A contractor is behind schedule or using poor materials

Almost every engineering panel asks a version of this question, because it is the daily life of a site engineer. They are scoring four things at once: whether you check facts before you act, whether you know that the contract and the specification are your tools, whether you communicate in writing and early, and whether you can be firm without a fight. The deadline is usually mentioned on purpose, to see if you will trade quality for time.

1. 1Verify on site. Measure the real progress against the approved schedule, and test the suspect materials: a crushing test on blocks or cubes, a check of cement bags against the specified grade, a slump test. Take photos with dates.
2. 2Open the contract. Find the specification clause, the milestone dates, the liquidated damages and the clause on rejected work. Your position is stronger when you quote it.
3. 3Reject in writing. A site instruction that names the material, the test result and the clause, tells the contractor to remove it from site, and says that no payment certificate will include it. Copy your project manager.
4. 4Meet for a recovery plan. Ask the contractor for a revised programme within three days: a second crew, longer hours where safe, materials ordered earlier, tasks run in parallel. Agree it in writing and review it every week.
5. 5Report early. Tell your manager and the client the same week, with the delay in days, the cause and the plan. Early bad news is a sign of control; a late surprise is a sign of hiding.