News Detail

Communication and Collaboration: the Key to Higher Quality

9/1/2001

As a contractor, my memos to you inevitably represent a con-structor’s perspective, and this installment is no exception. I would like to discuss the quality of concrete construction and how ACI has provided me, my company, and, I feel, our entire industry with the tools for continuous improvement.

For almost one hundred years, ACI has been setting benchmarks for concrete practice in every area, from materials to structural design to formwork, which have upgraded the quality of concrete construction. ACI technical committees have worked diligently with contractors, engineers, architects, producers, and the education and research communities to develop guidelines for high-quality concrete construction. In this process, they strike a balance between sound engineering and constructibility.

At one time, I thought no one cared about constructibility and the difficulties concrete contractors face in trying to build what architects and engineers have set forth. Then I became involved with my local ACI chapter, and found that I was wrong! At ACI chapter functions, I met engineers and architects face-to-face. I learned about the detailed engineering objectives and constraints that they must deal with to achieve structural integrity.

Two things occurred because of this interaction. First, I became more familiar with how the design engineering process works, learned to appreciate the importance of details, and started to understand why structures are designed the way they are. Secondly, the respect I gained for other concrete professionals built a bridge of mutual trust and created a common foundation for continuing discussion of constructibility concerns throughout the building process. I felt a sense of synergy!

I have seen examples within my own company of what is traditionally considered the "blue collar/white collar gap." It is often very easy to fall into the trap of viewing a situation only from your own perspective. Through cross training, knowledge sharing, and communication, my goal has been to create more of a blended "gray collar" team to eradicate that gap and broaden perspectives. Once we move closer to an understanding of the value that each of us brings to the table, we can truly begin to offer value-added concrete design and construction.

Mutual trust can positively affect our whole industry, and is essential to achieving continuous improvement in concrete design and construction. I strongly encourage all ACI committee members to keep their minds open, and try to understand the issues of all involved disciplines. We must avoid drawing hard lines, and instead take every opportunity to establish better understanding and communication. Only then can we generate more creative and constructible designs.

The increased communication and collaboration among concrete professionals of all types that I have seen over the past few years is very encouraging. It can only continue to "raise the bar" of quality ever higher within our dynamic Institute and for the industry as a whole.

Daniel L. Baker,
President,
American Concrete Institute

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