Frustration Ending

Well, finally then! After weeks of being extremely frustrated caused by the lack of diligence, delays, threats of stopping the project by the builder, we finally see progress in the right direction. The pictures show the corrections of the foundation and the rebuilding of the structure. Another month gone... November 12th has not been possible... well, we knew that. At least you have a clear pricture on the value of time in this part of the world...

Now it looks like the quality is going to be maintained, though it requires thorough follow-up and site visits at least once a day.

Nadine inspects the bolts :)... she is pretty sharp for her age and figured out by herself why the structure was incorrect!

This time the cross beams are perfect in place. All within +/-15 mm tolerance.

The construction company got what we meant with diligence and quality and planned to finish the task "as soon as possible". No confirmed deadlines as yet... that still is a bridge too far. Obviously we are more than happy the stuctrure is getting into place!

Correcting the foundation

The analogy is very catchy. In order to build to last, one needs a perfect foundation. When the template of the foundation is a little bit out of line the entire structure to be built is not as per design.

This is my life :). Getting the foundation right. In order to do this, you will need to dig-up the roots and plant again. The structure or pattern of the columns of the factory is off. The positions causing the problem have been removed in order to first create a perfect foundation first.

Our neighbors think we are crazy by putting so much effort in a part of the property you will not see anyway. The foundation is underground….why bother. Well, we do bother a lot and get it rectified now, in order to build something that will last.

Many of the serious problems in this part of the world are under ground, or under the table. Not directly visible, but with serious consequences above the surface.

In the meantime we continue to have the structure re-erected by November 12th… Planning, discipline-ing, hoping, praying, and being incredibly picky on the work executed. We enforce change on the construction company which is not appreciated at all. But in order to change the way of work and achieving quality from India we have to push, dictate, and expect a level of work which is from a level higher than people deliver at present. Quite a challenge, with a lot of cross-cultural fun as well.
Down the line people start appreciatign quality, cleanliness, and structure over chaos, dis-order and lack of meeting expectations and dirt. It's a mission to make a business successful in India, that's for sure.   

Quality takes time

Something beautiful never comes easy, is it? Last week we have been figuring out how to align the structure of the new factory with the universal ‘verticals and horizontals’. Since many of our workers believe that truth is personal and what is right for you may not be true for me, it was quite a challenge to convince them that the factory structure was really not erected according to design and drawing plans made earlier. There is at least one universal truth and that’s the plumb line. Finally last Saturday we went the head-office of the construction company in Mumbai and discussed the matter with the intention not leaving the office before a new deadline was committed to by the company management. Acknowledging their mistakes they would rectify the structure and set it up on the 12th of November. Now, please don’t call me a liar when this deadline is not kept; I just tell you what they told me. In India, when things are not important, you don’t call, even when you made an appointment or agreement. When it is really urgent you call every day, in order to keep the interest in your case up. In our case it is incredible urgent and so we call and email twice a day.

By the way, the structure has been dismantled and is being altered. At one corner the structure is 30cm (1.0ft) out of line… It took over 15 phone calls and a 9 hour drive (for a 1,5hr meeting) to have them acknowledge the mistake and take the correct action. Well… at least that’s what they have promised :).

Since quality matters for a perfectionist this is not an easy project. Once it’s done it will be a cool story. For now we have to press in and get it over with as soon as possible.