Specifications are the written documents defining qualitative construction requirements. Specifications complement drawings that define quantitative construction requirements. Drawings are a series of symbols representing construction assemblies the..
How Will Specifications Drive Productization?
by David Stutzman | Apr 24, 2022 | information sources, specifying
Do You See the 90% Opportunity?
by David Stutzman | Apr 22, 2022 |
Everyone is working to make construction better. That is the problem. The focus is on construction. Yet the greatest opportunity to affect project outcomes exists before construction starts.
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!
by David Stutzman | Mar 22, 2022 | UniFormat, design decisions, conspectus cloud, System Product Descriptions, Decision Management, construction project management software
Capital projects require thousands of decisions before the owner takes occupancy and begins meaningful operations. Every decision affects compliance with the owner's objectives - program, performance, and cost. How can project teams record and manage..
Which Contract Document is Most Important?
by David Stutzman | Jan 19, 2022 | agreement, AIA, Construction, contract documents, CSI, Design, Professional Practice, Architect, Specifications
Originally published: September 3, 2012Updated January 7, 2022
Construction contract documents include the Agreement, the Conditions of Contract, the Drawings, and the Specifications. Because of the legal implications, owners produce the Agreement and..
RFI - Bane or Pride
by David Stutzman | Dec 1, 2021 | Request for Information
RFIs - Requests for Information are common in the construction industry. They are the means by which contractors ask designers to clarify the construction documents. RFIs may question the drawings, or specifications, or both.
RFIs are the designer's..
How are Specifications Evolving?
by David Stutzman | Jun 15, 2021 | Specifications
Specifications are the written documents defining qualitative construction requirements. Specifications complement drawings that define quantitative construction requirements. Drawings are a series of symbols representing construction assemblies the..
Why Be Static?
by David Stutzman | Mar 9, 2021 | Decision record, Specifications, transparency, design decisions, conspectus cloud
I was working on completing a specification for a window replacement project in the Bahamas. Our client is the owner's representative, also in the Bahamas. I found myself in an unusual position. As I was writing, I asked questions. No sooner did I ask,..
Can Capital Projects be a Profit Center?
by David Stutzman | Feb 23, 2021 | Contractor, Project Team, Specifications, Modularization, OS2
When owners determine a capital project is needed, it is a business purpose driving the decision. Therefore, the purpose of designing and constructing a project is to satisfy the business need - expand capacity, introduce a new product, or a host of..
Can Architectural Firms Improve Profitability?
by David Stutzman | Jan 8, 2021 | Budget, Estimator, Architect, Specifier
The Specifier and The Big Bad Wolf
by David Stutzman | Dec 8, 2020 | UniFormat, System Product Descriptions, SPD
In the children's story of "The Big Bad Wolf", he huffs and puffs and blows each house down, except for the brick house. The other houses were built of other materials which were destroyed. However, what if the little pigs worked with a specifier before..