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CONTENTS

1. ECI News
2. ECI Events - register online below
3. ECI Master Classes- register online below
4. Other Events/News - register online below
5. Publications - order online

1. ECI News

Supporting members in the global market - ECI strategy for 2007-2011
The general members’ meeting – the ‘Board of Advisers’ – was held recently in Delft. It agreed the main elements of ECI’s strategy for the period 2007-2011. This will be an exciting time, building on the solid achievements of the past, while extending and refining the programme to increase the benefits of membership. Six main elements were agreed:

1.
 To extend ECI’s coverage beyond Western Europe to support members’ activities globally
2.
 To bring together ECI knowledge under revised and broadened ‘ACTIVE’ principles, supported by regularly updated value enhancing practices and company and project measurement and benchmarking. This work is already under way through the Euro ACTIVE Task Force, chaired by Howard Railton of Air Products.
 
3.
 		 To build a programme of work looking at future trends in the global construction industry. The BoA agreed to establish a standing task force to develop work in this area.
4.
 To expand the programme of conferences, workshops, seminars and master classes. Most of ECI’s activities are in the Benelux, Italy and the UK. However, members are active throughout Europe and beyond, and expanding the programme of events to other locations is essential.
5.
 To double membership to by 2011, with a clear package of measurable benefits. To help the recruitment campaign, the Executive Committee is considering ways of expanding the range of benefits to be included as part of the membership package. As a first step, the following changes were adopted with immediate effect:
 
 
  • All ECI members will be entitled to participate in all ECI activities: smaller members will not be restricted to regional units only
  • Membership classes were revised as follows:
    • Small companies
    • Education/non-profit organisation
    • Larger companies
  • An 50% discount for members for all priced items (paper copies of reports, attendance at conferences, workshops, master classes)
  • Free unlimited downloads of post-2004 reports
  • Access to the Euro ACTIVE workbook and company and project measurement to be limited to members

Further benefits, for instance a certain number of places at conferences, workshops and master classes, could be added: the Executive Committee wants to be sure that this is financially feasible.
6.
 To build the profile. A sustained campaign to build ECI’s profile is being developed by the
Executive Committee. This will cover existing members, potential/former members and other interested parties. It will bring together ECI’s marketing activities with clear targets and a timetable, making use of the resources of member companies

The Executive Committee will now take these principles forward, developing a detailed business plan for the period 2007-2011, to be put to the Autumn general meeting. Views/suggestions are welcome – please e-mail Gareth Thomas, ECI Operations Director or telephone the ECI office on +44 (0) 1509 228797.


Italian Regional Unit shows the way – ECI’s first course on plant construction
On 18 May, ECI’s Italian Regional Unit (IRU) completed its first course on plant project execution. Held in Milan, the course was organised jointly with ANIMP (Associazione Nazionale di Impiantistica Industriale) and OICE (Associazione delle organizzationi di ingeneria, di architettura e di consulenza tecnico-economico).

A total of 30 delegates attended, from eleven companies. While most were mechanical engineers, other disciplines were also represented, including chemical and civil engineering.

The course dealt with a broad range of current best-practice topics, including prefabrication and modularisation, constructability, contracts, personnel, cost control, PPP and risk management. A number of case studies were presented to illustrate the main themes. Delegates response was strongly affirmative – they described the experience as ‘stimulating’, ‘enriching’, ‘more than positive’, worthy of ‘full marks’.

The IRU is now planning one-day, in-depth workshops on topics of key interest. These are likely to be held in November, in Milan. Watch this space for details, or email ECI.


ECI Benelux and UK units to take lead on multi-cultural project teams
Multi-cultural project teams pose particular issues, including:

  • Culture and competence
  • Risks
  • Team effectiveness

Members would like to see ECI develop practical guidance, based on real-life experience. The Benelux and UK units have risen to the challenge and will be launching a programme of work later in 2006.

Members interested in participating in this new task force should email Gareth Thomas, ECI Operations Director

2. ECI Events

ECI Summer Workshop
Thursday 29 June 2006
British Nuclear Group, Risley, Cheshire

This one day of workshops is organised by ECI UK. It is open to all – ECI members and non-members alike – from throughout Europe.The increasingly global nature of both markets and competition, together with the growing shortage of available skills and resources, underline the need for companies to adapt and innovate. Each workshop will focus in depth on a particular issue. A speaker will introduce the topic, followed by facilitated session of sharing and discussion. The focus will be on the practical steps that companies and ECI can take to help improve performance.

This is a free event however places are strictly limited, so register quickly by e-mailing Anu Khandelwal or tel the ECI office on +44 (0)1509 228797 or visit the ECI website for further information and the flyer.


ECI Benelux Dinner Lecture
Thursday 21 September 2006
Delft University of Technology

The Living Building Concept itself is a framework wherein value plays an equally significant role as the cost of a construction work. This takes account of the value and the cost of a construction work for all stakeholders during its entire life cycle, instead of just cost at the time of the project delivery. Value and cost need to be managed and controlled in a dynamic fashion during the entire life cycle. This approach has widespread consequences for the relationships between stakeholders , the methods of tendering construction works , the assignment of tasks and the sharing of responsibilities and risks. The ‘ Living Building’ concept provides a consistent and coherent way for stakeholders to collaborate in order to increase the benefit for the entire demand chain from users to the society as a whole as well as profit for the various players in the supply chain. During the Dinner Lecture not only the theoretical basis of the Living Building Concept will be presented but also the practical implications will be outlined , illustrated with a range of examples. Prof. Hennes de Ridder, Operations Director of ECI Benelux, is head of the section Design and Construction Processes at the Delft University of Technology, as well as executive director of De Ridder Consult. His specialisations are hydraulic engineering , risk management and systems engineering. For 25 years he worked at HBG , a large Dutch contractor , in particular on large civil engineering projects such as the Storm Surge Barrier in the Eastern Schelde , Lac du Nord Tunis , Ekofisk Protective Barrier and the Storm Surge Barrier Rotterdam.

To register, or for more information, contact Daniëlle Timmer or telephone +31 15 278 9061.

3. ECI Master Classes 2006

Global Safety
Date: Thurs 8 June
Venue: Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
Tutors: Kristiaan Heinen, Heinen Safety: Guido Simons, Fluor

ECI’s manual on global safety Construction Health and Safety in Developing Countries forms the basis for this Master Class. The task force on this topic has put together an invaluable source of help and information for those responsible for the management of health and safety on construction projects. During the Master Class issues of infrastructure , language , literacy , local practices and politics as well as personal protective equipment , security , weather extremes and workers’ families will be addressed. The day also includes a discussion about the pros and cons of an assessment tool for developing countries like China , India , Iraq and Nigeria and two case studies about projects situated in developing countries.

To register, or for more information, contact Daniëlle Timmer or telephone +31 15 278 9061.


 Managing People on Projects
Date: Thurs 22 June
Venue: Etrop Grange Hotel, Manchester Airport
Tutor: Stephen Weatherley

In any enterprise, the performance of people is important if success is to be achieved. This is especially so on construction projects where the ability of people to work together effectively to achieve a common result is essential. However, experience has shown that putting people from different organisations together and expecting them to work together in a co-ordinated way on interdependent tasks to achieve a common project objective is difficult.

Managing such project teams requires both skill and judgement, and the adoption of practices and behaviours which will facilitate a successful end result. This Master Class will introduce delegates to value enhancing practices (VEP's) which will help busy project team leaders and managers to develop strategies for leading, empowering and managing teams of people on projects to achieve high performance results.

This masterclass is for anyone who has a management or leadership role within projects including project directors, project managers, team leaders, contract managers, construction managers, design leaders and functional managers. It is also applicable to those in management support roles, HR managers, consultants, project control managers etc.

For further information and to register for the above UK masterclass please contact Anu Khandelwal at the ECI office on +44 (0) 1509 228797 or visit the ECI website at http://www.eci-online.org/pages/events.html, where the full 2006 programme is available.

4. Other Events/News

Innovation East Midlands ( UK)
- A free seminar exploring relationships between business and academia
Date: 28 June 2006
Venue: Loughborough University, UK

  • Are you a small or medium-sized enterprise looking for business growth?
  • Does your company need business or research support for an innovative idea?
  • What support is available from universities, development agencies, large companies, etc?
  • Would you like to work with a large company and become part of its supply chain?
  • Are you working in a large company looking for new suppliers?
  • Are you a researcher able to offer assistance to companies?

This regional seminar about the links between academia and industry, with particular emphasis on small and medium size enterprises, will be of interest to you. A brochure giving full details of this FREE event, with a registration form can be found at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/business/supporting-smes.html.


European Institute for Industrial Leadership - June workshops
12th - 13th    SUS 9    Corporate Governance: Leading the Sustainable Company
14th - 16th    MCE 6    Successful Multi-cultural Mergers
20th - 23rd    HPL 7    Making Organisations Effective, Leading Teams of Teams
28th - 29th    LPG 9    Company Turnarounds and Fixes - the ultimate leadership challenge

 All workshops will be held at the European Institute for Industrial Leadership, Chateau Latour de Freins. The chateau is situated in the forest surroundings of Uccle, about 20 mins from the centre of Brussels. For more information and to register for any of the above events please visit www.eiil.net or contact secretariat@eiil.net


Other EIIL news
MIL Fellowships 2006/7
Applications are being considered now for four full-time fellowship places for EIIL’s 2006 / 2007 Master of Industrial Leadership (MIL) programme. Applications for the programme - which runs from September 2006 to July 2007 and comprises all MIL modules - must be received at the Institute no later than June 10, 2006.

[MIL course details can be found at:
http://www.eiil.net/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=6&Itemid=36

This one year post-graduate programme is for professional engineers, scientists and technologists and is the only one of its kind in Europe. Participants will be able to build on their existing capabilities and develop a greater business understanding, and the skills and aptitude needed to become leaders in the modern industrial market.

The tuition fee for a full-time place on the programme - which is normally ?35,058 - has been waived by the EIIL as part of its commitment to European industry. Successful applicants for a Fellowship place must be able to guarantee their full-time participation on the course and be able to meet their own accommodation and subsistence costs in Brussels during the year. 

Criteria for application
- Graduate of recognised academic institute
- 5-10 years’ experience in industry with some direct supervisory or line management responsibility
- Ability to demonstrate leadership qualities in current role
- Recognised high potential, supported by two senior industrial referees 

Contact
To apply for a Fellowship, or for further information, please contact the secretariat at secretariat@eiil.net or use the online registration form at:
http://www.eiil.net/mambo/index.php?option=com_philaform&form_id=3&Itemid=1

5. Publications

NEW
Construction Health and Safety in Developing Countries
ISBN 1873844 63 8

This manual has been written following a one-year research project at Loughborough University by the ECI Safety, Health and Environment Task Force, investigating the implications on health and safety of carrying out engineering and construction projects in developing countries.

Copies are now available for purchase from the ECI office at £40.00 to members and £80.00 to non-members.

OTHER RECENT PUBLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE
Managing people on construction projects
ISBN 1 873844 61 1

This major new ECI publication will introduce a suite of practical techniques to underpin effective project teamwork, leadership and empowerment strategies. Essential for all those involved with managing teams.

This publication is now available to purchase from the ECI office at £40.00 to members and £60.00 to non-members.

Project development and definition handbook
ISBN 1 873844 61 1

Effective project definition is a cornerstone of good practice. Engineering and construction projects are important components of business investment processes. Unless projects are properly defined, their chances of success are slim, often posing a significant risk to the overall business.

This ECI manual, written by Chris Fox, will be an essential tool for clients, contractors, advisers and suppliers.

 This publication is now available to purchase from the ECI office at £40.00 to members and £60.00 to non-members.

ECI Pricing system for piping works - version 2
ISBN 1 873844 60 3

Since the initial publication in 2002, a number of owners, EPC contractors and construction contractors in our industry have applied the ECI Pricing System for Piping Works successfully on different types of project at various locations. Their contribution in providing comments and suggested improvements is highly appreciated and enabled the ECI Benelux Subcontracting Task Force to prepare this 'Revision 2005' of the system. In addition, a number of modifications were required to better support further automation of the execution work processes that interface with the system.

The system provides a structured approach designed to reduce bidding costs for owners and contractors alike, it includes a spreadsheet with multipliers on a CD-ROM, not a ready-made software package, but simple enough to integrate into any company's existing software.

This publication is now available to purchase from the ECI office at £40.00 to members and £60.00 to non-members.

A full list of publications available to purchase from ECI can be found on the publications page of the ECI website or contact Anu Khandelwal at the ECI office.

To learn more about the European Construction Institute (ECI), its members and work, please visit
the ECI website: http://www.eci-online.org/ or contact the ECI office on tel: +44 (0)1509 223526.

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For any feedback please e-mail: Eci.newsletter@lboro.ac.uk or call the ECI office on Tel: +44 (0) 1509 223526.

Thank you for your continued interest in ECI