FEATURE
Jim Madden , Palmer Paving
ations rather than having to manually track and process payroll . Software applications can also track truck drivers ’ material load tickets for yard hauls and other job-specific material , which helps field supervisors and invoicing teams more easily track and process the cost of materials for invoicing purposes .
Winning bids and operating cohesively . Software increases efficiency and project status visibility throughout the business and offers numerous advantages for project team members . A few examples include :
• Specialized estimating software with a central resource hub of accurate cost items can increase accuracy and save valuable time in the bidding process regardless of bid size , allowing estimators to work on more strategic tasks .
• Scheduling software can help plants manage production to meet demand and give the entire organization real-time , online visibility to optimize crews , materials , equipment and trucking .
• Maintenance software enables teams to be proactive in scheduling mechanic time and completing preventive maintenance , while offering detailed equipment repair cost tracking , and digital tracking of inventory and parts .
• Connected data helps project managers provide status updates to all stakeholders and also grants stakeholders access to real-time data from project start to completion .
Business growth and recruiting tool . The construction industry is constantly trying to recruit younger talent , and technology is one way to help attract and retain younger employees who tend to expect it and be more adaptable to change and open to embracing innovative construction methods . Additionally , contractors who ’ ve adopted construction software applications say field workers more readily accept the technology – particularly performance tracking field logs – because of the ease-ofuse and time-saving capabilities offered . As more and more contractors compete for the same projects and a qualified pool of employees , the contractors who embrace technology will be more successful on both fronts .
B2W Software , a Trimble Company
Palmer adopts software and eliminates ‘ building from scratch ’
Based in western Massachusetts , Palmer Paving ( Palmer ) is a Peckham Industries subsidiary specializing in highway construction , commercial paving / excavation and sitework . Palmer creates more than
500 estimates annually , ranging from $ 150,000 to $ 20 million . The company implemented estimating and tracking software solutions into its workflows and gained significant efficiencies . “ We can get a small , routine bid out in 15 or 20 minutes if we have all the information for it ,” says Jim Madden , chief estimator and project manager at Palmer . “ With a larger , more complex job , the software allows us to not have to build the whole thing from scratch .” Estimators at Palmer have also built various crew structures and tasks for completing work , along with personnel , equipment and other costs associated with these crews and tasks into the software , which can be plugged into the bid as required . Bid data at Palmer is transferred electronically from the estimating software to the accounting system and is then used to set up and track jobs in the performance tracking software . There is no redundant rekeying necessary along the way , reducing opportunities for errors . For project tracking , Palmer utilizes electronic field logs to capture labor , billing quantities , equipment hours , production quantities and subcontractor quantities . All information for a particular job is in the system and at the fingertips of those who need it , which reduces manual entry errors .
More accurate information , more often for Lakeside
Third generation family-owned Lakeside Industries ( Lakeside ) provides asphalt products and paving services throughout Washington and Oregon . The company leveraged a performance tracking software application to make it easier for the foremen to enter accurate data on the front end , so there are fewer corrections required and more insight available after the fact . Lakeside also developed unique field logs specific to its paving team needs and also to capture an alternative set of data points for asphalt and aggregate plant operations . Information previously submitted through email , paper or texts is cap-
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