February 20, 2004—Walton Construction, recently ranked 165 among the nation’s Top 400 Contractors by ENR Magazine, has signed an Enterprise Agreement with Constructware that standardizes use of Constructware’s Internet-based project management tool on all the company’s projects. As a result of securing large-scale projects in remote locations, Walton needed a project management tool that is flexible, accessible, and maximizes cost and schedule efficiency. According to Lee G. Turner, Director of Controls/Project Manager for Walton, “We found Constructware to be the most responsive product on the market.” He cited three reasons for the company’s decision:
- Accessibility: “On all our projects, Walton seeks to encourage a collaborative environment within the construction and design teams. Through our pilot tests, we determined that Constructware’s Internet-based product is as easily accessible to design and trade contractor team members as it is to members of the construction team. It proved very effective in speeding up communications and encouraging accountability with the project teams.”
- Value: “We have found that Constructware’s implementation costs are far outweighed by its value as a cost control tool once a project is underway.”
- Customer Service: “In addition to using Constructware since 2000, several controls-oriented employees at Walton have attended Constructware’s train-the-trainer course and User Conferences. As a result, we have had extended interaction with Constructware’s support and product development personnel and have been very pleased with the company’s ongoing commitment to customer service. They listen to us and implement improvements based on client suggestions and the needs of the changing construction industry.”
Walton selected Constructware after comprehensive review and extensive practical testing of project management applications in the field, including a pilot test on one of Walton’s larger and more complicated projects, the Kansas City International Airport. This project required coordination with 35 subcontractors and the design team on fast-track changes related to post 9/11 security enhancements at the airport.
Walton is beginning work on several large projects totaling over $300 million, including a $65 million casino expansion for Harrah’s North Kansas City, a $20 million parking garage in downtown Shreveport with a “hyper-track” schedule, and a $22 million courthouse in the Bossier, Louisiana, area. All will be managed through Constructware. The company’s smaller projects are also utilizing the application, depending on each project’s needs.
