PUTTING HIS BEST FOOT FORWARD TO DRIVE QUALITY

Elanthamizhan R

Assistant Construction Manager (Civil), WET IC

At his Agar Malwa WSS project, S Sivakumar is thrilled that he successfully completed a tough task of overseeing the construction of Hybrid Elevated Service Reservoirs (ESRs), precast ESRs, other type of ESRs and the MBR in just 100 days. “I succeeded through meticulous planning, efficient resource allocation, and effective team coordination that highlighted my ability to manage time-sensitive projects, optimize workflows, and deliver high-quality infrastructure under tight deadlines,” he shares with gusto.

Having won L&T Construction’s Quality Award 2024, there has been sustained focus on quality at site, and Sivakumar is revelling in the challenges. With his award-winning project team, he is busy introducing a detailed inspection & test plan tailored to each construction activity, organizing pre-execution workshops, establishing on-site testing protocols for materials like concrete, aggregates, and steel, initiating a material tracking system, conducting training sessions, implementing a daily quality inspection checklist and introducing non-destructive testing for components like concrete. “On the digital front, we have adopted Apps and real-time monitoring tools like ePragati, Material NxT, and QIR, to focus on safety–quality integration and have in place a quality feedback loop to drive quality,” he mentions.

Meeting challenges is a part and parcel of Sivakumar’s work life, which he faces with planning and prioritization, breaking down the project into many smaller milestones. “As a team, we collaborate to deal with unforeseen technical issues, forecast requirements to manage resources, and adjust work schedules to complete critical activities in time.” He adds that by maintaining seamless communication and alignment among stakeholders, they have streamlined approvals, avoided misunderstandings, and kept the project on track.

If Nirmal Soni has learnt something from his experience of working on four water supply projects before joining L&T, and then at L&T’s Agar Malwa Multi-Village Water Supply Scheme project, it is that disruptions and unforeseen technical issues are a ‘given’ at construction projects. “It is critical to have contingency plans in place, work closely with the technical teams to find quick and effective solutions for onsite problems and focus on proper planning with adequate backup resources and equipment,” he points out astutely.

In addition to overseeing site activities, work schedules, quality and safety standards, “I manage resource planning, subcontractor and vendor coordination and resolve onsite issues to meet our strict deadlines,” he says, describing his vital contribution to the project. “I have established a Proactive Quality Monitoring System tailored to the specific needs of our project and created checklists for every activity to ensure compliance with technical specifications,” he shares proudly.

Apart from onsite quality walkthroughs, the project team conducts skill-building workshops on critical construction practices and quality standards, and as Nirmal adds, “we strive to foster open communication between our teams and seek suggestions from workers and subcontractors that have aligned multiple stakeholders, improved coordination and smoothened operations.” To ensure strict adherence to quality standards and safety protocols, the team conducts regular inspections & audits, organizes training sessions for the workforce and a robust monitoring system tracks compliance with set standards. He mentions QIR, PQI, Epragati, MxT, as some of the digital solutions deployed by the team.

That the team has won L&T Construction’s Quality Award 2024 is true reflection that they are doing things right and Nirmal is glad that he is part of a team that encourages continuous learning. “My seniors and team members have greatly influenced my growth and success. Their mentorship, collaboration, encouragement, trust and recognition guide and drive me to excel,” he says with all seriousness.

Still single and hailing from Mandalgarh in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district, Nirmal finds time to pursue his passion for cricket and badminton and is proud that he cleared his college placement in the first attempt. Delighted to be an execution engineer at L&T, he values team spirit, knowledge sharing, and contributions from each & every team member. “I have been able to hone my passion for engineering through the various challenging projects I have been a part of, and L&T gives me the right environment for my professional and personal growth,” he says with stars in his eyes.

A proud member of the L&T family, Prashant Patel’s journey with the Company has been one of constant learning. His current role as Zone In-charge at the Agar Malwa MVS Project is his first venture into Rural Water Supply (RWS), possessing a background in irrigation projects, with the experience of previously managing quality at significant irrigation schemes like Punasa and Narmada Chhipra, which irrigated vast tracts of land.

Skill development of workers has been his primary focus to drive quality. “I have modified training at the site by focusing on developing new skills for workers in their local language, ensuring better comprehension and application,” he informs. His introduction of a daily checklist for workers to reflect on and learn from the previous day’s errors has significantly reduced repeat mistakes, contributed to improving the overall quality of the project.

He flags off the support from his team and seniors as a cornerstone of his success. “Their guidance and innovative ideas have helped me to manage time effectively and meet project deadlines,” he remarks with gratitude. This collaborative environment has fostered his growth, giving him the confidence to handle challenging tasks like the DI1000mm CWPM Line river-crossing work. “Our team had planned this activity for two months; and we overcame the challenges of dewatering a 1.5 km stretch of river backwater without pumps, employing a new and effective siphoning method,” he recalls with a sense of achievement. QIR for timely closures, ePragati App and Arc-GIS for gap identification are some of the digital tools he mentions that are helping to improve delivery and quality at site.

Hailing from Korgla village in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, Prashant is happy with life, making time to follow his personal interests despite a demanding work schedule. A bachelor, he spends his free time playing volleyball, watching web series, reading, and listening to music especially over weekends. “My recovery from a severe health scare two years ago stands out as one of my most memorable moments, for it taught me the value of life and good health,” he shares with a serious look.

Reflecting on his association with L&T, Prashant appreciates the vast opportunities for skill enhancement in quality, safety, and work culture. “Here, the opportunities are endless,” he concludes, embodying the spirit of an organization that not only builds infrastructure but also nurtures its people.

After successfully delivering the Alirajpur Lift Irrigation project, Mohd. Mujiburrahman, brings his valuable experience to play at his current assignment at the Agar Malwa Multi-Village Scheme (MVS) project, as Quality Engineer, where his responsibilities include quality compliance in construction, conducting inspections, and maintaining quality control to meet project goals.

“By leveraging digital tools like QIR and SOP modules for real-time quality monitoring, developing tailored quality checklists, and initiating onsite training to bridge knowledge gaps, we have been pushing our Quality agenda,” he says purposefully. In addition, the team resorts to WhatsApp for remote inspections. Mujiburrahman’s approach to conduct root-cause analysis to address recurring issues and the introduction of quality awards at site level have enhanced mutual trust in the team. He mentions that creating mock-up models for critical tasks like HDPE and DI pipe jointing are helping them enormously in their collective quest for quality.

In the face of tight deadlines, Mujiburrahman and the project team have been reinforcing their quality culture through regular inspections and training, apart from efficiently managing material by working closely with the procurement team and suppliers. “Training the workforce, given the scarcity of skilled labour, and managing non-conformance across a vast project area is tricky, but our interventions like systematic reporting and root-cause analyses, while integrating technology into quality management, have helped us to monitor better and make timely decisions,” he smiles.

The mentorship from his seniors and the collaborative spirit of his team members are what Mujiburrahman believes have propelled him to excel, pushing him to take on challenges with confidence. “My seniors and project leaders follow an open-door policy, which is most important in a tough environment like project sites, giving us the confidence to seek their support and cooperation,” he says with fervor.