Restraining

First seismic restraint project of its type and size in New Zealand, the building required the installation of 17, 000 braces to ensure it will operate as anIL4-standard post-disaster health hub. IL4 Buildings are essential to post-disaster recovery, with all services and facilities required to be operational during and after a seismic event.

Challenges

340, 000 items, plant and materials required for installation, split over 12 levels and hundreds of work areas. Gear was lost, stolen and re-orderedmultiple times. Expensive and experienced staff searching the site to find gear.
Similar works never undertaken in the local market, so workers not skilled or experienced.
Fluid and inconsistent design documentation. Construction drawings changing weekly, client not willing to sign off work or approve contract variations.
Other trades not meeting program leading to multiple open work fronts. Which led to highly unproductive manpower tendered rate on braces being tripled.

DMC Solution

Implementation of just-in-time delivery methods.Materials packaged as a kit of parts and delivered to exact work area, delivered materials sorted by centralisedexperienced store man. Plant, tools and access equipment allocated and sorted into work crews, relocated and put in the day before required.
Installation training held for workers, supervisors allocated work crews. Workforce meet daily to discuss possible installation and efficiency improvements.
Implementation of centralised quality manager to handle and issue all design documentation over tablet cloud-based solution. Quality documentation submitted via tablet-based solution, documentation included design documentation and photos of the installation, leading to clear evidencefor submission of variation due to design changes.
Implementation of lean construction methodologies. Supervisors required to undertake per-installation audits and reviews of upcoming works prior to work crew mobilisation. Audits undertaken on cloud-based solution, status of all braces concisely tracked pre-installation to quality sign off.