Construction Methods

Construction Methods, Inc. is a construction project management firm. We provide advice and representation for owners who are infrequent buyers of construction. Our engagements typically run through the entire process from the original desire to have something built, through assembling the team, to the final completion of the punch list and warranty period. We believe our clients are fully capable of making sound construction decisions when they are provided with an analysis of an issue, presented in business terms, and in plain English. We also provide single area services for contractors, owners, lenders, attorneys, accountants, and investors such as budget review, change order negotiation, cost auditing, project review and project scheduling.

Construction Software

Unlike other construction software products on the market at the price point I am targeting, Cornerstone Manager captures the data, in most cases during the act of doing the basic tasks a project manager does, and then uses that data to build logs, reports, and create follow up and tracking.

Construction Project Management Software

The main areas and functionality of our construction software are as follows:

Subcontract agreements. Using our construction methods management software - Cornerstone Manager - to write subcontract agreements creates a log of vendors for a given project listing all pertinent contact information and prices. It checks for valid insurance certificates throughout the life of the order.

Change Orders. The project manager logs in the description of the change and selects the vendors who are on the change. From that point on the entire process of requesting prices, sending a change order request, following up on the request, and finally issuing change orders to each vendor is automated. It also creates the database that allows the project manager to track each subcontract for total amount including approved and pending changes and creates a series of P&L reports for the project.

Submittals. Construction projects have an elaborate process of shop drawing and equipment data sheet reviews. The project manager selects the subcontractors from the project database and lists the various items they are to submit. From that point forward all follow up letters, transmittal letters, and logs are maintained by the system. Each time a transmittal letter is written, the database is updated but each transaction is recorded so a fully history can be provided when necessary.

Reports. There is a full set of reports and a dashboard that allows management, accounting and the project staff to monitor the state of the project and its effect on P&L at any time.

An additional benefit is that it standardizes the procedures and communications of a company; something that is lacking in most contracting firms.

The data is maintained in an Access database and the output is through Crystal Reports both of which can be accessed by the user so they can do additional data mining or customize the output to the limits of the software. Minor changes in wording of all letters can be made within Cornerstone Manager without any knowledge of programming by the user.