Structural steel detailing is indeed a critical aspect of any construction project. In fact, a detailed shop drawing that comprises timely information regarding structural steel members can help with the effective fabrication of building structures.
However, to produce structural steel detailing, a construction company is forced to invest a huge amount of resources and time that could be used otherwise for core activities of the business.
Since long, steel detailing has been regarded as one of the outstanding candidates for a lot of general contractors as it offers operational flexibility and enables managing massive projects without investing a large number of resources.
Thus, outsourcing steel detailing is definitely a better option for executing this task in-house. So, if you are thinking to hire a third-party steel detailing company, ensure that you dig deeper. Here are the top 5 tips that will help you hire cautiously.
Capabilities of the Vendor:
The first factor needed in selecting a vendor for your steel detailing project is to knowing their capabilities in terms of infrastructure, resources, software and hardware use.
Also, make sure you don’t skip asking the company about the licenses that they are using on software. You can even recommend the one that you prefer using in your company.
Evaluating the vendor on the basis of capabilities will make sure that they have adequate ability to handle the requirements and scale of your project.
Generally, the ones who specialize in steel detailing services carry a team of civil engineers, steel detailers and structural engineers.
Thus, make sure that this team understands your requirements clearly and execute the project according to your expectations.
Feedback from the Customers:
Everybody is in a horde of selling their services, and it is quite apparent to discover such companies that are promoting themselves with a tag of market leaders. However, that is not always the truth.
One of the best ways to scrutinize the quality of the vendor is to connect with their previous customers and ask for genuine, transparent feedback. Nobody else than their customers would be able to help you with the information and reviews that you seek.
This way, it will be easier to decide whether to select a specific vendor for services or not.
The Previous Experience:
The sector of engineering services is extensive. It is not difficult to find such vendors who offer appropriate steel detailing services and are well-recognized across the industry.
However, choosing any of them without having glimpses of their past experiences could be a risky venture. It is possible that the chosen vendor could be good at delivering small projects but completely fail at meeting deadlines or understanding the requirements of a complex building structure.
This is the situation where it is essential to understand the past experiences and projects they have worked upon. This enhances the chances of timely delivery according to the required standards.
Models of Business Engagement:
Often, engineering outsourcing organizations have several engagement models to fit the project and budget requirements. Generally, companies work on resource, hourly, and man-month basis.
Every model is perfect for a certain requirement and should be closely assessed. Or else, you may pay more for less. For smaller requirements, the hourly model is perfect, while the other two are appropriate for long-term projects.
Adhering by the Standards:
One of the essential aspects that helps to complete the project on time is by adhering to quality standards that everybody in the organization should know about and follow.
Thus, ensure that the vendor you are choosing is aware of these design standards as well. Some of the common standards are Euro Codes, BS, CISC, NDS, ASTM, AISC, or any other that is specific to the country.
To assess their adherence, you can even communicate with the vendor about the relevant standards and find out whether they are knowledgeable. Making this factor clear will help you decrease the changes substantially and complete the project quicker.
Wrapping Up:
Now that you have figured out the critical aspects that must be looked in a steel detailing company, make sure you don’t skip any point while assessing the company you are about to hire. After all, being cautious helps you gain more against the time and money that you are about to invest.