Building in Benefits

Introduction

For a number of years we have been working with construction industry clients to help manage information related to key processes within their businesses. Using a combination of core People Inc. features and bespoke functionality added with the system’s design tools, we have provide a feature-rich system tailored to the specific needs of the construction industry. Key areas that this covers are training and training needs, and compliance with legislation.

Looking at some of the the administrative challenges faced by these organisations, our aim was to simplify the management of information relating to key processes, and ensure compliance with industry-related legislation. Some clients had been struggling to manage employee information using spreadsheets and diary reminders, and in some cases using paper files. Building a system that meets the needs of a particular sector really showcases the strengths and flexibility provided by the People Inc. software.

Following a thorough analysis of the needs of the construction industry sector, it was clear that there were some obvious areas where People Inc. could help right away. The standard People Inc. system provides comprehensive functionality to manage training needs and course administration. The system gives users the ability to assign mandatory training (per role) and display this information in a Training Matrix, highlighting training needs and providing alerts when refresher training is due.

Training Matrix

The People Inc. Training Matrix feature is designed to help manage employee training records. Available as a Windows plug-in and via a web-browser, it presents employee training records in a grid and highlights mandatory courses, overdue training, training that has expired, and training needs that have not yet been satisfied. Users can book employees onto courses directly from the grid view. Click on the blue button for more information.

More Information

Training Matrix

 

Training Matrix

Custom functionality added as part of this project included features to help manage CITB grant funding applications, the provision of information on skills and qualifications for teams assigned to client projects, and a feature to manage CSCS card records and renewals.

Construction Industry Benefits

A number of features and benefits are considered key to construction industry projects. These are designed to:

• Enhance the standard training management screens to enable clients to schedule and monitor staff training, assign training needs when new equipment, products or processes are introduced, and comply with health and safety legislation.
• Provide a Training Matrix based on individual job roles. This not only helps to visualise where training is needed, but can also be used to ensure that a group of employees includes individuals with the right skill-sets.
• Record copies of training certificates and other documentation against individual records as evidence that training has been completed. This also helps with the quality standard compliance and can also be provided to clients as evidence that training has taken place.
• Trigger training renewal reminders with sufficient time to organise refresher training courses and schedule staff onto a suitable session. Send out e-mail notification to staff to request details of their availability.
• Pre-populate the system with details of the most common construction industry courses (updated as the changes to CITB grant funding takes place).
• Identify training and development activities that qualify for CITB grant funding and the availability of this funding.
• Record and track CITB grant funding payments against qualifying training and development activities
• Provide comprehensive functionality to enable training staff to manage the administration of training courses and course bookings. The system generates course invitations and joining instructions, and attendance information can be fed back into the system once training is completed.
• Manage CSCS card records and renewals, including the generation of automated reminders as expiry dates are reached.
• Record details of professional memberships, including details of any fees, the status of these and the expiry dates.
• Manage training budgets by company, by cost centre, by location, by division. Budgets can be allocated annually or left open-ended. Training spend is automatically assigned to a specific budget.
• Provide a wide range of reports detailing information from all areas of the system (training completed, training planned, training needs, by team, by location, by company, financial analysis, performance analysis, etc.)
• Enable users to produce future training plans, including scheduling, costs, resources required, etc.

Adding functionality to People Inc.

A number of easy-to-use design tools are provided as standard with the People Inc. system. These enable clients to add new functionality to the system. Users can add to the content and layout of existing screens; they can also add new screens to manage custom information. This information can be included in any system automation (or workflow), and used in reports and letters. Access to new screens can be controlled user-by-user, and if larger populations of users require access, this can be achieved via a web browser. New features can be developed off-line in a development version of the system, and then transferred to the live system using our Screen Manager application.

More Information

Please contact us (01908 265111) for more information about the benefits of using People Inc. within the construction industry sector.