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Road and Bridge Contractor use of FieldManager in Michigan 2004 AASHTO TUG Mobile, Alabama Cliff Farr - Michigan DOT

Road and Bridge Contractor use of FieldManager in Michigan 2004 AASHTO TUG Mobile, Alabama Cliff Farr - Michigan DOT. October 15, 2004. Presentation Overview. The Need for Information Pilot Project Pilot Project Results Policy Implementation Contractor Read-Only in Michigan Today Wrap-up.

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Road and Bridge Contractor use of FieldManager in Michigan 2004 AASHTO TUG Mobile, Alabama Cliff Farr - Michigan DOT

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  1. Road and Bridge Contractor use of FieldManager in Michigan 2004 AASHTO TUGMobile, AlabamaCliff Farr - Michigan DOT October 15, 2004

  2. Presentation Overview • The Need for Information • Pilot Project • Pilot Project Results • Policy Implementation • Contractor Read-Only in Michigan Today • Wrap-up

  3. The Need for Information • Contractor associations • Better construction communication needed • FieldManager potential • Distribution capability • Stability, ease of use, accuracy of data • Quick training and implementation • Contractors could take advantage of many of the same documented benefits

  4. FieldManager Provides • Report access • IDR (DWR) • Pay Estimate • Contract Modification (Change Order) • Lists • IDR, Pay Estimate, Contract Modification, item, material, contractor, etc. • Dozens of contract and project level, work item and test material reports and inquiries • Various levels of payment information • Insufficient materials at the contract and/or Estimate level.

  5. Optimistic Future • AASHTOWare products • New releases annually • Commitment to continuous software improvements and enhancements • Software performance is solid • Future of products are solid • Excellent user acceptance

  6. Scope • $1.5 billion annual construction program • An estimated 160 active road/bridge construction contractors in Michigan • Potential impact on out-of-state FieldManager DOTs and agencies

  7. The Pilot Project

  8. Potential Benefits • Reduction in: • Telephone calls • Mailings • Faxes • Item/material status discussions • More efficient and accurate: • Estimate processing • Contract Modification processing • Contract finalization • Meetings

  9. MDOT Apprehensions • Inspector Daily Report comments • Inspectors will shy away from making comments? • Inspector comments cause misunderstandings? • Claims flare-up? • What if the number of telephone calls actually increase instead of decrease?

  10. Contractor Apprehensions • What if the investment doesn’t pay off? • Learning curve • Installation issues? • Ease of use / logical work flows • Stability and integrity of the software • Interest of the field offices to provide files • Future of the product

  11. Pilot Project Logistics • Voluntary participation – both sides • Contractors must license FieldManager • License includes support from Info Tech • Contractors on board • December, 2001 • June, 2002 • Read-only copies distributed after Estimate generation

  12. Pilot Participants • 12 Contractors • 11 DOT offices • 1 local agency • 8 consultants

  13. Pilot Project Contract Statistics • Total number of contracts = 25 • MDOT contracts = 14 • Consultant contracts = 8 • Local government contract = 1 • Local government contracts managed by consultant = 2 • Number of dollars under construction for the pilot was $587 million

  14. Pilot Project Results

  15. Business Summary • By the fall of 2002, pilot participants had gained significant experience with the Contractor Read-Only distribution process • Questionnaires distributed, completed and summarized

  16. Pilot Project Findings • Participants (contractor and field office) responded unanimously to make this a permanent business practice • User acceptance excellent for both contractor and field offices: • Improved communications: • Contract/Project/Item/Material statuses • Bi-weekly meetings • Contract finalization

  17. Pilot Project Findings (cont.) • Reduced volume of phone calls, mailings and faxes • Reduced contractor time required to gather information • Creates an environment of more timely and accurate information • Earlier identification of errors and concerns • More current material tracking

  18. Pilot Project Findings (cont.) • Eliminated some contractor spread-sheets or hand generated data • Some offices reported improved field office / contractor relationships • Concerns • Cost • Time to import the electronic file • Recommendation formulated • To implement as permanent policy

  19. Pilot Project Findings (cont.) • Information to be removed from Contractor Read-Only electronic files: • File size issue: • IDR attachments • General information: • Item Documentation Notes • Miscellaneous Reports

  20. Policy Implementation

  21. Policy Implementation • Recommendation approved by executive management • Met with industry • Cost (FieldManager Read-Only annual license fee is $850) • Time to import contracts was drastically reduced in FieldManager release 3.3. • Policy was implemented to include all contracts let by MDOT after September, 2003 (MDOT and local agency)

  22. Contractor Read-Only in Michigan Today

  23. Contractor Read-Only in Michigan Today • All MDOT field offices, local agencies, and consultants are participating • 51 contractors participating • 48 Read-Only licenses • 3 Full licenses • Over 1660 Read-Only files distributed by MDOT this construction season

  24. MDOT Involvement • Contractors and consultants license FieldManager directly from Info Tech • Training available through Info Tech and ACEC of Michigan • Field offices distribute the Contractor Read-Only files • Currently • FieldNet 2.0 beginning in 2005

  25. Wrap-up • Contractor Read-Only is off to an excellent start in Michigan • FieldManager Read-Only data distribution is easily filtered • Good communication is key • Potential solution for states and local agencies

  26. Questions?Cliff FarrFieldManager Business Engineer 517-322-6039farrc@mi.gov

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