Most projects don’t fail in the shop or in the field — they fail long before fabrication ever starts.
In Episode 2 of the SWF Project Series, Brandon breaks down the human side of project success: ownership, accountability, communication, early collaboration, and why ignoring fabricators early is one of the biggest (and most expensive) mistakes PMs make.
We explore:
• Why no one “owns” the outcome — everyone does
• The real purpose of walkthroughs & 3D scanning
• When early design decisions come back to haunt a project
• Constructability reviews and why they save time & money
• How rework destroys morale across every subcontractor
• Value vs. price (and why the lowest bid rarely wins)
• Collaboration vs. control — which one actually speeds up a project
• Why bigger teams can pivot faster than small shops
• What clients should ask before sending out drawings
• Why accountability must start the moment the PO is issued
This episode is a practical guide for PMs, GCs, architects, engineers, and anyone responsible for delivering complex fabrication or construction projects.
00:00 – Intro
00:18 – Who really owns a project outcome?
01:11 – Walkdowns, 3D scanning & avoiding field surprises
03:18 – When fabricators are ignored (and the cost of it)
04:47 – Constructability reviews & value engineering
06:11 – Bring fabricators in early: why timing matters
08:12 – Price vs value in project partnerships
10:05 – Collaboration vs safeguarding the project
11:18 – Reading between the lines of bid requests
13:02 – How collaboration speeds up complex projects
14:23 – When projects go wrong & how SWF recovers
16:00 – Final advice: accountability starts at the PO
Check us out at
www.swfindustrial.com