cutting costs by 30% - PLANTING THE SEEDS OF SAVING - PART SIX

If contractors are to achieve part or all of the 30% reduction in site costs advocated in the Latham report, plant utilisation cannot be ignored. The message from contractors, manufacturers and hirers - all of whom have a role to play in effective plant utilisation - is that poor planning, unsatisfactory product knowledge, ineffective operator training and old machinery are adversely effecting site productivity. Enlightened contractors are taking steps to address at least some of these faults. They are insisting that only Certificate of Training Achievement (CTA) card holders operate plant. They are also dictating that only one person, rather than several, is responsible for hiring equipment; specifying equipment that is less than four years old, and using data systems to keep a running record of plant on site, others have not.

But hire companies still insist the changes need to go further. Short termism and the mend and make-do approach continue to be the enemies of efficiency.

Some contractors admit as much. Bovis' project manager at the Vector project in Manchester, says: 'Too often contractors opt for the short term solution - frequently price - rather than looking at the long term benefits of using more up to date equipment.'

Bovis' is trying to buck the trend. For example, on Vector, it is using access hoists to dramatically reduced the number of ladders and scaffolding used. Although each hoist costs œ250 a week to hire, they have not only saved time spent dismantling and re-erecting scaffolding, but have sharpened safety.

Other firms, such as Laing, are trying to eliminate downtime on their fleets. Here, we review the steps being being advocated by the major players.