The TCG Way

The TCG Way

Success Demands a Better Process

Materials management programs are common in today’s construction industry, taking into account product procurement, inventory management, and delivery of the needed supplies.

From purchasing to installation, a materials management program makes sure the right product, at the right price, gets where it needs to be on time and on budget. Such programs commonly include:

• Strategic sourcing and purchasing of needed materials
• Material requirements planning and inventory management
• Demand forecasting and capacity planning
• Sales and operations planning
• Delivery and distribution management
• Risk management and supply chain resilience

In construction, materials management focuses on everything from concrete and raw building materials to lighting systems, windows, and doors. All of these elements are discreet and quantifiable, with little mystery behind their estimation and management.

The one area where these methods routinely break down is in the acquisition, administration, and delivery of HVAC ductwork.

The Challenges of Ductwork Management

When it comes to ductwork, why is materials management more difficult than, say quantifying and managing the number of windows to be installed?

It starts with the fact that determining the cost of ductwork can be an estimating nightmare, with no less then 3 possible methods used in purchasing the sheet metal to begin with – Theoretical Nominal, Theoretical Minimum, and Actual Weight (reference SNIPS Magazine.)

Which to choose depends on an understanding of the job in question as well as the buying situation, and making the wrong choice has real consequences with double-digit effects on profit and tens of thousands of dollars at stake.

From there, the problems multiply almost exponentially. Traditionally, HVAC duct ordering starts with an experienced manager on the job site, performing field measuring and sketching labor. FMSL is a time consuming and expensive task which includes measuring areas, determining obstructions, sketching runs and fittings, determining lengths and elevations, etc.

These manually acquired measurements are then often entered multiple times into various software systems, first by the General Contractor, then the HVAC Contractor, and finally the HVAC Fabricator, all in search of the actual needs and costs of the ductwork required at the build site.

The convoluted flow of information, opportunities to introduce error, and the delays of an outdated and inefficient process cost contractors in money, delays, and aggravation, and all these by no small amount. At The Cincinnatus Group, we’ve determined that the difference between the traditional method of ductwork acquisition and an optimized process can be up to 35% in total costs.

DuctFlow PPO^™

At The Cincinnatus Group, we are “called to solve, where others struggle.”  More than offering software, precision takeoffs, accurate estimating, on-time delivery, inventory management, or billing assistance, we’ve rolled it all up into a single, comprehensive process.

We call it DuctFlow PPO™ > Program ◆ Process ◆ Optimization, and it is an all-encompassing materials management process that helps you smooth out the kinks in the system, saving money and simplifying processes at every step. It’s an acquisition pipeline that encompasses the use of software, the development of proprietary processes, and the optimization of activities along a critical path, from takeoffs and estimates, through production, to delivery and billing.

• Strategic Sourcing. We have strong relationships with many of the most experienced and reliable ductwork fabrication companies in the industry.
• Actual Cost Estimating. Our experienced in-house team use 3D software and Building Information Management (BIM) systems to provide second-to-none actual cost estimates.
• Elimination of Duplicate Efforts. Through automation and data flow integrations, we eliminate the time and expense of multiple data entry points while maintaining data accuracy and integrity.
• Exceptional Duct Design. Assuring the right-sizing of duct runs, proper lengths with minimal connections and reliable seals is at the heart of our expertise.
• Elimination of On-Site Conflicts. Our CAD design team brings years of experience to every project, eliminating costly on-site conflicts between the trades through precision layout of duct runs in BIM planning.
• Integrated Freight and Delivery. In addition to our relationships with duct fabricators, we enjoy a diverse array of shipping contacts along with the experience to select the most reliable and timely options for each job.
• Optimized Program Billing. While traditional billing systems are complex and prone to delays and errors, we deliver trouble-free accounts payable with a timely, accurate, and optimized billing experience
• Risk Management and Supply Chain Resilience. Where any one estimator, fabricator, or shipper may be over-booked at times, it is the mission of The Cincinnatus Group to maintain robust and diverse service providers, all vetted for their exceptional capabilities, so that we can bring to our clients the most efficient, reliable, and affordable ductwork acquisition process possible today.

What is a ductwork materials management program? It’s when you save money, time, and headaches when The Cincinnatus Group takes charge and delivers a comprehensive, optimized ductwork acquisition process from day one.

Our DuctFlow PPO™ methodology is a proprietary program found nowhere else. We think it’s an industry changing process, and we invite you to learn more

Take your ductwork material acquisitions to the next level with our cutting-edge programs. Give us a Call Today at 878-295-8009, or visit our Contact Us page to learn more.