial district outside of London. We are excited to set down our digital roots in Leeds and are looking forward to welcoming both prospective and existing clients to our new contemporary digital hub. The move marks the awakening of a new chapter for Management Process Systems Limited and we have some exciting projects and announcements for 2022! If you would like to discover more about the products and services that Management Process Systems Limited has to offer, please drop us a line at sales@mpsprocess.com and we will be delighted to welcome you to our new digital hub for a good old Yorkshire brew. Don’t worry, the biscuits are on us! Management Process Systems Limited 7 Park Row Leeds LS1 5HD United Kingdom Telephone number: 0113 512 0492

We are moving!!

We are delighted to announce that Management Process Systems are relocating offices. From December 2021, Management Process Systems will be relocating up North! Regarded as the unofficial capital of Yorkshire and an international digital powerhouse, Leeds is the perfect location for our new digital hub and provides the opportunity to work more closely with our clients. Due to its central location, Leeds positions us at the heart of the country, creating a central hub for our clients across the nation. It is an exciting time to be in Leeds and an even more exciting time to be part of digital innovation for the future. For further information, please contact sales@mpsprocess.com

MPS Announces Strategic Alliance with Trebes Consulting

MPS are very pleased to announce that have formed a strategic alliance with leading NEC practitioners Trebes Consulting. This alliance enables a comprehensive range of NEC contract services which includes, consulting and advice, training, mentoring, peer reviews and a managed NEC services which includes CCM. ​ Barry Trebes Managing Director states, “we are very excited by this alliance which enables a broad range of compatible services for our client For more information call 01223 597933 or email sales@mpsprocess.com

MPS achieves Cyber Essentials Certification

Protecting data and keeping it secure is extremely important to MPS. As part of our ongoing commitment to Cyber Security, we’re very pleased to announce that MPS has achieved certification to the UK government’s Cyber Essentials scheme.
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Cyber Essentials was jointly developed by the UK Government and the Cyber Security Industry. The Cyber Essentials scheme defines a baseline standard of security for businesses in the UK. It outlines the controls that all organisations should implement to help alleviate risks from common internet-based threats.
Cyber Essentials concentrates on five key areas:
​ Securing connectivity to the internet through appropriate management of firewalls and internet gateways The secure configuration of software and devices used within the business Strong access control to data and services Suitable processes and mechanisms for protecting against viruses and other malware Effective management that ensures devices and software are up to date ​
Our certification is another step on our journey of continuous security improvement and adds a level of external, independent assurance that we’re doing the right things to help protect our systems and services.

CIOB responds to CIC Carbon Zero climate action plan for Professional Institutions

As the world marches towards a greener, more sustainable future the construction industry has to fall in line and be part of the change. That is the belief of the CIOB, who have supported the already excellent work underway in addressing the climate change issues arising from our industry. The CIOB is in full support of the Construction Industry Council’s move towards a net zero carbon emissions plan. With time pressing, the construction industry aims to be delivering on the plan by no later than 2025. How will the industry adapt? The carbon zero climate action plan is a root and branch approach to tackling the CO2 contributions from the construction industry. It has a 10-step, multi-faceted approach spanning education and professional development, project planning, delivery and ongoing measurement and maintenance. Aside from simply being a PR exercise, the CIC is making real strides to bring the construction industry into the green economy. Action in the area will ensure green and sustainable building becomes the industry norm, not the exception. It’s only by changing the attitudes to carbon zero construction at the very earliest stages will the plan be a success. To ensure this happens, the plan includes significant educational aspects. Undergraduates will be educated on net zero requirements in the industry, there will be CPD qualifications for post-graduates and for industry professionals there will be ongoing training and assessment in net zero carbon construction practices. Construction practices will have to change Some of the essential work of the plan will be delivered during the regulation stages. Building regulators will go beyond good practices in terms of work quality to also include elements of net zero carbon buildings. The industry will set a series of progressive expected performance requirements which regulators will have to ensure are maintained. Energy requirements in buildings will also be met with low carbon options, more efficient heat, light and power set ups. Technologies such as solar and wind power may be embraced to reduce the overall carbon footprint of construction. The plan will also include ongoing monitoring of buildings, ensuring that not only are they carbon efficient in their construction, but also for the duration of their lifespan. The plan reflects there’s little point in achieving a green construction if the maintenance is very carbon dependent. CIC Carbon Zero climate action plan in practice There’s a general feeling in the industry that practices had to change to enable construction to achieve net zero carbon targets. Nobody anticipates this will be an easy change, but it’s an important one and this plan represents the widest-reaching series of changes that the industry has brought in to date. It’s the first time the issue has been addressed across the entire construction industry, with so many professional bodies signing up the plan. It’s also the first time the carbon issue has been highlighted from an ongoing education standpoint, making this plan far more than just words – it’s action too. To help with your contract management, visit the MPS website to see how our unique CCM Contract Management System can revolutionise the way you do business or call 01223 597933 or email sales@mpsprocess.com

Is Construction Technology Reshaping the Industry?

The forward march of technology is changing many industries and construction is no different. The construction site of today is a different place to yesteryear and continues to change with each passing decade. The investment in new construction technology will be key to transforming the industry in the years to come. Despite the new technologies, productivity growth in the construction industry has remained stubbornly flat, increasing by around 15% over the last three decades . Some have pointed towards the slow uptake of technology across the wider industry, with only a relatively small number of operators taking advantage of the technological improvements available to building firms. Birds-eye views of sites The addition of drone technology to the construction world has been transformative to the industry. Drones have made initial site surveys faster, easier and more accurate, providing a view of an entire site in one go from above. This removes any obstacles regarding difficult to access sites, or areas that are impossible to reach on foot. Drones are also helpful with inspections, allowing fast access to roofs and high-up parts of buildings. Previously this kind of work needed rope access or significant health and safety involvement, which costs time. Modular building and off-site construction Weather and environmental conditions are one of the oldest and most frequent problems in construction. Adverse weather conditions can delay a project indefinitely, so avoiding these as a delay is a huge advantage and potential cost saving. One of the ways companies are avoiding these delays is by embracing modular building technology. Much of the construction can be done off-site and indoors, before being transported to site and assembled into the final building. Estimates suggest that modular building can accelerate project timelines between 20% and 50%, which helps to reduce labour costs and improve margin. Automated building machines The technology now exists for repetitive tasks such as bricklaying to be outsourced to machines, with only minimal human involvement. The same can be said for plastering, where machines are now capable of rendering new walls. Advances in painting technology means spraying cuts down the time and cost of decorating rooms too. By cutting down labour costs, construction businesses save significant sums of money, improving margins. There’s also the added benefit of more predictable time frames – machines can work non-stop, don’t get sick and will produce a predictable amount of work in a given time period. Technology helps to improve project administration The influence of technology in construction extends beyond the physical building of a project – it also influences the project management aspects of a job. At MPS we offer market-leading contract management solutions that make communication, stakeholder management and project control significantly easier. By removing unnecessary layers of administration and making the management of important documentation easy, the contract management solution is an incredibly effective way of staying in control of a project, ensuring all parties stay happy with the delivery. To help with your contract management, visit the MPS website to see how our unique CCM Contract Management System can revolutionise the way you do business or call 01223 597933 or email sales@mpsprocess.com

Are Robots Taking Over Construction Sites?

As the world progressively marches towards more and more automation, would it be arrogant of the construction world to assume that jobs are untouchable, or is there a very realistic chance that robotic construction is going to transform the building world? We know that robotic building is on the rise, with some reports suggesting that use of robotics in construction will grow by 25% annually through 2023. There are definite benefits to using robotics in construction… · No sick days – on a big job this reduces a lot of lost time · Consistent performance – a predictable rate of construction, allowing deadlines to be accurately predicted and kept to · Easier management – no delays with contracts, site licences, proof of qualifications and associated paperwork · Reduced back end costs – fewer project support administrators, significantly less management time and reduction in salary requirements · Limited ongoing costs – machinery doesn’t require ongoing salary, so it’s a largely one-off cost · Fewer wasted materials through human error · Longer working days possible – machines don’t need breaks and aren’t subject to labour laws · Faster work output – machines are capable of working faster than humans, reducing build times Despite these benefits, does this mean that construction as a whole will become solely reliant on machinery, or is there a future for tradesmen? Human workers are still needed The reality is that although many jobs can be done quickly and accurately by robots, the technology just isn’t in place for them to do everything – nor is it likely to ever be. Wiring, plumbing, roofing and internal joinery are just too far beyond the reach of robotic technology and will remain so for a long time. There are also the issues concerning navigation of a building site. They’re not perfectly-formed, flat-surfaced rooms. They’re uneven, sometimes chaotic and difficult to navigate. These are big problems for robots at the moment, so construction workers need not think about retraining any time soon! What tasks are robots capable of currently? With present technology, robots are capable of doing simple, repeatable tasks in a clear environment. For example robots can lay bricks quickly and neatly. They can plaster fresh walls and they can paint walls with a great finish. That sounds good in theory, but even here there are human interferences required. These machines have to be manned, programmed, have their materials topped up etc. It’s not as simple as plug in and away it goes. They can’t think for themselves, they can’t problem-solve and they can’t liaise with a client to make on the job changes. Predicting the future It’d be wrong to dismiss the impact of robotics in construction – they’re here to stay and their role will only get bigger. The likelihood is they’ll largely be kept to the new build, large-construction sites. This will help large construction companies operate more accurately and will allow projects to be completed quicker. In theory it should also drive down the price of construction as there are fewer labour and material costs to meet. The domestic market just won’t have the budgets or requirements for much in the way of machinery. They’re also not going to be suitable for intricate work such as plumbing, wiring, hanging doors, repairing rooves etc for a long time so just simply won’t be an effective replacement for tradesmen. Making contract management simple Robotics should make life significantly easier for project managers to control labour and costs. For help with contract management on your construction jobs, call 01223 597933 or email sales@mpsprocess.com or visit www.mpsprocess.com .

Do All Building Infrastructure Contracts Overrun?

One of the biggest cliches in construction is that building projects aren’t delivered on time or on budget. It doesn’t matter what level of construction you look at, whether it’s a small domestic extension or a huge national infrastructure project, there’s an overwhelming likelihood that contracts overrun and costs can spiral. Common causes of contract delays and overspend are environmental, technological failings, poor project management, staffing issues, opposing views and differing expectations between stakeholders. Research by McKinsey and Co shows that 98% of projects overrun and costs blow out of control – average overspend on large global construction projects in the research data set was 80%. This was data collected from many developed-world nations, so it’s not a third-world issue where technology and supply chains may be to blame. This information casts the construction industry in an awful light and opens up a lot of questions… ● Why does this keep happening? ● Is contract management not effective enough? ● Are material costs under-quoted? ● Is construction slower than we think it is? ● What variable costs are we not considering in project forecasting? ● Is a large enough labour force recruited in time? This isn’t an exhaustive list, but it shows a small sample of the considerations you need to have before engaging in an infrastructure project. Beware of ambition There’s an assumption that many projects are delivered late and over budget because of ambitious bidding. In an attempt to win work, many construction companies will promise quicker time frames and reduced job costs. Whilst this may look impressive on a tender bid, the question has to be asked how they can promise the work on time and on budget? Understanding the fundamental workings of a job can prevent future frustrations and difficult conversations with stakeholders. If bidding parties are cutting costs by reducing labour force and promising low material costs, these are often out of the control of a contractor, so a plan needs to be in place for unexpected cost rises or delays. Being upfront about timescales and enforcing financial penalties for underperformance and delays will often reduce ‘project creep’ where the focus is lost and timescales are allowed to slide. Solving infrastructure project delays Whilst there is seldom one single reason for project delays and spiralling costs, one of the fundamental issues is with the organisation of contract management and delivery. In an industry where delivery is on a project-to-project basis, open communication and tight project management is fundamental. An issue in construction for too long has been poor contract management. A lack of clear communication between relevant parties, deliverables not being met and an absence of consequence for late or over-budget work can allow collective standards to slip. To help avoid these issues, Management Process Systems created the contract management software CCM . This allows project managers to effectively communicate with stakeholders and construction companies to ensure smooth delivery of an infrastructure project. CCM makes communication much smoother, helping to avoid a major hurdle to smooth construction project delivery. For more information call 01223 597933 or email sales@mpsprocess.com or visit www.mpsprocess.com .

Are We Suffering Supply Chain Issues As a Result of Covid?

All across the construction industry, building firms both large and small are struggling to procure materials at usual prices and times. The downstream effect this has on the industry is enormous, because it puts pressure on delivery times, margins and project management. Whether working on small domestic extensions or large scale infrastructure projects, the ability to get hold of materials at expected prices and lead times has caused additional headaches for construction companies and project managers alike. Dealing with the perfect storm of supply issues Construction firms are dealing with a perfect storm of problems at the moment, forcing them to act to protect supply chains. These problems have come from both expected and unexpected sources… ● Record low interest rates have lowered the cost of money to fund construction projects, which has seen an uptick in demand ● Covid closed down manufacturing plants the world over, reducing production of timber, steel, cement, plaster products and piping ● Brexit trade delays have seen goods from the continent delayed at the channel border ● The Suez Canal delay was something nobody saw coming, but has had significant (if short term) impacts on the delivery of Asian steel and materials. In order to cope with these issues, construction firms have had to stockpile materials when they become available. The problem of course is that this creates shortages and drives prices up, impacting the wider industry and makes the problems of material supply and price worse. The only real winners in this scenario are the merchants, who are seeing record profits . Even then, they are having to disappoint customers with long lead times and limited supplies. Supply chain issues and rising prices There is widespread reporting of the inflationary pressures on building materials. Basic supply and demand have seen prices of timber rise 80%, steel and copper rise 40% and paints rise up to 60%. This has squeezed margins for construction companies and has seen the price of construction work rise rapidly. The impact affects everyone in this circumstance, so the industry is hopeful normality will resume soon. Post-pandemic supply chains will look dramatically different . The flaws in the current system have been exposed, so governments and businesses will seek to address these issues by increasing domestic production of materials. The over-reliance on offshore supply of essential goods has put many countries on the back foot. Some sectors of the construction industry have benefitted from the short term price hikes, but the wider industry has suffered from the high prices and lack of availability of essential materials. If we’re going to build our way out of the Covid setback, we have to ensure our construction firms are able to procure materials quickly and at reasonable prices. Project Management Support With current additional problems of supply and margin pressures, construction projects have never been more difficult to manage. By using the MPS contract management software you can make a tough job significantly easier, staying abreast of all aspects of contract management regardless of whether you are using NEC3, NEC4 , FIDIC or JCT. For more information call 01223 597933 or email sales@mpsprocess.com or visit www.mpsprocess.com .

How To Spot Trends From Contract Data You Already Have!

It’s no secret that the majority of construction projects overrun their budget. Indeed, research shows that 98% of building projects in the UK run into budget problems. Cutting costs and saving money is not always an easy task, particularly when you consider that around 70% of the budget is on repairs and maintenance, and just 20% on design, planning and construction. Persuading construction companies to invest in technology-driven tools to help them save money when you’ve got these percentages can seem a bit like pushing water uphill. But that is exactly what can happen when data analytics are used to automate operations, thereby reducing the number of errors and improving efficiency. Data’s role in managing budgets With the coming of the digital age, data has become a key instrument in helping construction companies not only stay on time, but also within budgets on projects. In fact, with the introduction of business intelligence software and real time data analytics , how some construction companies are operating, on and off-site, has significantly changed, and for good. Project managers are starting to utilise the valuable insights gathered from big data to help them make better, more informed decisions. BIM, or Building Information Modelling, is the latest technology tool that is making a name for itself in the construction industry. BIM enables project managers to use historical data on past projects to estimate more accurately the materials and labour required for future projects, as well as visualise time frames and calculate budgets. Having this real time analytical data ensures that future projects are cost-effective and sustainable, particularly with a greater focus on energy efficiency within construction, now and in the future. A study by the Boston Consulting Group, using BIM within the construction industry to carry out a building-wide energy analysis can potentially save a project as much as 20% on energy costs . Added benefits include less material wasted and a better sustainable environment. Data and the mobile workforce The very nature of building sites is managing a mobile workforce. For a project manager who needs to split their time between the project’s stakeholders, their office team and their team on site is a bit like a juggling act. To have virtual ‘eyes on the ground’ can have significant benefits. Using mobile technology and business intelligence software, project managers are able to gather and analyse critical construction site data in real time, giving them a valuable insight into a project’s progress, whether it’s meeting its deadlines, labour and material usage, as well as budget updates. Using this information enables more streamlined operations to improve efficiency, optimise time management with real time updates on project scope and schedules, as well as updating or adding essential documentation. No more paper trails that can easily get lost. Data is becoming the key ingredient to running successful building projects; how you analyse the data and use it to improve a project’s outcome depends on different variables and the project’s strategies. To help with your contract management, visit the MPS website to see how our unique CCM Contract Management System can revolutionise the way you do business please call 01223 597933 or email sales@mpsprocess.com We can also show you how to turn CCM data and other information into comprehensive interactive BI dashboards.

A Closer Look at the NEC Facility Management Suite

NEC have attempted to bring the facilities management sector into the 21st century with their new suite of contracts. The latest suite replaces the old NEC3 which were brought to market in 2005. These updates are a welcome introduction, clearing up some of the grey areas not covered in the previous contracts. By writing a sector-specific version of the contract, there is hope that much needed evolution in the industry can take place. The NEC4 suite is designed to align strategic and operational goals between operators and managers, ensuring the smooth delivery of services and preventing any future problems. The contracts have been produced in conjunction with the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) and have been designed to be written in plain English, using much of the terminology already familiar to operators in the space. Fundamentally the contracts are designed to improve efficiencies and avoid disputes. Like any contract their success will largely be dependent on all parties abiding by the terms of the agreement, but the hope is the additional clarity and the early warnings of any problems that are written into the contract will avoid small issues escalating into larger problems down the line. The main NEC4 principles The new contracts aim to improve the facilities management sector by embodying the following main principles… ● Stimulating effective and clear management of the relationship between the two parties involved in the contract. By doing this, the work produced as per the contract should be bound to certain standards. ● The contracts can be used in a sufficiently wide variety of commercial situations. This opens up the contracts for use in multiple locations and across different sectors of the facilities management industry. ● Ensure that the contracts are clear, written to be understood by everyone and free of vagaries. They are written in a language and with a structure that outlines the terms of the deal in plain sight. The contracts are not designed to be full of loopholes, allowing sides to point score and take advantage. There’s a genuine sense of enthusiasm for the contracts in the industry, with NEC receiving praise from many industry commentators . The hope is that by simplifying the terms by which facilities and services providers operate, conflict resolution will be a much easier and clearer process and that costly, time consuming litigation will be a thing of the past. The contracts will allow much easier and simpler collaboration between parties and that can only be a good thing. Working clarity is the future of the sector… At MPS we’ve long been advocates for clearer relationships and project delivery in the construction, facilities management and civil engineering industries. We’ve made it our business to make life easier for our construction and engineering partners. We believe that simplicity is key for effective communication, and when we communicate clearer, we’re more effective operators. To help with your contract management, visit the MPS website to see how our unique CCM Contract Management System can revolutionise the way you do business or call 01223 597933 or email sales@mpsprocess.com