Power to the Punch List
July 22, 2009
The punch list phase can be considered the last line of defense when it comes to ensuring a project is completed successfully. This involves a great deal of cooperation across the project team, but sadly enough, often becomes a process of playing "the blame game."
Accountability is the key to success during the punch list phase and new technology is creating an environment in which all parties can embrace this concept.
Forensic Imaging & Archiving (FIA), www.fia-inc.com, San Diego, Calif., announced a new Punch List Protocol. The new protocol will allow developers and general contractors to feel at ease during one of the most stressful points of the project.FIA provides a service to owners, developers, and contractors in which it photographically documents the entire punch list, with photos being both time and date stamped.
The collaborative portion of the service involves email notification to each of the appropriate parties regarding items that need to be completed on their portion of the list. Once all items are deemed satisfactory, all parties involved will receive an email notification regarding completion.
Process control requirement continue to shift, and as such, construction companies are looking for technology to help control more processes. In many cases construction companies are moving away from more traditional methods used during the punch list phase and are using automated procedures.
For example, Skanska USA Building Inc., www.skanska.com, Parsippany, N.J., has replaced traditional paper-based punch list methods with electronic checklists and automated reporting. Managers in the field can use dedicated software on a tablet PC with a digital pen, marking up responses.
In some instances, the software itself can be considered non-traditional compared to typical applications on the market.
For example, earlier this year Meridian Systems, www.meridiansystems.com, Folsom, Calif., announced an ISV (independent software vendor) relationship with NoteVault, Inc.,www.notevault.com, San Diego, Calif., allowing contractors to record voice notes from the field and integrate this information directly with project management. NoteVault helps contractors collect and disseminate field-reported information by allowing field workers to do reporting using voice notes with their mobile phone.
The NoteVault technology integrates with many components and modules within Prolog, including punchlist. This could provide yet another interesting solution to the challenge of ensuring accountability during the punch list phase of the project.