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Property development Step plan

Construction works: from earthworks and shell construction to the kitchen

During the construction phase, crews and subcontractors follow one another: earthworks, shell construction, roofing, external joinery, electrics, plumbing, plastering, screed and kitchen. Each step needs its own working drawings and dates. In Lean they are attached to the step, and for each block you see what is ready and what is still missing.

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Why the construction works take so much information

On the site of a block, dozens of crews work one after the other within a few months. The roofer cannot start before the shell is finished, the screed layer not before the electrical and plumbing pipes are in, and the kitchen fitter not without the technical plan of the kitchen the buyer has chosen.

So each crew needs the right drawings: the working drawings in PDF and DWG, the sill details for the shell, the single-line diagram for the electrician, the technical bathroom drawing for the plumber. And each crew has to know where each home is. If a drawing or a buyer choice is missing, the next crew stands still.

With IRP in Lean ERP you record the works as a sequence of steps, with per step the information that belongs to it. Below is an example of such a step plan. You can model your own processes within IRP.

Step plan: the construction works

An example of the groups and the information that belongs to them. Almost every step needs the working drawings and the plan with street names and house numbers, so the crew knows where each home is.

  1. EarthworksThe earthworks for the block can only start once permits, deeds and drawings are in order. This group holds the request for infiltration tests, the building permit, the permit and approval, the zoning plan and building regulations of the subdivision, the unsigned deed for the purchase agreement, the purchase deed signed by all parties, the plan with the marked-out plots, the request for the plan with street names and house numbers, the labour costs, the contract with the subcontractor selected for the earthworks, the sewerage working drawing at subdivision level, the sewerage plan per construction phase or zone, the sewerage inspection certificate per home, the preliminary design in PDF, the working drawings in PDF and DWG, the EPB preliminary study and start declaration, and the site reports of the architect and of the EPB assessor.
  2. Shell constructionThe shell construction starts once the drawings are final for execution. This group holds the date on which the drawings are final for execution, the working drawings in PDF and DWG, the sill details and the plan with street names and house numbers.
  3. RoofingThis group holds the working drawings in PDF and DWG, the single-line electrical diagram and the plan with street names and house numbers.
  4. External joineryWindows and external doors are fitted according to the same drawings. This group holds the working drawings in PDF and DWG, the single-line electrical diagram and the plan with street names and house numbers.
  5. Electrics phase 1In the first phase the cables are run, before the plastering. This group holds the date of the first phase, the single-line diagram, the working drawings in PDF and DWG, the documents for the electricity network extension, the bathroom plan or technical drawing, the planting plan and the plan with street names and house numbers.
  6. PlumbingThis group holds the date of execution, the working drawings in PDF and DWG, the bathroom plan or technical drawing, the bathroom working drawing, the sewerage permit, the documents for the water network extension and the plan with street names and house numbers.
  7. PlasteringThis group holds the working drawings in PDF and DWG, the single-line electrical diagram and the plan with street names and house numbers.
  8. ScreedThe screed comes after the pipes and partly determines the floor finish. This group holds the technical drawing of the floor covering, the purchase of supplies for the floor covering per home, the working drawings in PDF and DWG, the documents for the water network extension and the plan with street names and house numbers.
  9. Electrics phase 2In the second phase the electrics are finished, in line with the kitchen. This group holds the date of the first electrics phase, the kitchen installation date, the single-line diagram, the working drawings in PDF and DWG, the EPB assessor's site reports, the documents for the electricity network extension and the plan with street names and house numbers.
  10. KitchenThe kitchen is often the buyer's choice. This group holds the technical kitchen plan, the kitchen plan or technical drawing, the kitchen installation date and the plan with street names and house numbers.

The crews one after the other in the planning

The steps of the construction phase are in the file's planning, with the steps they depend on: first the shell, then the roof, the pipes before the screed. That shows which steps are waiting for a step that runs late.

The work itself runs through work orders per project step, assigned to a crew, a person or a subcontractor. You plan them in a Gantt chart per crew or a weekly board, and on site the crew takes photos with their phone on the work order and records the hours. Read more under Planning, Site management and Planning in Lean ERP.

Subcontractors can see their work orders through a portal, as a list or a calendar, with the documents. They only see what concerns them. This is set up with you at the start.

**Real screen from the demo environment**, with fictitious data. The steps of a housing development in the planning, with their dependencies. Click to enlarge.
Real screen from the demo environment, with fictitious data. The steps of a housing development in the planning, with their dependencies. Click to enlarge.

Seeing per block what could hold up the next crew

For each block you see the points of attention, such as a buyer's choice that is late. A kitchen that has not been chosen yet while the second electrics phase is coming up stands out before the electrician is on site.

For each process you also see how many documents have come in. A drawing that has not come in is shown as missing. Unknown is not in order.

**Real screen from the demo environment**, with fictitious data. The points of attention of a block, with a choice that is late. Click to enlarge.
Real screen from the demo environment, with fictitious data. The points of attention of a block, with a choice that is late. Click to enlarge.

Frequently asked questions about the construction works

How many steps do the construction works have?

In this example: earthworks, shell construction, roofing, external joinery, electrics in two phases, plumbing, plastering, screed and kitchen. You model your own steps in IRP; this is set up with you at the start.

How do you see that a buyer choice could hold up the site?

For each block you see the points of attention, such as a buyer's choice that is late. Because the steps are in the planning, you also see which step is waiting for that choice.

Can subcontractors see their work in Lean?

Yes. Through a portal with their own user they see their work orders as a list or a calendar, with the documents. They only see what concerns them.

The complete step plan for property development

After the construction phase come the administration and finishing per home, the sale and the after-sales service.

Property development step plan ›Construction preparation ›Home administration ›Software for property development ›
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