Another Block On The Wall

It all started with a purchase request (PR) for 100mm thick hollow blocks for the walls. One of our site engineers, AH, initiated the PR requesting to order 2000pcs of 100mm thick hollow blocks. Basically, all PR passes through our department for cost coding and when this particular PR was handed to me, I became suspicious that the site is over ordering materials. At the back of my head I know that we still have such excess material on site, as I often visit the site to assess our progress for our monthly billing.

I asked our quantity surveyor, MI, to verify one more time our quantities for that particular area and we have verified that we only need 2130 hollow blocks. JZ has earlier provided us an inventory of all our blocks on site which shows that we still have +2500 100mm hollow blocks. Reserving the requirements for our other locations, we are only short of 369 blocks, making us to revise the requested quantity from 2000 down to 400 blocks.

Seeing the corrections in the PR, our purchaser once again verified the quantities with the Site Engineer if this is what he requires. AH was not pleased with the correction, insisting that he requires 2000pcs not 400. And so he cancelled the PR and issues a new one requesting, again, 2000pcs. Our procedure dictates that it will again pass through us, and again we stand firm on our calculations that we only need 400pcs.

Our deputy construction manager, JZ, called me up and asked why I am revising the quantities. I told him it is part of our job, to control our costs, and over ordering materials is impacting our costs. JZ explains that he already spoken with AH and AH requires 2000pcs. So I asked JZ where they are going to use all these 2000 blocks. JZ mumbles and said that they just need it, that’s it, and they already have spoken to the Project Manager and has authorized to proceed with the PR of 2000 blocks.

That’s it?, I said, “just because he needs it?”. I was wondering how can an engineer just sucks his finger, point at his temple and looks up to the sky and says “Oh, I need 2000 blocks”. …. Amazing.

I told JZ, “No, I am not going to sign. If we need to discuss this with the Project Manager, call your guy and we’ll discuss with the PM.” And I revised again the PR to 400pcs and scribble a note that AH, JZ and me will discuss with the PM.

This morning, they called me in the PM’s office. As I went inside, JZ and AH is already there. The PM opens the discussion by asking how much does we really require. AH is quick to say 2000pcs. So I asked how much area we are talking about. Obviously AH has done his homework this time saying the exact area which the 2000pcs could have cover. But he forgot about his wastage… not clever enough.

So I said, “that means we only need 400 blocks to order given the materials we still have on site based on the inventory provided to us earlier”. AH was surprised but seems ready for an answer. He said the inventory was wrong, we do not have +2500 blocks on site. I said “JZ has given me this inventory and the same inventory was reported to the PM. Are you telling me now that your guys made a mistake in the inventory or you’re telling me that the deputy construction manager is not checking what he is reporting to the PM”.

AH was obviously put in a difficult position, so he chose to blame the site supervisor for making a wrong inventory and he confirms that they don’t have 2500 blocks on site.

The PM decided to proceed with the 2000 blocks to order. I rest my case as they have “justified” their requirements.

But I am not ready to submit, just like that. I trust MI calculations, but I doubt the site supervisor has made a mistake in counting a 2500 block, that is huge and you just can’t simply overlooked that. I ask MI to go to site and check all the 100mm hollow blocks, get the site supervisor to count with him. MI came back and reported that we still have 1800 blocks on site.

I went to the PM and told him what we found out and stress that we don’t need to order so much. The PM is mad for the continuous misinformation going on, so he called up the Construction Manager (BG) and the Deputy Construction Manager (JZ) to discuss again the issue once and for all.

To cut the chase short, I have justified that we only need 400 blocks and everyone have agreed, though, BG is not agreeing he is overruled by the PM. Eventually, it was decided to order 1000 blocks being the minimum order. Everyone agreed and had closed the issue.

But BG is not done yet, raising the issue why I need to cross out the PR and scribble a note on it. Raising the issue about my scribbling a note on the PR is irrelevant as the case has been resolved. But I choose to answer back BG, I told him that it is our job to check quantities, and his men are insisting to order wrongly.

“But why, why you scribble a big note on the PR”, said BG.

I told him, “BG I am doing my work. Have you done your work? Have you checked what you are signing for? BG you are signing blindly. Let me do my work and you do yours”.

Mad as a lion, he said to the PM, “JL I cannot work like this, you send me back to UK right now. If Jhun does not apologize to me, I am not working anymore. You send me back to UK.”

“BG I am not going to apologize to you”. Then I excuse myself out from the PM’s room.

The PM just sits on his chair, letting BG throws his tantrums.