Cleveland News

Concrete inspection may be necessary for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, concrete inspection aids in the identification of any structural issues, which are hidden from the naked eye, buried deep within concrete slabs or pillars. It also helps with the identification of important or dangerous utilities buried deep within the concrete.

Generally Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is used in scanning and creating an image of subsurface objects, voids and defects. The information obtained from the inspection can then be used to accurately and efficiently plan any concrete cutting and coring projects.

Even though there many other methods that can be used for concrete inspection, GPR has, in recent years, become the most popular method thanks to its many advantages. Here’s a short list of some of the main advantages of using GPR for concrete inspection.

Non-invasive

One of the main advantages of GPR for concrete scanning is that it is non-invasive. This means that to get a clear, subsurface image or scan of the concrete surface in question, no digging or excavation work is required. You only need to scan over the surface of the concrete and that’s it.

Accurate

Ground Penetrating Radar is considered to be one of the most accurate, if not the most accurate, method used for concrete inspection. For starters, GPR captures the orientation and depth of different objects buried within the concrete; making the imaging and analysis of slices at varying depths possible.

To improve the accuracy and reliability of the scans obtained, GPR technology can be combined with other technologies, including those used in the detection of high voltage electrical cables.

Time Saving

As previously stated, using GPR for concrete inspection eliminates the need for unnecessary digging and excavation work. This helps eliminate time wastage, leading to faster project completion times. For large concrete inspection projects, the concrete scanning equipment can be towed using a vehicle or carried on a cart for faster completion.

With time savings also comes money savings. Regardless of the nature of the project at hand, faster project completion usually translates into reduced overall project costs.

Easy And Straightforward Operation

As it stands, GPR systems are quite easy to use given the level of automation they have gone through since their introduction. A major part of the scanning process is now automated thanks to improved data processing; and the improved user interface has increased the ease of use. The latest systems are even capable of producing automated reports.

Unlike x-ray systems of the past which required highly trained operators, GPR operators do not need to undergo any certification.

Flexible Use

GPR systems are designed to be highly flexible during use. Sensors can be deployed in just about any space, even hard to reach areas like basements and ceilings, due to their compact nature. This means that scanning tight spaces is no longer a nightmare.

As you can clearly see from the above, choosing to use GPR for concrete inspections comes with a variety of important advantages that can help you save time and costs, giving you a competitive edge at the end of it all.

Organizations may need to change due to both macro and micro factors. These changes can be caused by compliance initiatives, technological improvements, process updates or reorganization. Change may need to happen during most times within the lifecycle of a business.

The management of change is essential in establishing growth, dominance, and profitability. A consistent change process can help minimize the impact on both your staff and organization. Various steps should be followed to ensure that change is successful.

There is a need for the identification of what needs to be improved. Focus is required during change management. Goals also need to be made clear. Individuals and resources that will facilitate the management of change should also be identified. This ensures that there is a smooth implementation of change.

The presentation of a solid business case should occur for the championing of the process. This is presented to stakeholders. They should be able to approve and support it for its success.

The management of change needs to have a plan. This is the roadmap that involves the resources, scope, objectives, and costs required. Clear steps should be set that spell out the deliverables, measurements, incentives, and analysis. During this process, it is wise for one to practice patience and avoid shortcuts.

The planning process also involves resource identification and funding. These include equipment, infrastructure, and software systems. Tools that are required for retraining, reeducation and rethinking practices and priorities also need to be considered. Reporting of the progress needs to be clear for better communication of the progress.

Good communication throughout the management of change is critical. This needs to happen from the initial stages of identification and planning all through to the execution stages. Clear and open communication lines is a critical element of the change process. Two-way communication and transparency ensure that the process goes on seamlessly.

Monitoring and managing resistance is part of change management. Resistance needs to be taken care of for it not to threaten a project’s success. The fear is the unknown is mainly what causes resistance. A smooth lifecycle of change will be achieved by equipping leaders with tools to manage resistance.

Recognizing milestones that your organization has achieved in the change cycle is an essential part of the process. You need to celebrate success. Recognition of individuals and teams that were involved in the management of change is crucial. It helps in the smooth adoption of the change and the process in itself.

Change is an ongoing process. Strategies that are involved in the change process are adjusted as time goes by. Roadblocks are identified and removed as the process continues. The management of change needs to encompass its review, revision and continuous improvement.

Change is important in business operations. It helps a business to restrategize and prioritize its core functions. Change needs to be systematic in its implementation. Communication should occur during this process. Managers also need to tame resistance for change to be successful. The management of change is important for any business that wants to achieve growth and profitability.

For years, the concept of lean manufacturing has been used to streamline manufacturing processes, cutting out inefficiencies and making the process as effective and efficient as possible. That same concept can be applied to the world of engineering through the use of lean engineering principles.

Ultimately, the lean concept involves streamlining processes down as much as possible, eliminating any waste along the way. Getting rid of inefficiencies like this makes processes run much more smoothly, which can increase speed, reduce expenses, and boost productivity.

Even though the idea of lean got its start in the world of manufacturing, the basic concept can be applied to any process in the workplace. Once you learn the underlying principles, you can use them to boost efficiency and eliminate waste in everything that you do. The more regularly you apply the lean concept to your company’s processes, the more efficient they will become.

One of the first principles of lean engineering involves identifying waste. When looking at a physical process such as a product being made, this is relatively easy. You can physically see where wasteful or unnecessary steps are taking place.

In the world of engineering, it is a little bit more difficult since much of the work that is done doesn’t involve a physical product. That means that you need to take a slightly different view of what constitutes waste.

Ultimately, the goal of any business is to meet the needs of its customers. You can use that to identify waste in your business. All that you need to do is ask yourself which processes or activities are not benefiting or adding to the experience for your customers. Anything that falls into this category is most likely waste, which means it could be eliminated.

The only way to identify unnecessary processes is by taking a look at everything that your business does on a granular level. By evaluating the duties of every single employee and taking a closer look at their workflow, you can spot areas for improvement.

For instance, imagine that an engineer writes a report. They are then required to submit it to their supervisor for feedback or approval. With the supervisor’s busy schedule, however, it usually takes a lot longer than necessary for the approval to come through. During this time, the engineer is stuck waiting, unable to move forward to the next step of the project. By figuring out how to streamline or eliminate the approval process, efficiency could be vastly improved.

There are a number of lean engineering principles that can be applied to just about any work situation. Learning more about what these principles are and how to use them can help reduce inefficiencies in the workplace. This often results in lower expenses, faster project completion times, and happier customers.

From an employee standpoint, incorporating lean principles can lead to less stress, as well. By enabling people to do their jobs more efficiently, they are less likely to wind up falling behind on their projects, which means they won’t feel as overworked or frustrated.