WEEK 15 - What can I say?

Once this ordeal is over, I might offer some project management training for contractors. The last few weeks have shown that there is a complete detachment from reality of smooth project delivery and ensuring the most obvious materials are on site in time for construction, fitting and commissioning.

Take one particular item, the shower valve for the en-suite. This was specified more than three *months* ago. Last Friday, we were told this wasn't available for another four weeks due to "manufacturing problems". The fact this was ordered only a few weeks ago has nothing to do with the delay. However, in the meantime, why did we not start looking for alternatives? The valve is an important component but it’s not too complex a task to specify something slightly different. Why did nobody flag this up sooner? Well, nobody realised there was a problem until Friday last week… It must have come as a surprise to everybody we needed a shower valve and we can't halt the project for a month while we wait for the Germans to sort out their "oh-so-slick" manufacturing systems.

And talking about Germans, why is it so difficult to confirm a despatch date for a basin and vanity unit? It's a pretty special made to order piece of kit, but I'm sure they've done it before. Duravit, show us what you're made of and stop messing us about. It's beyond a joke. Stick the unit on a truck and confirm when it will reach the UK. Can't be that difficult, is it? Perhaps it's time for some basic workflow and project management reskilling for the Germans too? Who said these guys were the most efficient in Europe? No wonder it's all going down the pan. Let's have some Japanese just-in-time manufacturing any time!

BTW, everything apart from the Duravit unit being bought by ourselves has been sitting on site waiting for installation for a couple of weeks. You don't need to be a project manager to get it right. Sometimes it's better to just use your head and a bit of common sense, sprinkled with a bit of realism...