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VDM Woningen Wanted a Central Planning System and Efficient Management of Numerous Construction Documents.
MS Project Server and MS SharePoint not only provide a structured and well-manageable environment but also deliver the right management information, leading to lower failure costs and better flow in the production process.
Implementing SharePoint and Project Server
“VDM Woningen faces specific and challenging planning issues because we collaborate with various parties and have our own factory,” says Peter Postma, the Central Planner of the company. “I plan everything that needs to be done, from the sale of the house to its completion. Initially, planning was done with various packages across the company, but we really needed a central planning system to coordinate and streamline the projects. Sometimes there were gaps in our factory’s production process, relatively high inventory costs due to a lot of material being stored, and errors occurred because building plans were sometimes not up-to-date.
The Power of Project Server
Postma: “The power is that everyone can see what needs to be done through ‘tasks’ on their screens. This can be calling a masonry silo, contacting a municipality for permits, etc. Everything is visible, and we can’t forget anything anymore. As a result, our failure costs have been reduced to less than 1%. We no longer have delays and usually deliver on time, often two weeks earlier.” Postma has now expanded the number of tasks to 400, and the entire planning revolves around them. The more detailed tasks are defined, the more valuable the package is, as he can manage activities even better. “I base the entire planning further on templates. Each template is a piece of the planning process, allowing me to build the entire plan modularly. Think of a demolition phase where asbestos suddenly appears that needs to be removed. I then adjust the planning with a template containing all the removal tasks. For example, I have a template for building a house with wooden frames and one for plastic frames; one for a house with a chimney and one without. Each project is new, but I always build anew from existing templates. That works very powerfully and efficiently.”
The Power of SharePoint
>Postma: “Documents are an essential part of the planning and just as important. A construction project is complex, and there can be more than 20 changes in a drawing. Previously, it was a search for the most current version, but with SharePoint, all documents are neatly together with the most current version on top. We include not only drawings but also various text documents, contracts, etc., in SharePoint. The introduction of SharePoint went smoothly; however, it took two years before all documents of all projects were properly entered by everyone. We started with documents for private construction. The employees saw the convenience and became more enthusiastic. Now, all projects are included, and we can’t do without SharePoint anymore.”
How Did the Software Implementation Go?
Like Project Server, SharePoint was implemented in two to three months and then went into production. “I started with a small group of people who were already enthusiastic about Project Server. Together with my colleague Lolke van der Veen and the people from QS solutions, we got started. We gradually introduced the software, gaining more support, and now people are very enthusiastic. If there are questions, employees come to me, and while working with the systems, we make adjustments. New templates for new planning pieces are still being added in Project Server.”
The Added Value of QS Solutions’ Software
VDM Woningen now works much more efficiently, faster on the construction site, with shorter construction times, and can better manage the internal process. “Equally important is the better production flow, so the factory no longer has downtime. Our documentation is centrally accessible and always up-to-date. SharePoint also lists the so-called master data per project. This is displayed on a screen together, allowing us to always see at a glance which suppliers we worked with, which calculator, what materials were used, etc. This is very handy in after-sales as it saves a lot of searching and consulting files.” VDM Woningen can rely on the management information that comes from the systems. “I report the invoiced revenue every week, the forecasts for the future, and the expected staffing levels in different periods. We are very happy with this information.”
Why QS Solutions?
When Postma started as a Central Planner, he wanted to further professionalize the entire planning process. “That’s why we consciously chose QS solutions. It is a larger party that fits well with our need for good after-sales. The package is excellent and was quickly purchased, but we need a good helpdesk, a partner that is always available. We can’t go a minute without planning.” What is the added value of QS solutions? VDM Woningen made a good decision to go with QS solutions, according to Postma. “We work very pleasantly together, and QS solutions always quickly responds to what we want as a company. If there is a small malfunction or something new needs to be programmed, they act very quickly. The after-sales service is excellent, and problems are solved immediately.” Postma is also satisfied with the communication and substantive knowledge. “QS solutions knows what’s going on with us and understands our needs.”
What Does VDM Woningen Do?
VDM Woningen has been building sustainable, high-quality, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly homes since 1880, about 200 to 250 per year. These are homes for private individuals, housing associations, their own project development branch, and other developers. The company has branches in Almere and Drogeham and employs about 170 people.
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