CASE STUDY: INSPECTION APP AT BALLAST NEDAM
K2 Business Apps replaces the paper-based inspection processes at Ballast Nedam and creates a single business process automation platform to support all necessary registrations across the entire business.
CASE STUDY: INSPECTION APP AT BALLAST NEDAM
K2 Business Apps replaces the paper-based inspection processes at Ballast Nedam and creates a single business process automation platform to support all necessary registrations across the entire business.
INSPECTIONS AT BALLAST NEDAM
Ballast Nedam is one of the most innovative and ambitious construction companies in Europe. They have been involved in some of the largest building projects in Europe. On these prestigious projects, meticulous quality management procedures are extremely important to ensure the quality of the finished buildings and the safety of workers.
Day in and day out, the employees of the company collect a large amount of data about the building sites and building projects. These quality management tasks include:
- monitoring regulatory compliance,
- reporting potential safety issues,
- recording deviations between plans and the actual constructions,
- comparing the actually delivered quality to the required quality.
All the data collected on construction sites then needs to be processed by the backoffice, sent to the relevant teams, analyzed and acted upon.
THE CHALLENGE
Until recently, some of the registrations and management tasks were undertaken using a variety of paper-based forms and manual processes. Project managers and supervisors went to the project sites and marked the locations and content of the issues on a building plan or filled in paper forms.
Due to the many manual processes involved, there was a high risk of errors and missing data. In addition, for the processes that were digitized, different IT packages from multiple vendors were used.
Ballast Nedam wanted to replace this disjointed approach with a single business process automation platform. This platform should unify all business tools, processes and tasks:
- from registration to solution,
- applicable to any construction project,
- and suitable for every type of user on the building site.
THE CHALLENGE
Until recently, some of the registrations and management tasks were undertaken using a variety of paper-based forms and manual processes. Project managers and supervisors went to the project sites and marked the locations and content of the issues on a building plan or filled in paper forms.
Due to the many manual processes involved, there was a high risk of errors and missing data. In addition, for the processes that were digitized, different IT packages from multiple vendors were used.
Ballast Nedam wanted to replace this disjointed approach with a single business process automation platform. This platform should unify all business tools, processes and tasks:
- from registration to solution,
- applicable to any construction project,
- and suitable for every type of user on the building site.
THE SOLUTION
Ballast Nedam evaluated three alternative solutions and selected K2’s process automation software because it could meet the company’s needs enterprise-wide.
Rather than integrating K2 in an existing database, Ballast Nedam decided to build a new database specifically for registrations and a dedicated backend IT architecture, integrated with other enterprise systems, to support the roll-out of multiple business solutions.
Indocs was engaged as an implementation partner for technical support and training.
K2 BUSINESS APPS
As an integral part of the project, the company acquired the K2 Business Apps solution developed by INDOCS. This solution interprets K2 SmartForms and gives end users the ability to use K2 workflows in the field, on mobile devices, even in locations that do not have Internet connection.
The first K2 processes that Ballast Nedam has developed are already helping the company to improve its quality management, by enabling it to collect, share and analyze more accurate project information.
K2 SmartForms and K2 workflows prompt employees to undertake inspections and send details directly and digitally to the right person. They can, for example, view building plans, mark locations on plans, open check lists, red-line areas, classify issues, describe actions required and assign a subcontractor to fulfill tasks – while being on the construction sites.
K2 BUSINESS APPS
As an integral part of the project, the company acquired the K2 Business Apps solution developed by INDOCS. This solution interprets K2 SmartForms and gives end users the ability to use K2 workflows in the field, on mobile devices, even in locations that do not have Internet connection.
The first K2 processes that Ballast Nedam has developed are already helping the company to improve its quality management, by enabling it to collect, share and analyze more accurate project information.
K2 SmartForms and K2 workflows prompt employees to undertake inspections and send details directly and digitally to the right person. They can, for example, view building plans, mark locations on plans, open check lists, red-line areas, classify issues, describe actions required and assign a subcontractor to fulfill tasks – while being on the construction sites.
DATA-DRIVEN QUALITY MANAGEMENT
Ballast Nedam makes considerable time savings with this inspection app, primarily by eliminating paper-based forms and processes, but also by adopting a standardized and automated approach for all registrations across all project sites.
All collected information arrives in consistent formats. Ballast Nedam can use the data as input in the business intelligence system and thus easily identify patterns in quality management issues.
“By using just one K2-based workflow, we estimate that Ballast Nedam has already saved the equivalent of a month of employee time in one year.”
DATA-DRIVEN QUALITY MANAGEMENT
Ballast Nedam makes considerable time savings with this inspection app, primarily by eliminating paper-based forms and processes, but also by adopting a standardized and automated approach for all registrations across all project sites.
All collected information arrives in consistent formats. Ballast Nedam can use the data as input in the business intelligence system and thus easily identify patterns in quality management issues.
“By using just one K2-based workflow, we estimate that Ballast Nedam has already saved the equivalent of a month of employee time in one year.”
SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Critically, Ballast Nedam anticipates that its K2 workflows will help it to improve health and safety on construction sites. Once fully implemented across the business, a new K2 process for Health, Safety, Security & Environment will be implemented. This allows quality managers to:
- monitor compliance with regulations,
- quickly collect accurate information about safety concerns,
- send notifications immediately to the relevant team or subcontractor
- and ensure all necessary steps are taken to correct the situation.
“K2 will help Ballast Nedam to reduce the risk of injuries on construction sites, as potentially dangerous situations can be dealt with more quickly.”
SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Critically, Ballast Nedam anticipates that its K2 workflows will help it to improve health and safety on construction sites. Once fully implemented across the business, a new K2 process for Health, Safety, Security & Environment will be implemented. This allows quality managers to:
- monitor compliance with regulations,
- quickly collect accurate information about safety concerns,
- send notifications immediately to the relevant team or subcontractor
- and ensure all necessary steps are taken to correct the situation.
“K2 will help Ballast Nedam to reduce the risk of injuries on construction sites, as potentially dangerous situations can be dealt with more quickly.”
AUDITING AND DOCUMENTATION
Looking ahead, Mark den Heijer, ICT Project Consultant at Ballast Nedam, anticipates that the use of K2 solutions will help Ballast Nedam to deliver a better quality of service for customers by improving traceability and verifying project phases.
- Thanks to K2 workflows, proof of compliance with legal requirements is recorded more efficiently.
- Furthermore, it becomes easier to collect pictures to provide proof that key project phases have been completed correctly.
As Den Heijer says:
“It takes just thirty seconds to document key steps in a project with K2, so it is possible to take more frequent, more detailed records for our customers.”
FLEXIBILITY
The flexibility of the K2 platform means that Ballast Nedam can introduce more and more K2-driven workflows to eventually automate all of its registrations.
Furthermore, individual inspectors can create and adapt some K2 workflows and K2 SmartForms on demand to meet the needs of their projects. For example, they can build their own check lists and define which questions they need to answer.
“K2 is a very powerful platform that will help us to work smarter and improve our business processes.”
FLEXIBILITY
The flexibility of the K2 platform means that Ballast Nedam can introduce more and more K2-driven workflows to eventually automate all of its registrations.
Furthermore, individual inspectors can create and adapt some K2 workflows and K2 SmartForms on demand to meet the needs of their projects. For example, they can build their own check lists and define which questions they need to answer.
“K2 is a very powerful platform that will help us to work smarter and improve our business processes.”
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