Today’s fast pace world expects everything right now, and the construction industry is part of this demand. Amazon adds to this mindset with its same-day shipping. I call this expectation of thinking “everything can be had in your hands at your command,” or the “Amazon Now Effect.” Seemingly, this effect finds a way into the metal fabrication industry, as expectations are built by our typical day-to-day environments, and tighter project timelines are now the norm, according to the article “Commercial Construction Project Timelines: How to Survive the Incredible Shrinking Timeline.” Taking this thought into consideration is necessary to build good working relationships with vendors, subcontractors, employees, and clients.
The “Amazon Now Effect” on Metal Fabrication Lead Times
Why is understanding the “Amazon Now Effect” important? Because people’s expectations may be set to a different level than what a supplier can provide. The custom metal fabrication industry is often a misunderstood industry for lead times. Usually, the custom metal fab process requires weeks to draw / engineer / fabricate, with timeline dependencies on other subcontractors and client approvals, whereas Amazon supplies on-the-shelf-ready-made items. Here are ideas on how to meet schedules and enhance working relationships:
How to Balance Metal Fabrication Lead Times and Working Relationships
The key to balancing lead times requires management of expectations and understanding implications in all areas of expertise outside of your own. For instance, miscellaneous metals may be small in comparison to the rest of the building structure, but those items may require more detailed upfront work to ensure ease-of-fit at the installation phase. As an example, a recent steel stair project had one inch of wiggle room at the concept phase of the building and dropped to a ½ inch of wiggle room during the build phase. This becomes precisely important when you’re installing at high-rise buildings. Imagine the amount of additional design, fabrication, and installation planning that has to go into place to fit this gap of tolerance. Midwest Stairs & Iron relies on an expert team, good communication, and familiarity with all trades to get the job done.
Recommendations for balancing lead time
- Proactively manage expectations.
- Build a schedule at the start of the project.
- Seek to understand the pressures each person faces to get their job done.
- Work together to identify efficiencies.
- Keep everyone informed of expected lead times.
- Mutually work out an agreeable lead time.
- Be consistently aware of everyone’s approaching deadlines and potential constraints.
- Have empathy to understand perspectives.
- Eliminate assumptions.
- Translate needs to the whole team.
What is the average lead time for metal fabrication?
The average lead time for metal fabrication can change daily. If you have a project during the winter months, lead time can be much shorter than during the fast-paced construction time of spring and summer.
Snapshot of what the lead time process can look like for metal fabrication*
- Design conceptual drawings: 1-2 weeks
- Engineering review: 4 days to 1 week
- Submittals (conceptual drawings)/Client approval: 3 days to 1 week
- Design changes/Redesign conceptual/Resubmittal/Client reapproval: 1-3 weeks
- Await building status: Varied
- Field measuring: 3 days
- Design shop drawings: 1-2 weeks
- Order material: 1 day
- Material lead time: 3 days to 1 week
- Fabrication: 1-2 weeks
- Finishing: 3 days
- Installation: 3 days to 1 week
*Note: This is just an example as lead times are dependent on many factors.
With these lead predictions in mind, you’re looking at about a minimum of 8 weeks lead time for custom metal fabrication items. Many factors can affect lead times, so it’s always best to ask the estimator for an expected lead time during the bid and expect the lead time to change at the contract phase (especially if you’ve made a decision to move forward during springtime in Wisconsin.) Notice that a bulk of the lead time focuses on drawing approvals, changes, re-design, and building status, which makes preplanning and communication crucial to tighter timelines.
If you have a tight time frame and budget is no object, anyone will get the project done, and we’ve had our share of miracles. The benefit of understanding the needs and lead times of all parties helps ensure happier employees, mitigates accident risk, increases quality, meets or beats the construction budget, and proactively preps for any unforeseen circumstances (ability to use a contingency plan.) We’re constantly looking at ways to be flexible and will work with companies to meet lead times.
Typical Factors that Add Lead Time
- Contract and scope approval timing
- Limited information on architectural drawings
- Holdups on approvals
- Change orders
- Multiple changes during the design process
- Adjustments by other subcontractors on the job site
- Vendor (e.g. finishing, raw material) lead times
- Number of projects occurring at the same time
- Seasons of spring and summer
- Number of skilled staff
For example, you’ve heard the construction industry faces a shortage of skilled tradespeople. This is one area that’s greatly affecting all lead times within trades and manufacturing. We count Midwest Stairs & Iron lucky to retain a good base of highly skilled individuals who have met aggressive timelines countless times. Sure, they might shout a few obscenities in the shop, but at the end of the day, they’ve sacrificed personal and family time to get the job done. To further shorten lead times, we’ve invested in infrastructure areas, such as the Python X CNC machine, steel industry detailing/project management software, and staff training. All of this in place will allow better JIT delivery, optimize the supply chain, and satisfy more rush orders. Additionally, ownership of transport trucks improves time management and reduces the use of outside transportation markup.
Suggestions for Best Budget Number and Lead Time
To get the best budget number and best lead time for your construction projects, the following are some helpful suggestions for your next project:
- Bring construction partners to the table early on during the initial planning process.
- Work with a subcontractor to spot challenges as early as possible.
- Provide detailed and finalized plans during the initial bidding phase
- Have a two-way conversation about schedules and lead time and seek efficiencies from each other.
- Accept completed metal fabrication at any time.
- Have an idea of the construction timeline with an adequate lead time
- Be flexible in design to balance time, quality, and price
- Detailed architectural drawings and specifications (Pictures of existing conditions are most helpful. Hand-drawn/self-fabricated drawings are okay as long as well-detailed and accurate measurements are provided.)
- Accurate measurements
- Predicted “need by” date
- Scope of work (e.g., number of risers, number of runs, etc.)
- Stairs (How many risers? Flights? Intermediate landings? Floor landings (if requested)? What is the surrounding wall construction?)
- Rails (Steel or aluminum rails? What type of rail (e.g. strand, picket, cable, other)? What length? What quantities of rail runs? If glass, what framing?)
- Location
- Supply and install, or supply only?
- Photos (e.g. existing building, design idea, etc.)
