The development of operating methods in infrastructure procurement would bring savings, which would significantly ease the problem of infrastructure repair deficits, private contractors believe.
In Finland, we need the ability to identify the most important targets for public infrastructure money in terms of everyday well-being and the success of companies. Instead of a divisive budget policy, decision-making needs a common direction across party lines, which will be maintained for the next 10–20 years.
It is also important to use the infrastructure allocations more efficiently than at present. The decision-makers are the work orderers in the municipalities and the Finnish Transport Agency. In order for the money to be allocated productively and efficiently in the construction and maintenance of infrastructure, public procurement procedures must be critically evaluated, it was stated at INFRA ry's 60th anniversary meeting in Helsinki today.
The customer's responsibility cannot be outsourced
Infrastructure includes, for example, busways, tunnels and terminals. Weak subscriber expertise causes a lot of unnecessary additional costs in infrastructure construction and maintenance.
In particular, hastily and cheaply made plans cause schedule problems in modern construction. There may be errors and deficiencies in the plans, the clarification of which delays the projects by even months and causes additional and modification work. Taxpayers pay for the mess, and the already meager public finances are under strain.
"The customer's own basic skills must now be put in order. The customer's responsibility cannot be outsourced to the consultant. Then the use of taxpayers' money is outsourced. By developing operational methods in procurement, savings are achieved, which can significantly ease the problem of infrastructure repair deficits, for example", Lemminkäinen's director of infrastructure and chairman of INFRA Harri Kailasalo says.
Companies have know-how, why isn't it used?
The Finnish Transport Agency is already developing its procurement procedures. It has also involved private contractors in the field in the development, which has opened up new horizons.
"We hope for a similar opening from the municipal sector as well. Combined, the companies have thousands of years of practical experience on how to build and manage infrastructure economically. Also, the use of machine control and automation, which saves material waste and time, is constantly becoming more common in companies," INFRA's CEO Paavo Syrjö ponders.
Private companies do, for example, only 25 percent of municipal infrastructure management, even though many studies show that they reach a more economical end result than the municipality's production organization.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Harri Kailasalo, tel. +358 400 401 538
Paavo Syrjö, tel. +358 40 560 1803