When starting a new commercial or residential project, you will want the right structural steel fabricator behind you. While there are different types of fabrication materials, structural steel frequently comes out on top when it comes to strength, ductility, and durability. But, it&#;s not just about the material; for project success&#;especially when it comes to complicated projects with multiple stakeholders and tight deadlines&#;the fabricator you choose matters. With inexperienced fabricators, small glitches can snowball into more significant issues. Here are ten things to look for in a structural steel fabricator.
Kloeckner Metals is a full-line steel supplier and service center. Download our structural plate spec sheet to learn what Kloeckner Metals routinely stocks.
When you&#;re looking for a structural steel fabricator, experience matters, and the first thing you&#;ll want to check is their current and past projects. You want practical, hands-on experience, and to guarantee it, you&#;ll want to see examples of their work. Can they point you towards similar projects?
You will also want to vet everyone involved in those projects. You&#;ll want to see:
Vetting structural steel fabricators is a two-part process that includes understanding what they&#;ve done and who you&#;ll be working with.
It is essential for complex architectural metal fabrication and industrial metalwork projects that structural elements arrive at just the right time, demanding close collaboration from detailers, erectors, and fabricators. How does the structural steel fabricator break their process down? For complex projects, you&#;ll want to see a detailed breakdown that covers costs along the way. You can ask:
If the structural steel fabricator brushes over any questions or requests for higher specificity and accuracy, you&#;ll want to look elsewhere.
How does the steel fabricator plan to communicate each step with you and other stakeholders throughout the project? For challenging projects, small failures of communication can snowball into big issues. Ask the steel fabricator:
You&#;re looking for easy, transparent communication with a fast turnaround. If the structural steel fabricator doesn&#;t have an established process for communicating with customers that meets all three needs, you should look elsewhere.
What certifications does the structural steel fabricator you&#;re considering have?
In structural steel fabrication, it&#;s not about general experience, it&#;s about project-specific experience. Does the structural steel fabricator you&#;re considering specialize, or are they big enough that they&#;ve successfully completed different types of projects? If not, they may stumble over the project, leading to setbacks and financial pitfalls.
Structural steel projects can be so large and multi-faceted, that they require an attention to detail that only an experienced fabricator can give. It&#;s important to find a company that can handle the grade, type, and gauge of metal needed for your project, any additional fabrication required, as well as any coordination and communication required.
It should go without saying that any structural steel fabricator you take on for your project has the capabilities to do it, but many may subcontract part of the project out. This doesn&#;t have to be a deal-breaker as long as you make sure that the company you choose can handle the project from start to finish. If they are sub-contracting work out, do a background check of the sub-contractor as well. Whoever is working on your project should have the equipment, skilled staff, materials, and production capacity to complete your project on time and within budget &#; whether or not you&#;ll be working directly with them.
Does the structural steel fabricator have the capacity to meet your needs? One recurring issue of smaller steel fabricators is their inability to meet the high supply-demand of their clients. If you have a massive project, you&#;ll need a minimum workforce and allocation of facility tools and equipment. A company may employ 30 employees, but only a fraction of them may be qualified to provide the services you need; similarly, a company may have the right equipment, but they may have concurrent demands from other clients. Ensure that the structural steel fabricator you&#;re considering has enough specialists and equipment to meet your needs for the duration of your project.
Speaking of tools and equipment, does your structural steel fabricator have the right ones for your project? Ask the fabricators to give a tour of their facility and workshop so you can see firsthand their tools and equipment. For tough fabrication jobs that require accuracy and expertise, you will most certainly need advanced tools and equipment. A tour is also another opportunity to make sure you have a rapport with your fabrication partners.
Do you feel like you&#;re at the center of the steel fabricator&#;s attention and that they&#;re committed to your satisfaction? No matter the fabricator&#;s size, look for guiding principles that include customer service at the heart of their organization. For this, you can assess your treatment during the vetting phase and validate your impressions by checking with references &#; great steel fabricators won&#;t hesitate to send a few references your way.
Finally, does your steel fabricator take safety seriously? Ask the fabricator:
It is also possible to look at recent OSHA citations in the metal fabrication industry to better understand how fabricators are focusing their compliance efforts.
Not all structural steel fabricators are created equal, so do your research when choosing a fabrication company. Large or small, contractor or subcontractor, there&#;s a lot to consider! Use these 10 considerations to help you choose the best fabricator for current and future projects.
Kloeckner Metals is a full-line steel supplier and service center. Kloeckner Metals combines a national footprint with the latest fabrication and processing technologies and the most innovative customer service solutions.
Optimizing horizontal and vertical space with steel platforms helps facilities improve operational efficiency, workflows, and safety. Choosing the right structural steel platform manufacturer to design, fabricate, and install your new platform requires due diligence to ensure they will provide the highest levels of quality and compliance.
This article will cover the most important questions to ask as you select a steel platform project partner.
1. What Does the Project Process Entail?
Every steel work platform project should begin with a kick-off meeting, during which the manufacturer begins to build an understanding of the customer&#;s vision, desired schedule, and unique circumstances requiring special attention.
At Steele Solutions, we ask a lot of questions and explore every answer for opportunities to optimize the project. We also make sure everyone on the project is aligned with the customer&#;s goals.
Project coordination begins with evaluation from an engineering perspective. We consider every element of the project and ask, &#;Is there a better way?&#; This review and subsequent revisions ensure we always present the most efficient, safe, and cost-effective designs possible.
As planning progresses, discussions become more detail-focused, revealing any structural elements that could interfere with the platform&#;s functionality or affect areas beneath it. Our sales and estimating team creates a conceptual project agreement while integrators develop a conceptual system design. These plans are turned over for review and consideration and, if necessary, are modified to meet new or changing needs. When all circumstances are addressed, a final design is prepared and approved.
2. Who Is the Point of Contact?
A dedicated point of contact facilitates consistent communication, which is essential to ensure questions and concerns are addressed, and issues are resolved in a way that keeps the project on track, on time, and on budget.
Customers who work with Steele Solutions have two points of contact throughout the span of every project.
The project manager is focused on the logistical elements of the project, and addresses decisions related to scheduling and costs.
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The project engineer manages the technical aspects of the project assessing and approving actions based on their structural/mechanical feasibility.
When a manufacturing partner prioritizes communication, you can feel confident the project is following the desired plans and meets your expectations.
3. Will I Have Direct Contact with The Engineering Team?
Regular communication with a project&#;s engineering team provides the technical insights needed to continually confirm the project is aligned with the project&#;s technical specifications, performance objectives, and safety requirements.
The team at Steele Solutions facilitates ongoing communication with project engineers to ensure clarity and understanding of key project details. Direct contact with engineers also eliminates the risk of miscommunication when a non-technical person is tasked with relaying technical notes or requests. Additionally, our engineers are trained to provide insights regarding the scheduling and cost implications of project modifications so our customers are always fully informed of how any given action will affect the project overall.
4. How Often Will We Communicate About the Project?
Consistent, scheduled communication keeps customers aware of progress and facilitates timely issue resolution to keep projects on schedule.
In addition to immediate responses to questions, Steele Solutions customers receive weekly updates ranging from overall project status updates to reports on individual aspects of the project, such as design phases, drawing reviews, or coordinating comments and approvals.
5. How Do You Verify Load Capacity and Structural Integrity?
Verifying load capacity and structural integrity ensures your new platform meets its design specifications and safety standards. Understanding the approach your manufacturer takes to verify structural integrity will give you peace of mind the project will be designed to meet your unique requirements.
SSI works closely with customers from initial design through installation to ensure your new platform will effectively support the loads it was designed for and protect the safety of your personnel and your facility.
6. Are Products Validated and Stamped with A Professional Engineer Seal?
A Professional Engineer (PE) stamp on design drawings indicates the preparing company&#;s commitment to employing the most qualified engineers and providing the highest levels of safety, quality, and integrity. A PE stamp gives a design plan credibility, confirms regulatory compliance, and streamlines permit approvals.
Steele Solutions has a team of engineers licensed in 20 states and highly experienced consulting engineers supporting the other 30 states and Canada. We can provide a PE stamp on any drawings or plans we prepare for platform solutions, validating the plan&#;s safety and integrity and saving the time and cost of enlisting a third-party engineer unfamiliar with the project.
7. Is Your Company A Member of MHI Storage Manufacturers Association?
MHI Storage Manufacturers Association (SMA) is an industry group within the Material Handling Industry of America (MHI) representing leading suppliers of industrial storage solutions dedicated to developing, maintaining, and publishing standards for design, performance, and safe operation of work platforms and shelving products.
Membership in SMA indicates an organization&#;s commitment to continually learning and implementing industry best practices that yield the most safe and effective designs possible. Partnering with an SMA member ensures that you&#;re working with a company focused on providing state-of-the-art design, performance, and safety.
Aligned with SMA&#;s mission to ensure the highest levels of safety and quality in our steel work platforms, Steele Solutions is completing the process of becoming an SMA-certified platform designer and supplier.
8. How Do You Maintain Efficient Lead Times?
Your steel platform manufacturer should be clear at the outset about lead times and the factors that influence it. It&#;s important to ask how efficient lead times are sustained so you can be sure your project is completed in the expected timeframe to your satisfaction.
At Steele Solutions, our approach to lead time management utilizes a standard parts and design methodology, which creates a familiar and consistent experience for customers. Fueled by frequent, real-time communication, standard design methodology allows for quick, efficient response, which facilitates rapid project turnaround. Historically, our standard design methodology has facilitated 8-10 week lead times.
9. Do You Use Manufacturing Phases to Match the Installation Schedule?
A phased manufacturing approach facilitates a smoother installation workflow by manufacturing project components in sequence to match when parts are required on-site. This approach optimizes resource allocation, minimizes disruptions to regular operations, and reduces installation-related downtime, all of which help keep the project on schedule and on budget.
Steele Solutions&#; turnkey process matches critical elements of the manufacturing schedule with on-site installation priorities. Segmenting the process into phased design and manufacturing stages establishes a project cadence that helps the installation team meet designated milestones while also keeping the project on schedule.
10. Do You Have Long-Term Installer Relationships?
Installers and integrators appreciate a fabricator who consistently provides high-quality products that are easy to install and delivered on time. Long-term installer-fabricator relationships are reliable indicators of previous positive project outcomes.
We&#;re proud that 20% of our quote requests include installation and this number continues to grow. We utilize tracking programs to monitor and manage progress and continually focus on high-priority tasks. When performing an external installation, we leverage continuous communication with the customer to ensure ongoing awareness of every facet of the process.
11. What Does the Delivery Process Look Like?
Efficient delivery processes ensure your platform&#;s components arrive on time, in the correct order, and undamaged. Efficient delivery processes streamline installation by avoiding delays and minimizing interruptions to normal production activities, while facilitating adherence to the installation plan.
Driven by our design methodology, Steele Solutions delivery process is a segmented yet seamless program that brings the components of the platform to your facility as they&#;re needed for each phase of the project.
12. What After-Market Services Do You Provide?
After-market services are essential for ensuring the long-term performance of your platform. From expert advice to critical upgrades, minor maintenance requests, and major repairs, ongoing support protects your investment by maintaining its stability, integrity, and safety.
At the core of its warranty coverage and support is Steele Solutions experienced engineering and technical support teams, which provide extensive support and guidance for maintaining, replacing, and upgrading every element of a platform throughout its lifetime.
13. Does Your Company Follow AISC and OSHA Guidelines?
The American Institute of Steel Construction, AISC, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, establish and enforce guidelines for ensuring the highest levels of quality and safety in manufacturing. Adherence to AISC guidelines indicates a manufacturer&#;s commitment to platform reliability and performance while following OSHA guidelines demonstrates a manufacturer&#;s commitment to workplace safety. When a manufacturer follows these standards, it creates a culture of quality and safety that is apparent in every design.
Steele Solutions has over 400 team members, including over 60 engineers and designers, with the experience and expertise to ensure every project meets OSHA, ANSI, and other relevant safety standards. We are a licensed City of Los Angeles Fabricator and are in the process of obtaining AISC Fabricator certification.
Get to Know Steele Solutions
Steel platforms create opportunities to maximize space utilization, improve operational efficiency, and enhance facility safety and compliance. Since , Steele Solutions has been an industry leader in the design and fabrication of steel work platform solutions for distribution facilities.
Get to know Steele Solutions with Chief Executive Officer Kevin O&#;Neill.
To learn more or ask a question about your next project, contact Steele Solutions today.
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