SPECIALTY MIXESSPECIALTY MIXES

The Contractors PerspectiveThe Contractors Perspective

The ProcessThe Process

• The TeamThe Team• The BudgetThe Budget• The Lab/ TrialsThe Lab/ Trials• The RoadThe Road

THE TEAMTHE TEAM

• Typically 3 PartnersTypically 3 Partners

• OwnerOwner

• ConsultantConsultant

• ContractorContractor• To Tender or not to Tender?To Tender or not to Tender?

THE TEAM - THE TEAM - GROUPGROUP

• All parties need to take full ownership of All parties need to take full ownership of the productthe product

• Be Honest with yourself and one Be Honest with yourself and one anotheranother

• Be Patient Identify strengths and Be Patient Identify strengths and support weaknesssupport weakness

• Spend time discussing the project with Spend time discussing the project with all three partners all three partners

THE TEAM - THE TEAM - GROUPGROUP

• Each partner develops an awareness of Each partner develops an awareness of the other Partners and what they need the other Partners and what they need to get out of the projectto get out of the project

• Don’t try to get something out of the Don’t try to get something out of the contractorcontractor

THE TEAM - THE TEAM - CONTRACTORCONTRACTOR

• Do not enter in the partnership looking for a Do not enter in the partnership looking for a cash windfallcash windfall

THE TEAM - THE TEAM - CONTRACTORCONTRACTOR

• Treat this as an opportunity to increase Treat this as an opportunity to increase your companies knowledge and skillsyour companies knowledge and skills

• Senior Management must demonstrate Senior Management must demonstrate the Company’s commitmentthe Company’s commitment

THE BUDGET - THE BUDGET - GROUPGROUP

• Go into as much detail as possibleGo into as much detail as possible• This creates confidence and reduces This creates confidence and reduces

perceived riskperceived risk• Allow for detailed costing reduces “Fudge Allow for detailed costing reduces “Fudge

Factor” Factor” • All decisions must consider the end result All decisions must consider the end result • It may take a couple of iterations to get all the It may take a couple of iterations to get all the

costs rightcosts right

THE BUDGET - THE BUDGET - CONTRACTORCONTRACTOR

• Do not call it “Hot and Black”Do not call it “Hot and Black”• Do recognize the product is different Do recognize the product is different

from Everyday Hot Mixfrom Everyday Hot Mix• Do not treat the project as just another Do not treat the project as just another

days productiondays production

RESOURCES and LOGISTICSRESOURCES and LOGISTICS

• Almost all Specialty Mixes require very Almost all Specialty Mixes require very specialized materialsspecialized materials

• Custom AggregatesCustom Aggregates

• Crumb RubberCrumb Rubber

• Performance Graded AsphaltsPerformance Graded Asphalts

• Proprietary (4Proprietary (4thth & 5 & 5thth Party) Materials Party) Materials

• Mineral FillersMineral Fillers

RESOURCES and LOGISTICSRESOURCES and LOGISTICS

• Not all contractors are blessed with Not all contractors are blessed with infinite resourcesinfinite resources

• Introduction of special additives may Introduction of special additives may require expensive modifications to require expensive modifications to facilitiesfacilities

• Sacrificing modifications may impact Sacrificing modifications may impact mix qualitymix quality

RESOURCES and LOGISTICSRESOURCES and LOGISTICS

• Understand that the Contractor is trying Understand that the Contractor is trying to participate in the project while also to participate in the project while also trying to run a business.trying to run a business.

THE LAB/ TRIALS - THE LAB/ TRIALS - GROUPGROUP

• Verify that the materials you have Verify that the materials you have selected will produce the desired resultselected will produce the desired result

• Ensure the Mix design is producibleEnsure the Mix design is producible• TRIAL! TRIAL! TRIAL!TRIAL! TRIAL! TRIAL!• Do not lose patience at this pointDo not lose patience at this point• Do not push through this processDo not push through this process• ALL parties must agree to move forwardALL parties must agree to move forward

THE LAB/ TRIALS- THE LAB/ TRIALS- CONTRACTORCONTRACTOR

• Use this part of the process to educate your Use this part of the process to educate your peoplepeople

• Explain how the product may differ in Explain how the product may differ in manufacturing and laydown from their manufacturing and laydown from their “normal” mixes i.e.. Mixing Temp, Rolling “normal” mixes i.e.. Mixing Temp, Rolling Patterns etc.Patterns etc.

• Your attention to detail at this point will Your attention to detail at this point will increase “buy-in” and improve their increase “buy-in” and improve their performanceperformance

THE LAB/ TRIALS - THE LAB/ TRIALS - CONTRACTORCONTRACTOR

• Use this process to get the BUGS out.Use this process to get the BUGS out.• Trials can be very frustration!Trials can be very frustration!

• DO NOT “GOTO THE ROAD” UNTIL DO NOT “GOTO THE ROAD” UNTIL YOU ARE COMFORTABLE YOU ARE COMFORTABLE

THE CONTRACTTHE CONTRACT

• Involve the ContractorInvolve the Contractor• This is still an experimentThis is still an experiment• Modify Standard documents to reflect Modify Standard documents to reflect

the Team's objectivesthe Team's objectives• Ensure that performance penalties are Ensure that performance penalties are

appropriate and fair.appropriate and fair.

THE ROAD - THE ROAD - GROUPGROUP

• Owners and consultants need to Owners and consultants need to recognize that the contractors recognize that the contractors employees are not used to their employees are not used to their presence and often feel “under the presence and often feel “under the microscope”microscope”

• If you have concerns direct them toward If you have concerns direct them toward the appropriate person do not direct the the appropriate person do not direct the crewcrew

THE ROAD - THE ROAD - CONTRACTORCONTRACTOR

• Increased supervision is requiredIncreased supervision is required• Increased QC is requiredIncreased QC is required• Special attention needs to be provided Special attention needs to be provided

to the critical issuesto the critical issues

• Rolling patternsRolling patterns

• Mixing temperatures etc.Mixing temperatures etc.