Trimble Construction

5 CHALLENGE: Balancing careful calculations with urgency becomes difficult Anyone who has worked alongside an estimator knows that no two projects are the same. Extenuating circumstances — from variable client needs to volatile material costs — are in constant conflict with careful planning. When it comes to fabrication estimation, you have to expect the unexpected. At the same time, you're challenged with getting as much as you can while spending as little as possible. Accurately determining the amount of steel needed, how long each phase of the project will take and the cost per project are nearly impossible to accomplish without the right information on hand. And, your estimate not only has to be competitive and optimize costs, it also needs to ensure your company turns a profit. Effectively achieving this balance between cost and profit can seem like an impossible balancing act. Not to mention, improving your processes is difficult without visibility into how your estimates compare to real-time production costs or profit margins. SOLUTION: Despite the infinite variability of project needs, effective estimation comes down to two factors: • Balance — Estimation is all about balancing speed and accuracy. These factors are two sides of the same coin: who doesn't want to reduce the time commitment without sacrificing delivery quality? Striking a balance will help uncover project savings while still satisfying customer needs. • Duplicatable — Carrying over successes from previous jobs is an invaluable estimator asset. If something worked well under certain conditions, it will likely work again. Truth be told, effective estimation is half adaptability and half self-plagiarism. Recognize productivity wins and attempt to duplicate them when possible. Any estimator worth their steel knows that, no matter the project, the above ideals are universal.

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