Lujabeton CEO Mikko Isotalo looks at construction as a complex chain-like entity where everything affects everything. If you're not going to do your part properly, you shouldn't start at all. Luja's ethical guidelines advise not to enter into agreements that cannot be followed. Contracts concluded must always be adhered to.
Lujabetoni, which belongs to the Luja companies, which has been operating in the construction industry for sixty-five years, is the third largest concrete industry company in Finland. About 800 "strong professionals" work at Lujabeton.
Owner of the family company in the third generation, CEO of Lujabetoni Oy Mikko Isotalo describes what a professional operation is like, which ensures quality and continuity.
What is meant by professional behavior?
Professional construction consists of a complex chain of construction, planning, factory manufacturing and site operations. Construction is not about serial products, but unique creations and solutions. About tailoring products.
In the construction as a whole, everyone must act professionally in the chain and understand the importance of their own work in terms of the whole. If one moves, everyone moves. Therefore, everyone has to build for themselves and keep their schedule.
What is most important in professional activities?
If you're not going to do it properly, you shouldn't start at all. The consequences of incompetence are often really big. The old adage about a marka timpuri that does vitos damage is not true. Even a small mistake can cause really big damage, amounting to millions of euros. For example, a leaky joint causing extensive, latent moisture damage.
Professional pride is being treated professionally. Continuous development of professional skills is also needed in construction. The path to qualification is long. The importance of a good basic education is important. The work of a professional is constant tailoring, eternal learning, from one's own work, colleagues and targets.
How do you recognize unprofessional behavior?
Haste, carelessness, incompetence and general indifference are the worst plagues. The fact that you don't have the time to familiarize yourself with things and look for the best solution leads to a bad result.
Even in a hurry, one should not fall into indifference. When schedules are out of control, things are carried forward in the face of necessity. There is less compliance with the rules of the game and we act as we wish. Fortunately, "cowboy construction" - done according to one's own will - is now rare.
How does compliance with legislation and contracts ensure a professional way of working?
The basic legislation is good and comprehensive. It is difficult to find a balance with regulations that are too precise and detailed.
When the ceiling brackets for HVAC installations were not specified in the standards, heavy IV tubes dangerously collapsed onto the audience during a rock concert. When the content is defined too much, regulation and standards bring additional costs. Each of us has come across, for example, oversized accessible bathrooms built in accordance with standards and regulations.
The industry's own general contract conditions, YSE 1998, are a successful package. For the most part, the conditions are very profitable and overall good. They guarantee that you don't go into the wild west, where everyone applies their own contract conditions.
A few shortcomings should still be developed. A significant weakness of YSE is related to the fact that the implementation of additional and modification work may not be started until the matters have been agreed upon in writing. In practical construction, however, it is usually necessary to move the project forward according to its general schedule. This leads to the fact that it is advantageous for the customer not to process modification work offers, as it provides legal protection and enables an unfair financial advantage to be obtained, when additional and modification work can be denied afterwards. In this way, poor construction methods are favored and an unprofessional operating culture is promoted in the field. The amount of unnecessary arguing is increasing. It would be easy to fix this by specifying a mandatory response to change job offers and their automatic transformation into the so-called as changes according to §90, unless they are accepted, for example, within 14 days of the offer, after negotiations.
What good operating procedures does Lujabeton have to ensure the professional operation of contractual partners?
Reinforced concrete works as a significant element manufacturer. The biggest problem and critical factor is related to the plans received from the contract partners in sufficient time. Lujabeton's information system is built in such a way that we strive to get the implementation plans implemented by others on time and ensure that we have the opportunity to stay on schedule and succeed in our work.
In addition to operating models, we have developed a separate project management organization to ensure that all parties in the projects perform their tasks on time. Despite all the verification work, this is a permanent challenge in the industry.
What helps to reduce unprofessional activities?
Extremely long-term action. Recruitment, the company's own training programs, continuous management and competence training. Although training is slow, it is a very good way to develop long-term activities. Operating systems and guidelines are important, but they are only a skeleton, people are the muscles that do the work in companies.
The most important thing to remember is that operating systems don't work, people do. Systems only provide people with an operating model, instructions and tools. People do the work and therefore it is important that everyone acts professionally and follows the ethical rules of the game.
Taking safety, environmental and quality requirements into account is also about building an operating culture and uncompromising professional contracting and operating methods.
What hopes and expectations do you have for Construction Industry RT?
RT is an important, strong interest organization whose recommendations the industry should follow. It's just good that we have such an organization that continues to influence the affairs and development of the entire industry and to promote the views of the industry towards the authorities with strong appreciation.
See also
- Ethical principles in practice: 3. Act professionally
- Other parts of the Ethical Principles in Practice writing series
More information
- Merja Vuoripuro, Construction Industry RT ry
tel. 040 587 2642, merja.vuoripuro@rakennusteollisuus.fi - Sari Puurtinen, Juuriharja Consulting Group Oy
tel. 040 676 3772, sari.puurtinen@juuriharja.fi
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