The importance of quantity surveyors and project managers for successful projects

featuring Kwanto

26 March 2024

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Certain roles within the construction industry aid a project's smooth progression and successful completion. Among these are quantity surveyors and project managers, whose guidance is indispensable from conception to the final touches of a construction venture. ArchiPro explores these pivotal roles, drawing on insights from the experienced team at Kwanto.

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What is a quantity surveyor?

Quantity surveyors manage the project's costs throughout the construction process, from the design, procurement and construction to completion. “We assist with the preparation of cost estimates through the design phase from concept to detailed design to ensure that realistic budgets are set from the beginning and meaningful discussions on cost are had early,” says Caroline Parkinson, Quantity Surveyor at Kwanto.

“This also allows for value engineering exercises to identify areas of cost savings when the project is over budget.”

Caroline Parkinson, Quantity Surveyor at Kwanto.

When it comes to contractor selection, depending on the procurement method, this can include preparing pricing documents, analysing the tender returns, and negotiating with the preferred contractor to achieve the final contract price during the procurement phase.

“Throughout construction, we review the payment claims issued by the contractor and certify that the amounts claimed reflect the progress on site," says Parkinson.

"Assessing variations is also a part of this phase, ensuring that the pricing received by the contractor is a fair value for any changes to the work required.”

Parkinson continues, “On completion of the project, we work with the contractor and project manager to agree on the final account, wrapping up any variations that may not have been agreed to during the construction.”

The involvement of quantity surveying and project management services can significantly affect a project’s outcome.

Risk management and mitigation

Mark Mabey, Project Manager at Kwanto, shares insights into the importance of project managers and quantity surveyors in managing risk and mitigation in construction projects.

“When we undertake a role that is often defined as ‘project manager’, we ensure that the project has an active risk register where all project parties have an input in determining project risks, the potential impacts and how they can be mitigated if not eliminated,” says Mabey.

“Our quantity surveyor team works alongside this process to allocate potential costs against project risks, which is a useful tool for ensuring that sufficient contingency funds are allocated or remain available to cover risks should they occur.”

The construction industry’s growing emphasis on sustainable construction practices and green building technologies could see the role of quantity surveyors evolve to provide advice on the cost versus benefit impacts of alternative materials or work methods that may achieve the objectives around sustainable construction. “At Kwanto, we’ve developed a library of green rates and have staff qualified as practitioners within both quantity surveyor and project management service provision,” says Mabey.

The importance of quantity surveyors and project managers cannot be overstated.

The most successful projects we have been involved in are where there are good relationships between all project parties.

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Improved project outcomes

The involvement of quantity surveying and project management services can significantly affect a project’s outcome. “We recently were involved in a project that was affected by considerable delays due to unforeseen passive fire defects and supply chain issues caused by the Pandemic,” says Parkinson.

“Our quantity surveyor team’s input during the tender stage highlighted to the client the effects that delays and variations could have on the final cost of a project, and the contractor selection took this advice into account.”

Parkinson continues, “This contractor selection ultimately saved the client a substantial amount of money due to the length of the delays and value of the variations incurred.”

Good negotiation skills are essential for the quantity surveyor role.

Successful project outcomes

“The most successful projects we have been involved in are where there are good relationships between all project parties. This is usually down to good communication where issues can be brought up and dealt with promptly rather than dragging on, creating additional cost and delays,” says Parkinson.

Good negotiation skills are essential for the quantity surveyor role, explains Parkinson, “Cost is always a sensitive issue on projects, and these skills are necessary to ensure that fair pricing is obtained from the contractor and budgets are adhered to both at the beginning of the project when the contract is signed and throughout the duration when changes inevitably occur.”

Kwanto recently completed a heritage building upgrade with pre-construction challenges. The lead consultant managed the project while also trying to provide structural design solutions. “The client was also managing contract negotiations, where we provided advice from the sidelines,” says Mabey.

“Once the project started on site, our ability to undertake a more hands-on project manager role became easier, as we acted as contract administrators. As a result, we set the site meeting agendas and attended the site frequently outside of meetings to check in with the contractor, which helped create a great working relationship,” says Mabey.

“This reduced frustration in both the client and contractor. At our project debrief meeting at the start of the year, all stakeholders had overall positive feedback on the project outcomes. The architect has also submitted the project for an award.”

As demonstrated by the team at Kwanto, the importance of quantity surveyors and project managers cannot be overstated. These professional services guide projects through the complexities of cost management, risk mitigation and effective communication – driving the financial and timely success of the project.

For professional services for your next project, contact Kwanto on ArchiPro today.