Harbor Freight Commercial Construction Project Management
Retail
The Project
Harbor Freight Tools (HFT) elected to pursue an aggressive growth strategy, increasing their national store count first by (25) new locations, then by another (50) during the following fiscal year.
Historically HFT added approximately (10) stores per year, so the new plan was a significant departure. HFT understood that a solid process needed to be in place to accommodate a workload of up to five times their usual levels. HFT engaged QPM to provide Construction Management Services and Process Development in support of their rapid, nationwide growth plan.
QPM immediately began managing (9) locations, already in progress and due to be completed within (12) weeks. We also began working to establish processes that would ensure HFT was able to meet already-scheduled opening deadlines for these new stores.
The QPM Solution
HFT had no consistent processes or documentation available to ensure all projects followed the HFT design protocol and project schedule. QPM first completed an extensive ‘On Boarding’ Process with the HFT staff to review their entire strategy, timing and determine the best approach to ensure the aggressive schedules could be met.
Immediately following the contract award, QPM attended a meeting between our senior team members and the HFT staff. Based on this meeting, QPM’s team designed the optimum process for completing the new construction locations which resulted in these program components:
- New Construction Process Flowchart
- Program Guidebook
- Project Manager Checklist
- Program Deliverables
- Program Documents
- Service Level Agreements
- Key Performance Indicators
- Overall Program Manual
- ‘QPMProTrack’ Database for Project Tracking
While the ‘On Boarding’ Process was underway and all were determining the best processes for moving forward, there were (9) locations that started on April 1st with completion timelines set for the end of July. QPM’s team immediately started managing these locations for HFT.
Each QPM project manager worked closely with the HFT architectural consultants, real estate managers, contract administrators, procurement, store personnel, national vendors and contractors on the following items:
- Permitting
- Site Surveys
- Scope of Work oversight
- Architectural Drawing Review
- Cost estimating and budgeting
- Project Scheduling
- General contractor bid process and review
- Site Visits
- Store equipment orders
- Logistics and Delivery Schedules
- Quality Control
- ‘QPMProTrack’ Reporting
- Change order review
- Pay application review
- Punch List
- Close out documentation
The Results
Based on QPM’s ability to successfully ‘On Board’ this client and develop the necessary processes to support their aggressive growth strategy, HFT successfully met their original goal of (25) new stores within a 4-month timeframe. In addition, the processes and documents now in place will allow HFT to continue their plan of an additional (50) locations by the end of their fiscal year.
Most importantly, QPM was able to develop not only the optimum process for HFT to follow but also an Accelerated Plan/Process that could be used when the project timelines are much faster than originally planned. HFT can now accelerate and project timeline, if need be.
‘QPMProTrack’ has provided a customized, tracking system for HFT to monitor all project progress including real estate development, due diligence and all aspects of the construction process.
QPM’s ability helped HFT plan for their growth strategy but also provided a flexible solution that immediately began managing the projects already underway.
