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Where Do You Go From Here?
This may seem like a no-brainer, but accurately estimating steel
projects can lead to cost control and improved prot margins.
As the steel estimator, this is where you have the most agency
to ex your forecasting skills. However, don't take this challenge
lightly. There are strategies you should implement to help keep
material costs down, avoid erroneous charges and improve the
accuracy of labor predictions.
The selection and adoption of e‡ective software and
hardware solutions are the keys to staying competitive
as steel fabrication and the larger construction industry
continue to evolve. No matter which phase of the project
you're most interested in, that fact remains consistent.
And, if your goal is maximum protability across the entire
steel workow, choosing a solution that covers all stages
e‡ectively and working with others on the same platform
makes the most business sense. Nonetheless, there are
certain strategies you can use to mitigate the e‡ects of
factors outside of your control.
Here are a few examples:
• Utilize a BOM that also includes labor
• Keep your PM in the loop: Talk to your project manager.
It's better to keep them abreast of sourcing materials
to ensure adequate supplies are on-hand and avoid
costly delays.
• Benchmark: Industry benchmarking helps establish
a standard against which to measure materials costs.
By doing thorough industry research, you can ensure
you're not overpaying for steel.
• Adopt the right software: Developing estimates using
the right software solution will not only make your job
faster and more e–cient, it will improve the detailing,
fabrication and erection phases as well.
