IAN MILFORD
Chief Executing Officer, Al Tayer Stocks – Building and Interior Divisions
The most important asset of any business is its people. Meeting the accelerated needs of this region requires the right personnel. Our workforce consists of knowledgeable professionals who carry out their tasks in accordance with our ISO processes and procedures delivering the highest quality of work.
At Al Tayer Stocks, we are continuously striving for improvement and therefore we seek innovative solutions to the daily challenges we may encounter daily in the construction industry. Four years ago, we made the discovery of Matterport 3D scanning, which we believed was really helpful for both our clients and consultants as well as ourselves.
3D scanning using Matterport has proven crucial to the advancement of our efficiencies. Our in-house scanning team performs weekly or biweekly scans of each of our active projects (over 20 live sites throughout the region), allowing our Project Managers to utilize the scans in progress meetings. With the help of this application, our international clients may virtually visit their sites, giving us the opportunity to address any potential problems early and find quick solutions.
The sound financial standing of our company allows us to meet the fast-paced needs of our customers. It enables us to start working right away, without delay, so that we can finish the project on time.
What is a common misconception about contractors that most people have? What is your reaction or opinion of it?
The two prominent misconceptions, in my opinion, are regarding high profit margin percentages and non specification compliancy.
The risk that a contractor is required to take on no longer has a corresponding profit as a reward margin. Margins for contractors are currently slim, yet it is perceived that they are adding bigger percentages. The region is experiencing an influx of contractors of varying calibres, and specification compliance is inconsistent. As a company, we take pride in adhering to the project’s requirements and appreciating the design and the final result that the end user desires.
What changes do you wish to witness in the design processes of the region? Are there any practices in particular that delay or hamper schedules?
Designing to budget and earlier contractor engagement. We believe that as a contractor we can add significant value to the process earlier than traditional procurement routes by collaborating with the professional consultant team to mitigate potential risks from the project i.e., programme and cost. All projects have their own specific complexities, therefore by bringing our on-site technical construction experience to the table earlier in the process, we can establish an aligned approach.
As a contractor, what are some practices that designers and clients can adopt from their end to aid you in delivering projects on time and within budget?
Collaborative workshops are key to ensuring projects are delivered on time and to budget, quicker decision-making and enhanced trust on contractors technical expertise and buildability knowledge will go a long way in saving time, energy and finances.
Being well-established in the region, what do you think is the key to thriving in the UAE?
After operating effectively and profitability in the UAE for almost 25 years, we have a thorough understanding and respect for the complete interior fit out eco system; including leasing, Project Management Consultancies, designing, main contracting, and supply chain partners.
As previously stated, our greatest asset is our workforce, some of whom have worked for the company for over 20 years. They are seasoned professionals who adopt the collaborative, proactive, and transparent style for which Al Tayer Stocks is known.
Yet another aspect is our solid relationships with clients and consultants. We work hard to create, develop, maintain and cherish the solid connections we have made in the region over the past 25 years. We achieve this by continuously delivering quality that is on time, safely, and within budget.
Selecting the right supply chain partners is imperative to the success of each project we undertake – as a contractor we are nothing without our supply chain and we are very aware of that fact. We have cultivated our strong working relationships with our supply chain, many of whom we have worked alongside for more than 10 years.
We understand that construction is pivotal to the UAE’s economy, as the sector draws on services from a huge range of industries. As a fully-owned UAE company, we are committed to strengthening the local economy. We recently completed the evaluation for the In Country Value (ICV) program which aims to support the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology’s mandate of improving the productivity and sustainability of the UAE’s industrial sector. It evaluates our contribution to the local economy and we were delighted to acquire an attested certification demonstrating our strong contribution.
Over the decades you have worked in the region, what do you think are the top priorities of clients here? Where do you think the future of contractors in construction is headed?
Since the UAE is such a vibrant, quick-paced region, programme and budget have always been of utmost importance to clients. However, only recently have we as a company noticed a movement on the part of some mature clients and developers to prioritise quality and guaranteed delivery.
These are often clients who have encountered challenging project deliveries and value the contribution of experienced contractors on their projects as a result.
We think the industry is beginning to value the involvement of experienced contractors and this will continue to improve. We foresee a more synergetic partnership-based involvement with contractors in the future, as has been seen in many European construction markets, we anticipate a future where interaction with contractors will be increasingly centred on synergistic partnerships.
There is a need for this considering the increased complexities in delivering sustainable projects, which is no longer a need, but a must.
Whilst the fundamental principles of a construction process remain, the future will include an element of Virtual Reality/3D scanning to enhance some of the inefficiencies previously experienced.
Is there a region in the world you admire most for the organization and methods of construction?
For more than ten years, I worked in the London construction industry. I was impressed by the logistical difficulties faced when building in a crowded city and how these were overcome, just like in the United Arab Emirates.
Regardless of how big or small the task, there was always a genuine sense of pride and ownership in the work that each profession performed. Each person was an expert at what they specialised in. Since health, safety, and the environment were of the utmost concern in the UK more than 15 years ago, my experiences have left me with strong convictions in these areas. Perhaps the European standards were not felt in the UAE 15 years ago, however I have seen huge growth over the years with regards to the UAE’s Health and Safety awareness and I now feel it has reached that high level.
We have been on the journey in the region in the past for over two decades and have also received the Abu Dhabi Municipality Golden Helmet award for the 2nd year running.
