Construction Project: Pod Unit Installation and Software Evaluation

This report examines the application of construction management principles to the installation of bathroom pod units in student accommodation buildings. It investigates the methods employed for pod unit installation, particularly the Cantldeck system, and identifies the key issues faced by construction management teams, including challenges in design review, delivery delays, plumbing compliance, and budget constraints. The report then evaluates the benefits of using Precedence planning and programming software, highlighting its features such as drag-and-drop functionality, automatic calculations, integration with other solutions, and the identification of critical activities. The analysis includes a discussion of how the software aids in project scheduling, resource allocation, and cost control. Furthermore, the report evaluates the management of key cost items to maintain cash flow during pod installation, emphasizing the importance of addressing budget issues and time constraints through effective project planning and the use of project scheduling tools. The report concludes with recommendations for optimizing the construction process and maintaining project timelines and budgets.

Running head: MANAGEMENT OF CONSTRUCTION
Management of Construction
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:

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Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction................................................................................................................................2
2.0 Issues for the construction management teams to install of pods units into student
accommodation buildings................................................................................................................3
2.1 Investigating methods for installation of the pods units........................................................3
2.2 Identification of the issues into construction project work....................................................4
3.0 Evaluate benefit of using Precedence planning and programming software.............................6
4.0 Evaluate the management of the key cost items of pod installation which assist in
maintaining cash flow......................................................................................................................9
5.0 Recommendations....................................................................................................................11
6.0 Conclusion...............................................................................................................................12
References......................................................................................................................................14

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1.0 Introduction
The report is based on installation of pod bathroom units into student accommodation
buildings based on construction management methods. The construction director considers
introducing of “Precedence network planning and programming software” to the construction
project work. The installation of 60 bathroom pod units is commenced at the student’s
accommodation buildings in the university (Lawson, Ogden and Goodier 2014). The
accommodation is built in schedule for intake of the students. The bathroom pods are installed
into the Block B of the ten storey building. The supplier of the construction work is Offsite
Solutions which offers higher quality of student accommodation bathroom pods and experience
to supply of student’s housing sector (Till and Schneider 2016). The design of the bathroom pods
are selected from various footprints in their design library which is developed to meet with
project requirements.
This particular paper investigates the construction methods and measures taken into the
site for safe as well as effective management of resources required for the installation purpose.
This paper also critically analyzes the issues for the construction management introduced into
pods to different projects. A report is also prepared for the construction director to evaluate the
benefits of Precedence planning and programming software. Cost items of the pod installation
are also evaluated to maintain an optimum cash flow.

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2.0 Issues for the construction management teams to install of pods units into
student accommodation buildings
2.1 Investigating methods for installation of the pods units
The construction work of the bathroom pods units are used of Cantldeck system. This
particular method is used due to building’s concrete frame. The construction of the bathroom
pods offer modular solutions which result into speeding up the construction time on the block B
(Osrin and Wornell 2015). Cantldeck system is such a technology which is used for the
construction work and manufacture off higher quality, factory finished bathroom pods offsite on
the subassembly lines. It is installed as well as connected to the arrival of the site. The system
has capacity to manufacture of bathroom pods per week into quality controlled factory
environment based on project design, project budget as well as specifications (Samarasinghe et
al. 2015). A steel framed bathroom pods is suitable for the student’s accommodation building
where there is higher quality traditional tiled finish is needed. As this project is based on
construction of 60 bathroom pods, therefore it is suitable for the project with higher repeatability.
Welded steel base frame: Offsite solutions provided with steel bathroom pods which is
rigid precision welded steel box base frame with 18mm of WBP plywood (Gosling et al. 2016).
Steel wall frames: The wall frames of the bathroom pods are used of computer controlled
steel frame machine provided with complete control over design along with manufacturing
methods (Malakauskas et al. 2016).
Skinned wall composition: The wall frame is made of steel are double lined.

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Waterproof floor: The offsite solutions of steel framed bathroom pods are waterproofed
with use of higher quality tanking system.
2.2 Identification of the issues into construction project work
The installation process of pods units includes a complete package with fixtures as well
as fittings include of toilet, basin, pipe work as well as bath pre-installed. Demand of the
bathroom pods are increasing and offering of significant benefit to the customers. They get
innovative solutions in order to reduce time along with cost for the construction of bathroom and
its installation (Samarasinghe et al. 2017). The installation of bathroom pod unit’s project should
ensure of monitoring safety. There are issues of high percentage of time required to manage the
construction site for installation of pod units, delay into project schedule and defect problems are
raised. Following are some of the issues which are required to manage at the time of installation
of the pod units:
No review process: At the design process of the bathroom pods, the manufacturers are
not reviewing the shop drawings and inspection is not done to review the entire construction
process (Malakauskas et al. 2017). Therefore, an inspection strategy is required at each
installation stage of development of pod units.
Delay into delivery: Around the schedule, delivery of bathroom pods is not planned
properly (James 2014). When there is lack of gap into planning process, then there is delay into
project work. Pods are being shipped into enclosed trucks. The mode of transportation is based
on size of pods.
Issue of kinematic nature: There are problems of electrical as well as mechanical origin
which affect the performance of Pod. There is failure into the operation of bathroom pods units.

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Issue in gaining plumbing compliance: The bathroom pods are manufactured off-site,
therefore the manufacturer faces issue of gaining plumbing compliances. Construction work of
the pod units are done under strict industry standards (Yanagisawa 2015). The manufacturer
throughout a licensed plumber request the local government to complete an inspection of pods
units at the construction site.
Lack of secured door: There is lack of secured door for preventing unauthorized person
to access to pods at the time of final installation of the pods and throughout floor installation.
When the doors are not preventing from the person, then there is failure of security policies in
the installation of pods units (Scanlon, Whitehead and Blanc 2017). It is a practice used to use
door of secure them from final commissioning and final completion with handover of the pod
units.
Budget issues: The installation of the bathroom pods units take 8-10 percent of the
budget, therefore the developer faces budget issues when they try to control weather, project
contractors as well as strict deadline (Elliott 2017). Therefore, the solution is that the developer
should incorporate of 10 percent of buffer into the bathroom budget. They should consider
innovative and also cost effective methods like pre-fabrication.
Time constraints: Due to weather event, there is sometimes delay into the schedule and
entire project work goes behind the scheduled plan (Steiner 2013). The project manager should
take of time effective construction methods for delivering the project on time.

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3.0 Evaluate benefit of using Precedence planning and programming software
The bathroom pod unit is ideal for the student accommodation which consists of features
such as luxury showers, baths, glass enclosures, multi-cubicle and others. The installation work
includes of insulation, plumbing work and electrical work which is connected at single service
point to the mains (Rahman, Ahmad and Zainordin 2013). The construction director introduces
“Precedence planning and programming software” for network planning and scheduling of the
entire project work. The proposed software is accounted for possible changes into the project
schedule which impact the project finish work. This software helps the project team members to
show the order of tasks, milestones as well as planning phases (Carr 2014). Milestones are set to
get idea whether the plan is on track or not. From analyzing the issues into the project, it is
identified that lack of project planning leads to failure into the work. Charlesworth and Ahmed
(2015) stated that project management defines to plan and oversee of the tasks which are
required to achieve the project goals in installation of bathroom pods units for the student
accommodation buildings. The key significant benefits of the proposed software are as follows:
Drag and drop of functionality: The project manager can create of schedule chart by
dragging as well as dropping of the tasks to various points on schedule and then make the
updates (Valentine 2015). Installation of bathroom pods on the site needs the pod to crane into
the building structure of student’s accommodation which is integrated into the mechanical
system of building.
Automatic calculations: After staring of the project plan, this software can automatically
calculate the duration and make changes into the scheduled duration as per project requirements.

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Integrate with other solutions: Visualization tools are integrating with project
management software which allows greater visibility along with understanding of project
variables like timeline, availability of resources, potential risks as well as budget constraints
(Ozorhon 2013).
Version control: It becomes easier to share schedule charts with the project team
members as well as project stakeholders.
Identification of critical activities: The project activities have a bad impact on the project
schedule. With use of this proposed software, the project manager can determine the activities
which are critical to project schedule (Johansson and Zollner Wohlfart 2017). The critical path
includes of those activities which are not delayed without affecting the completion date of the
project. The proposed software makes visibility of the critical path. All the critical tasks have
slack time which is not affecting the completion time (Malakauskas et al. 2016). When the
manager of project delays into one or more tasks, then there is no delay into entire work.
The project manager is encouraged to reduce the duration of project by optimization of
critical path and using of project schedule tools to control the time of the project. Due to addition
of extra resources, materials, there is possibility to rise the time of the project, therefore it is
minimized and controlled with use of proposed software (Schindler 2014). Resources include
into the project work are labor, finances and manager. Project planning is required to finish the
work on time so as to eliminate the lack of resources. With proper allocation of resources to the
project work, the cost and time both are controlled and reduced. The workers involved into the
project divide their time to schedule their work as per assigned tasks (Jellen 2015). The major
advantage of project scheduling tool is that project construction phases, deadlines are inputted

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into the proposed software. The programming software manages notifications and also organizes
the tasks for the project manager (Jeremic 2013). Cost is also maintained using this software.
The benefit of project evaluation as well as review techniques is not only involvement of top
management but also involvement of other departments that lead to share of responsibilities
across the departments.
Pods units are designed to allow bathroom to remain closed and locked at the time of
installation of POD in order to defend interior finishes. The “Precedence planning and
programming software” is used to schedule the following installation event for the construction
process as:
1. Pod unit drawing and project specifications are being completed for proper review
as well as approval (Osrin and Wornell 2015).
2. There is commencement of site work to install foundation and grading of initial
site.
3. A preparation is made to floor slab in order to accommodate of installation of
bathroom pod units (Scanlon, Whitehead and Blanc 2017).
4. A template for bathroom layout is provided to identify the location for
installation. This particular template determines where floor outlets are located for
each bathroom units (Malakauskas et al. 2017).
5. Plumbing and mechanical works are constructed. All the branch lines outside of
the bathroom areas are being constructed. In order to prepare the POD connection,
waste pipes are hung.
6. Clean and level path is provided for installation of POD. Adjustable casters are
required to move the POD units into final location.

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7. Electrical hooks are being made at accessible and coordinated point above
bathroom units as per schedule of the construction site (Rahman, Ahmad and
Zainordin 2013).
8. Pod unit’s connection are made along with complete inspection is done.
9. Exterior of the pod units are taped and finished like the built room. Exterior
finishes are being applied with utility connections.
10. Final grading of the site, concrete of the work and landscaping of complete work
process is finished (Samarasinghe et al. 2017).
4.0 Evaluate the management of the key cost items of pod installation which
assist in maintaining cash flow
Osrin and Wornell (2015) stated that cost is the biggest driver of prefabrication which is
followed by safety as well as quality. It is a driving factor when prefabrication is considered a
benefit into construction strategy. Installation of pod bathroom units is accounted for 8-10
percent of capital cost of the student’s accommodation buildings. A higher level of capital cost is
associated with installation of the pod units which include of mechanical, architectural as well as
electrical specifications of the finish, fixture along with fittings of the pod units (Scanlon,
Whitehead and Blanc 2017). Design as well as installation result into reduction of whole out-turn
rate of the project. The bathroom pods cost same as site built bathrooms on direct basis of the
cost. The manufacturer of the pod does tanking on walls as well as floors. With installation of
pod unit, it reduces the cost of construction by reduction of construction time, improvement of
quality and elimination of defects into the bathroom (Gosling et al. 2016). The cost estimation is
done based on cost items such as installation cost. It consists of freight cost, handling, cost for

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templating and installation. The cost items consist of planning phase, construction of the base,
indicative cost of the service connected and commissioning with cost of pod unit.
The installation process is provided with functions of bathroom includes of technical
ones, which is essential during the construction process. The cost items for the bathroom pods
units are:
1. Structure of the bathroom pod unit
2. Structure composed of ceiling, floor, wall, door and exterior finishes
3. Plumbing, wiring as well as ventilation system which are built to connect with the pod
unit (Rahman, Ahmad and Zainordin 2013).
4. Interior accessories such as towel, sink, storage shelves
5. Electrical and mechanical work (Osrin and Wornell 2015).
The installation of pod units is done at cost effective price with higher quality. The pod unit
is not less expensive when it is compared to conventional constructions. The main variable
selected for calculation of cost is location of project. Into the average cost market, both labor as
well as materials is procured less, and then the bathroom pod units are presented at premium to
the construction site (Scanlon, Whitehead and Blanc 2017). In higher cost market where the
labor cost is will save direct upfront cost into the market. The following benefits show that
bathroom pods will save cost into the market:
Speed: The bathroom pod accelerates of the construction timeline by 20 percent with an
efficient on-site installation of pods (Samarasinghe et al. 2017).
Superior quality: The bathroom pod is built adhere to strict manufacturing guidelines so that
each of the pods is designed based on project specifications (Malakauskas et al. 2017).

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Simplicity: There are limited workspaces at the construction site. The bathroom pod unit is
designed with use of 3D modeling for onsite compatibility. It is installed as well as connected
with the mechanical system of the building.
Safety: The employees at the working site will reduce the incidents and violations of the
safety and health rules.
Therefore, in average as well as above the average cost market, there is leveraging of
fabrication will give positive impact on the bottom line of budget. Bathroom pod unit is the most
cost effective storage options into installation work. The price is varied based on size off pod
unit. Utilization of the pod unit saves the time of the construction by 20 percent (Smith and
Quale 2017). It also reduces the insurance cost along with quicker generation of income. The pod
unit installed is a cost effective and quality solution for the campus students.
5.0 Recommendations
Following are some of the recommendations suggested for effective installation of
bathroom pod units:
Strict follow of quality standards: Building work of the pod unit should follow of strict
quality guidelines so that it can meet with the client’s requirements. The workers should follow
all the construction rules and regulations to install the pod designed for project specifications.
Proper plumbing connection: The connection point location of the plumbing is
specified by builder, throughout design as well as development phase. Plumbing connection is
significantly required for this installation work so as to complete it on time.