CIDC Delhi
Role of Quantity Surveyor As
Profit Center
S A Reddi
Value Engineering Consultant
sareddi32@rediffmail.com
Quantity Surveyor
• A quantity surveyor (QS) is a professional
working within the construction industry
concerned with Project costs.
• The profession is one that provides a
qualification gained following formal education,
specific training and experience that provides a
general set of skills that are then applied to a
diverse variety of problems.1 Predominantly
these relate to costs and contracts on
construction projects.
Quantity Surveyor
Job description
• A quantity surveyor manages all costs relating
to building and civil engineering projects, from
the initial calculations to the final figures
• Surveyors seek to minimize the costs of a
project and enhance value for money, while still
achieving the required standards and quality
• Many of these are specified by statutory
building regulations, which the surveyor needs
to understand and adhere to.
QS Typical Work Activities
• Preparing tender and contract documents, BOQ
• Costs analysis, Control
• Assist in establishing a client’s requirements
and undertaking feasibility studies
• Prepare Analyze costing for tenders
• Allocating work to subcontractors
• Advice on contractual claims
• Progress reports, value completed work
• Aware of the different contracts in use
• Understand Health & Safety Regulations
• Risk and Value Management
• Advise on procurement strategy;
QS Typical Work Activities
• A surveyor calculates all related costs so that
companies will be well informed about how
much each portion of their building will cost and
the areas where they can minimize their costs
• Quantity surveyors goal is to enhance the value
of a building in relation to the amount of money
spent building it
• The surveyor looks at the construction process
& determine Standards and Regulations to
meet minimum statutory building regulations
• Will also determine areas most important to
maintaining the quality of the new building
.
QS Work Activities- Options
• A quantity surveyor can find business from either a
contractor or the client, and they also have the option
of choosing to work on-site or away in an office.
• Once chosen, he is involved in the entire building
process from start to finish. At the beginning, he will
evaluate the property and prepare estimates on the
total costs involved in the project
• He will continue to prepare contractual documents,
bills, and other tender documents. He will perform cost
analysis, perform a risk and value management
assessment of the property, as well as provide insight
on cost control and procurement strategies
Entry Requirements for a
Quantity Surveyor
• A first degree will give the best opportunities as
a quantity surveyor
• Accredited institutions like the Royal Institution
of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the similarly
well-known Chartered Institute of Building
(CIOB) offer many degree programs
• With such a degree, One will probably be able
to secure a better position and earn more
money, but may not necessarily need a degree
in quantity surveying in order to be successful
in this career.
Case: Quantity Surveyor of A
Construction Co
• Mr X, a Matriculate, Started as Administrative
Assistant in the QS Dept
• Diligent Observation, Studies Enabled Rise To
The Position OF HOD
• On Retirement, The Position Was Difficult to Fill
• He Studied General Conditions of Contract of
Each Tender, Made Copious Notes of
Strengths and Weaknesses in the Documents
Which Enabled Successful Claims Later On!
Case: QS Director In UK Const Co
Personal Experience
• As Head of Foreign Operations, Visited A
Leading Construction Co in UK
• The Managing Director Introduced Fellow
Board Members; One Was Director, QS!
• The MD Clarified That During Lean Periods, It
is The QS Director Who Helped Generated
Profits Thro Identifying Claims At The Tender
Stage
Qualifications
• You may also be able to enter without any
degree at all. You will need to be prepared to
work your way through the industry
• Some businesses may actually fund degree
courses related to quantity surveying so that
you can get the education necessary to make
the most out of this career.
• if you do have a degree unrelated to quantity
surveying you complete further study and the
RICS. The RICS is a qualification program
designed to give career seekers another route
to becoming a quantity surveyor.
Skills Required
• Methodical and analytical thinking as will as practical
and logical reasoning skills
• Problem solving skills with a creative approach
• Skill related to mathematics and financial
management
• Concise writing skills to produce reports on complex
information * Thorough knowledge and understanding
of building and construction codes, regulations, etc
• have enough hands on, work experience
• Formal education is important, but being able to
demonstrate that you have a relevant understanding
of building and construction can go a long way
Continuing Professional
Development (CPD)
• Continuing professional development is almost the
norm in today's business world.
• The RICS offers a lifelong learning programme that
will allow you to record and mark any professional
developments that you have made over the years.
• Programs designed to promote learning in an open
atmosphere, as well as provide a space for private
study
• RICS has also established conferences and events
that quantity surveyors can attend to learn more
Quantity Surveyor Functions
• The QS reports to Project Manager
• Provides advice in the decision-making throughout the
management of a project from initial inception to final
completion
• The QS handles estimating and cost control, the
tendering process and, after contract award, the
commercial interface
• QS carries out estimating and measurement of works
prior to tender, producing the bill of quantities; produce
tender documentation and manage the tender
process; clarify and evaluate tenders; and manage the
resultant contract through monthly valuations,
variations control, contract administration and
assessment of claims.
• .
Quantity Surveyor Functions
• Some are trained in techniques of cost control. Those
who emphasize the cost discipline Are Often Called
"Construction Cost Consultant". They ensure that
projects are designed and constructed in such as to
Get value for money, cost certainty , programme dates
• Others emphasize contracts management. Trained to
draft, interpret and administer complex contracts,
those who operate in the broader field of project
management often adopt other titles such as
"Contracts Manager" or "Construction Surveyor".
Contractor's QS
• Responsible for performance of operations that
mirror those of the owner's QS- the
measurement and pricing of construction work,
but specifically that actually performed by the
contractor as opposed to the construction work
described and measured in the construction
contract between the owner and the contractor.
• Such a difference in quantity of work may arise
from changes required by an owner, or by an
architect or engineer on an owner's behalf.
Typically, the settlement of a change
Contractor's QS
• The role of a contractor's QS will extend further
than the day to day running of building projects
• Will cover sub-contract formation, forecasting of
costs and values of the project, cash flow
forecasts and the collation of the operation and
maintenance manuals of the project
• This increase in the capacity of the surveying
profession has led to an increased demand for
qualified personnel
About RICS
• : RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered
Surveyors) coversall aspects of property,
construction and associated environmental
issues. RICS has 86,000 chartered members
(FRICS and MRICS) and 55,000 members in
other categories of membership globally.
• It represents, regulates and promotes the work
of these property professionals throughout 146
countries. RICS is governed by a Royal Charter
approved by Parliament which requires it to act
in the public interest. It is also a professional
regulatory body approved by Government
Planning
• During the planning procedures the QS plays a
key role in assessing whether the project is
feasible economically
• The Quantity Surveyor may act in consulting
role to engineers and architects, advising them
on cost effective methodologies and procedures
• Professionally trained in building code and bylaws, He ensures the project adheres to local
and national regulations
• Feasibility, both engineering and economical ,
is a key factor in the planning procedure
Construction
• While the project is underway , the Quantity
Surveyor Ensures the process runs smoothly
and within budget limits
• Conflict can arise and the Quantity Surveyor
Steps in to act as a liaison between conflicted
members of the construction process
• Interpersonal relationships Among the
construction team keep the project moving
• Attention to monitoring the costs and
economics involved during the construction.
Keeping the project running without conflict
Post-Construction
• After the project is completed, responsibilities
and function shift. This objective now is to
monitor the building and make sure that
operational costs are kept inside the budget.
• the responsibilities are to make sure the project
adheres to local and national tax laws.
• Insurance claims and cost of replacement are
dealt with by the Quantity Surveyor. Accurate
estimates of damages and costs of destroyed
or damaged goods are also provided.
Responsibilities During Tendering
• To establish the cost of installation, materials
and workmanships and to come out with a well
–planned quotation which is beneficial to both
the company and the main contractors for each
individual project that the company is handling
• To prepare contracts for projects by stating
clearly the terms and conditions, studying and
understand the contracts
• When projects are completed, proceed with
claiming of payments from the relevant parties
and complete the collection of payments as
soon as possible.
Basic Roles And Responsibilities
• Prepare , submit and collect claims for payment
• Prepare, submit quotations. Diligently to following up
• Do awarding of contracts and preparation of contracts
related documents
• Sourcing and purchasing of materials and related
products needed for production
• Perform liaison with engineer and sales department
• Perform liaison with main contractors, sub contractors
and other parties involved the projects
• Studies other project cases to solve any problems
• Report Progress Daily to boss without being asked
Monitor Construction Cost
As advisers, they estimate and monitor
construction costs, from the feasibility stage of
a project through to the completion of the
construction period
After construction they may be involved with tax
depreciation schedules, replacement cost
estimation for insurance purposes and, if
necessary, mediation and arbitration.
Liaison Work
• Quantity Surveyors work closely with architects,
financiers, engineers, contractors, suppliers,
project owners, accountants, insurance
underwriters, solicitors and Courts
• Quantity surveyors get their name from the Bill
of Quantities,. This is measured from design
drawings, to be used by the contractors for
tendering and for progress payments, for
variations and changes and ultimately for
statistics, taxation and valuation.
Advise on Economics
• Initially quantity surveyors use their knowledge of
construction methods and costs to advise on the most
economical way
• They use Cost Planning, Estimating, Cost Analysis,
Cost-in-use Studies and Value Engg to establish a
project budget
• During design the QS ensures that the design remains
on budget through Cost Management
• Essential additions offset by identified other savings
• On completion of design and drawings, the quantity
surveyor may prepare a Bill of Quantities, which is
issued with the specification, for use by contractors in
submitting tenders.
Tenders
• The contractor's quantity surveyors prepare
tenders, and price alternatives
• Involved in assessing tenders, advise on the
type of contract or special clauses in it
• During construction they fairly value progress
payments at regular intervals, value changes to
design or quantities which may arise by
reference to appropriate Bill of Quantities rates
• They prepareclaims for progress payments and
additional work.
Role On Project Completion
• On completion the quantity surveyor produces
depreciation schedules of project components
advises on insurance replacement costs
• In case of disputes the quantity surveyor is
called on as an expert witness, and some
quantity surveyors act as arbitrators. Both the
contractor's and owner's quantity surveyors will
be involved in this
• They use their skills in refurbishment of old
buildings, alterations to existing buildings and
insurance replacement estimates
Analytical Mind
• Quantity surveyors have orderly and analytical
minds and prepared to work to very rigid time
schedules. As decisions involving large sums of
money are often made using information
produced by them they must be accurate in all
aspects of their work
• Quantity surveyors work in the private sector
with Contractors, in the public sector mainly
with the Government Departments/Authorities,
financiers, property developers, project
managers and universities
Comments,
queries, suggestions?
sareddi32@rediffmail.com