Empowerpack

Innovative solutions for the Caribbean’s greatest project challenges© 2008 Textrin Project Solutions LLCAll rights reserved

A Proposal to address Productivity, Efficiency, and Quality

in the Light Commercial and Residential Construction

Industry in Trinidad and Tobago

May 2008

EMPOWERPACK


Textrin Company Missiono Solve the Caribbean’s greatest construction project challenges

by matching construction and industrial innovations to construction and industrial problems.

o Provide innovations to industrial and construction markets that will:o Solve common problems or fulfill an operational or project need.o Have a patent or a patent pending. o Improve project life cycle times.o Reduce overall project cost and improve value per project dollar spent.o Simplify complex projects by streamlining implementation steps, thus

reducing the learning curve


Current Situationo Trinidad’s construction industry is experiencing unprecedented levels of

growth.o The governments Vision 20/20 program is a stimulus to address chronic

shortage of quality, affordable housing.o There is limited code compliance from developers in their use of licensed

architects and engineering firms.o There is a degree of non-compliance in the non-urban space, where

contractors build without professionally designed and approved plans. o Productivity per man hour of local small to medium sized contractors is

estimated to be 30 to 40% below international norms.– Lower productivity per man hour is largely a result of :

• A lack of knowledge of codes and best practices;• A lack of operating capital; and • A lack of labor-saving tools and equipment.


o Demand for skilled trades is outstripping supply in Trinidad and Tobago.

o The ratio of skilled trades to available jobs is declining.o Smaller contractors are having a more difficult time attracting

workers as wage competition increases among the larger firms.o There is a skill gap in the current construction labor pool. o Imported labor is helping to fill the skill gap but is doing little to

facilitate technology and skills transfer due to language and cultural issues.

o Quality of workmanship is and will continue to be an issue, UNTIL EDUCATION TAKES PLACE.

Current Situation


•

D

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e of

Acc

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Age of Target Candidates

o Residents of Trinidad and Tobago interested in entering residential and light commercial construction sector.

o Micro Entrepreneurs already engaged in this sector.

o High Energy, driven women and men aged 21 – 35 years old.

o Complementary to existing training programs such as :

o Non-traditional Skills Development Program for Women; and

o Nedco’s Small and Medium Business Development Program

EMPOWERPACK is designed to integrate and compliment seamlessly with the many other efforts in place and provide a holistic approach to the development of General Contractor entrepreneurs.

20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65

High Low

Target Market

Men and Women

Age 21 – 35

Men and Women

Age 40 – 65


Goals• Solicit sponsorship of the EMPOWERPACK program

by MIC• IMPROVE Support of MIC’s mission of producing

well trained tradesmen.• IMPROVE the quality of construction via the

implementation of Standards in Residential and Commercial Construction through certification.

• EMPOWER the entrepreneurial spirit in construction industry of Trinidad.

Objectives

• Develop and Implement a sustainable program to educate, certify, and equip contractors in the commercial and residential markets.

• Internet, Job Site, and Classroom based solution to provide access to everyone.

• Integrated knowledge, equipment and venture – capital based program.

• Simple interactive curriculums for every level.• Integrated curriculums that are driven by job roles.• Electronic tracking and reporting of progress by

candidates.• Online surveys of courseware and instructional session.• Electronic toolset to ease development of curriculum

content.• Full integration model - to provide support to a program

graduate in terms of mentorship, access to financial start-up capital, and guidance in building a successful business.

• Continued participation of candidates after program graduation, to provide feedback and mentor new candidates

Scope• Comprehensive material and learning resources

covering:•Business management principles; and • Codes and Building Standards.

• Delivered via traditional and electronic solutions.

EMPOWERPACK Objectives


The Program


Empowerpack Developmental ModelCompetencies Skills

Core Skills

Construction processes and process management

Project planning and project management

Codes regulations and processes

Health and safety management

Equipment use and management

Business Acumen Skills

Business management principles

Sub contractor management

Contract management

Procurement Management

Individual Effectiveness Skills

Coaching

Resource Management

Problem Solving/Decision Making

Communication and negotiation


Competency Skills Definitions

Core Skills


Construction best practices Construction management best practices Basic civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering principles Good construction methods; various disciplines: masonry, joinery , plumbing,

electrical. Reading and interpretation of plans


Planning , directing and managing, monitoring, change control and closing of construction projects.


Building codes as they relate to civil, mechanical, and electrical regulations of Trinidad and Tobago


OSHA legislation Best practices for creating a safe work environment Reporting requirements Hazard analysis Safe site planning practices


Best practices for the maintenance of construction equipment

Empowerpack Developmental Model


Competency Skills Definitions

Business Acumen


Basic Accounting Cash flow management Government and tax reporting requirement Market analysis and strategic planning principles Contract types


To sub contract or not to sub contract Contract types – Fixed price, cost plus, cost plus incentive Subcontractor reporting requirements Dispute and issue handling

Contract management

Legal framework of standard form of contract Legal issues to be aware of Dispute and issue handling Mediation and arbitration Contract closure


Cost versus quality Procurement process Materials and resource requirement planning Ordering , shipping and receiving process Inventory management

Empowerpack Developmental Model


Empowerpack Developmental ModelCompetency Skills Definitions

Individual Effectiveness

Coaching

Coaching/teaching styles in a variety of situations Identifying skill gaps and strengths Giving and accepting feedback and coaching readily Creating and monitoring a personal improvement plan

Resource Management

Material resource requirement planning Equipment resource requirement planning Labour resource requirement planning Resource prioritization and impact of project crashing Activity planning and prioritization

Problem Solving/ Decision Making

Problem solving methodology Handing difficult situations and difficult persons Customer relationship management Problem resolution and follow up methods


Communication models Communication practices for contractors Art of negotiation


Empowerpack Proficiency Model

Skills Definition Basic Proficient Advanced Mastery

Construction best practicesConstruction management best practices Basic civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering principles Good construction methods various disciplines: masonry, joinery , plumbing, electrical.Reading and interpretation of plans


Planning , directing and managing, monitoring, change control and closing of construction projects.


Building codes as it they relate to civil, mechanical, and electrical regulations of Trinidad and Tobago OSHA legislationBest practices for creating a safe work environment Reporting requirementsHazard analysisSafe site planning practices


Best practices for the maintenance of construction equipment

Core Skills




Empowerpack Proficiency ModelSkills Definition Basic Proficient Advanced Mastery

Basic Accounting Cash flow managementGovernment and tax reporting requirement Market analysis and strategic planning principlesContract typesTo sub contract or not to sub contractContract types – Fixed price, cost plus, cost plus incentiveSubcontractor reporting requirementsDispute and issue handling Legal framework of standard form of contractLegal issues to be aware ofDispute and issue handlingMediation and arbitrationContract closure Cost versus qualityProcurement processMaterials and resource requirement planningOrdering , shipping and receiving processInventory management

Bussiness skills



Contract management



Empowerpack Proficiency ModelSkills Definition Basic Proficient Advanced Mastery

Coaching/teaching styles in a variety of situations Identifying skill gaps and strengthsGiving and accepting feedback and coaching readilyCreating and monitoring a personal improvement planMaterial resource requirement planningEquipment resource requirement planningLabour resource requirement planningResource prioritization and impact of project crashing Activity planning and prioritization

Problem solving methodology

Handing difficult situations and difficult personsCustomer relationship management Problem resolution and follow up methods

Communication models

Communication practices for contractorsArt of negotiation

Coaching

Resource Management

Problem Solving/ Decision Making


Individual effectiveness skills


Project Development Process

• Develop a charter • Develop scope document • Develop project deliverables. • Make key decisions

• selection criteria • Module content, • Resources, • Preliminary costs & schedules

• Reviewed by the project sponsor and stakeholders • Adjusted as necessary • Approval is received • Resource requirements and cost estimates are

made firm. • Memorandum of Understanding is signed

(MOU)

Project plan development and approval

• Project plan developed including:• Communication plan• Risk plan• Quality control plan• Change control plan

• Project schedule developed• Project cost base line and project

cost monitoring plan • Progress Reports• Risk Monitoring• Contract Management

and Closure • Project Closure


Phases

Activities •Charter and

scope development

•Agreement In principle

•Sign MOU receive funding

PARTNERSHIP

LEARNINGPORTAL

DEVELOPMENT

SELECTTRAIN

CERTIFY

PROGRAMDELIVERY

•Project Planning

•Project execution monitoring and control

•Participant selection

•Participant training

•Participant Testing

•Participant certification

•Program monitoring

•Program feedback

•Program adjustment

•Program improvement

Development Steps


• Confirm Interest in EMPOWERPACK Program

• Establish agreed upon meeting date for EMPOWERPACK

• Begin EMPOWERPACK chartering process

Next Steps

Empowerpack

Business

Transcript of Empowerpack