I Design Telephone Seminars

ITIl V3 SOATraining In Bangalore Contact Service Desk1800-200-2003 QLogy wishes you a Joyous and Prosperous New Year. QLogy has a credit of introducing offers every year. This New Year, QLogy offers you never before discounts on its training services across India. We strive hard to provide much better offers and discounts to all our customer base and here comes the never before offer for the year 2012. Please find below the details of the OFFER 2012 OFFER  more...

Wellness Programs: Rewards, Penalties, Legal Risks, and Legal Developments BenefitsWellness programs played a central role in the health reform debate. Health care reform clearly demonstrates the desire of Congress and the President to encourage wellness programs and healthy lifestyles to control the cost of health insurance. Much of their interest is based on success stories from the private sector. Despite regulatory uncertainties, rising health insurance costs have  more...

Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts BenefitsYou will receive an intense practical analysis of intentionally defective grantor trusts - an often overlooked estate planning tool. Emphasis will be placed on the practical how-to-do-it instruction as opposed to a recitation of case law in the area. The speaker will concentrate on when to use this technique, how to design these trusts, and their place in comparison to other estate  more...

Fair Housing Act Design and Construction Requirements BenefitsThis live audio conference will provide an overview of the design and construction requirements of the Fair Housing Act. We will focus on specific building types that are required to comply, safe harbors and practical application of the design and construction requirements. The presenters have worked with residential builders across the country providing plan and construction reviews. In  more...

Essential Concepts In Construction Contracting BenefitsThis live audio conference is designed to educate persons responsible for construction contracting about project delivery systems, basic concepts and contract terms, and the allocation and avoidance of risk in construction contracts. Pitfalls for the unwary will be addressed, especially when using standard form agreements and informal contracting on small projects. This program is  more...

What You Need to Know About Section 404 Permits BenefitsAny proposed project involving wetlands or other waters of the United States is likely to require some type of permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. As the federal agency responsible for regulating impacts to wetlands, the Corps' regulations and the permit process can represent a significant part of a project's development. The identification of wetlands or other waters on a  more...

Flexible Spending Accounts BenefitsMany employee benefit plan sponsors are unaware of all the complex rules governing flexible spending accounts. In this session you will receive a thorough overview of the numerous plan design considerations and legal requirements of flexible spending accounts. This knowledge will enable you to avoid running afoul of rules that could jeopardize the tax-favored status of your plans. This  more...

Best Practices in Networking and Referral Generation BenefitsReal estate is a relationship business. Without developing techniques to foster long-term business relationships, you cannot succeed in the new age of global competition. Studies conclude that effective networking both face-to-face or via the Internet is not easy even for the seasoned professional. This live audio conference will help you learn the strategies to guide you through the  more...

Best Practices in Networking and Referral Generation BenefitsReal estate is a relationship business. Without developing techniques to foster long-term business relationships, you cannot succeed in the new age of global competition. Studies conclude that effective networking both face-to-face or via the Internet is not easy even for the seasoned professional. This live audio conference will help you learn the strategies to guide you through the  more...

Strategies for Successful Mixed Use Development BenefitsThe ideals and reality of mixed use as the preferred urban form are still in their relative infancy as part of the 21st century development vocabulary. Ironically, the ideals behind the tremendous push for this development form reference the urban fabric of our oldest cities. The driving factors behind the attraction to the mixed use model include current trends and attitudes toward a more  more...

Health Savings Accounts BenefitsThis live audio conference will explain the basic rules for eligibility, contributions and use of an HSA with a high deductible plan. It will also review current studies on whether HSAs are achieving the goal of reducing total health care costs through consumerism. Focusing on the final comparability rules for employer contributions and updates on the new contribution limits and IRS  more...

The New ADA Design Standards: When, Where and How? BenefitsOn September 15, 2010, the Department of Justice adopted new design standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act, including the 2004 ADA and ABA guidelines. This live audio conference will provide you with an overview of the new rules, highlights of the major changes, and the potential implications for your business and clients. Presenters include two of the past chairs of the U.S.  more...

Potholes: Causes, Maintenance and Pitfalls BenefitsRoads are built to provide a safe and comfortable ride for road users. To fill this function, a pavement surface must be smooth, thus free of breaches such as potholes. Potholes are circular holes in asphalt pavement extending through an entire pavement layer. In certain conditions, they develop in a matter of hours. If potholes are not fixed immediately after they appear, a safety risk  more...

Extensive Green Roof Design BenefitsThe market for green roofs in North America has grown dramatically in the last 10 years. Green roofs, while still only a tiny fraction of the overall roofing and landscaping market have become increasingly important in the green building marketplace. As with many young markets there are common misconceptions, and like many other green building techniques there is a lot of hype surrounding  more...

Problems and Risks Associated With Green Construction BenefitsThe public hears many benefits of pursuing environmental building, aka green or sustainable design and construction, as this emerging market segment continues to expand. Diverse owner/developer groups are embracing these modern technologies, design elements and operational models. However, when packaged together, green design strategies and systems can present unique new challenges in risk  more...

AIA Document D503(TM) - 2011: Guide for Sustainable Projects BenefitsThe movement toward a sustainable built environment is rapidly evolving, significantly impacting the way buildings are planned, designed, constructed and used. Different and potentially competing forces, such as owners' goals, code requirements, and basic liability considerations, can impact the sustainable objective targeted for a project and the sustainable measures needed to achieve the  more...

How to Develop an Effective Mentoring Program BenefitsCreating a structured mentoring program is a powerful way to support the personal growth and career development of employees. Mentoring also enhances the stability and productivity of an organization through employee retention, succession planning, transfer of knowledge, and leadership development. The problem is that many businesses believe that mentoring consists of just 'putting two  more...

Construction Management At-Risk Fundamentals BenefitsProject delivery systems continue to evolve as owners and contractors continue to look for better ways to manage the risks associated with the time and money it takes to get from project concept to project completion. The adversarial nature of the traditional design-bid-build approach has led many to look for ways to create more collaborative approaches. Construction management at-risk is  more...

Reading and Understanding Soil Reports BenefitsJust because you have hired a consultant to provide a soils report does not necessarily mean it will be put to good use. Many of the terms and even the recommendations given in soils reports could use some explanation. This live audio conference will help you understand what type of soils report you may need, the technical terms found within the soils report, what is really the important  more...

Bikeway Design Principles, Planning, and Best Practices BenefitsBicycling is gaining popularity in the United States as a recreational activity and a utilitarian mode of transportation. By expanding their bikeway networks, cities throughout the US have increased bicycle ridership and broadened the transportation options available in their community. However, significant barriers to bicycling keep many could-be riders off of their bikes. Additionally,  more...

Effective Quality Control and Quality Assurance BenefitsDelivering quality in building design and construction faces two major challenges. The first is that buildings are becoming ever more complex and less resilient against normal use. HVAC, Controls, and Lighting systems in even simple buildings can be quite challenging and innovative. Building enclosure technology is rapidly changing with new ideas such as rainscreen walls and air barriers.  more...

Writing Job Descriptions BenefitsA frequent challenge for many employers in launching compensation initiatives, or completing organizational re-design, is a general difficulty in collecting and delivering accurate and timely job documentation. The focus of this live audio conference is to reinforce the importance of proper job documentation and provide strategies on how to build and maintain a library of accurate job  more...

Solar Photovoltaics: How Do You Get This Stuff On Your Roof Anyway? BenefitsAttend our live audio conference and get your questions and answers about installing photovoltaics! We will discuss advantages and disadvantages to off grid installations, how modules and batteries are wired, how to ready a structure for PV and some of the do's and don'ts. Rebates, tax credits and other incentives will also be covered. Lessons learned and fire code changes will be  more...

How to Design Parking Lots That Work BenefitsThis live audio conference will be of great benefit to architects, engineers, developers and contractors. You will learn how to acquire a potential property, how to design and maintain surface parking lots. We will not only devote time to surface features, such as pavements, drainage and striping, but will also discuss the importance of paying attention to soil preparation and pavement  more...

Shop Drawings and Other Construction Submittals: Legal and Architectural Perspectives BenefitsThere is perhaps no aspect of construction which is more misunderstood and more fraught with the potential for confusion, than the shop drawing submittal process. When the process breaks down, the result can be deficient work, economic loss and even disastrous collapse. This live audio conference will help you understand your responsibility and risks in the shop drawings submittal process,  more...

Closing Budget Gaps With Asset Sales BenefitsThe lingering Great Recession and slow recovery have diminished the growth of state and local government revenues while expenses continue their increase causing structural budget gaps. A new source of revenue is the sale or conversion of government assets into revenues. These revenues may be one-time proceeds of asset sales, leases and franchise fees, redevelopment of existing buildings,  more...

Pervious Pavement Alternatives BenefitsPorous pavements are becoming one of the most important tools for meeting nonpoint source pollution goals, building low-impact developments and rehabilitating cities in a sustainable manner. However designers, developers and municipal officials are reluctant to use porous pavements until numerous questions about their practicality and feasibility are answered. This audio conference conveys  more...

Architect and Engineer Liability in California BenefitsThis audio conference will provide a general understanding of the legal risk facing a design professional in California. The program will discuss important contractual obligations, concerns relating to negligence claims, and statutory obligations every design professional should be aware of. The audio conference will cover key contractual language and insurance issues, negligence standards  more...

The Essentials of Wastewater Grit Removal BenefitsWastewater treatment plant personnel and consulting engineers have a common desire, select a grit removal system to remove as much grit as possible from their operations. A properly designed and operated grit removal system prevents grit build up in unit processes, scouring and plugging in lines, and fouling of diffusers and membranes, all while preserving the intended service life of the  more...

LEED Credits That Don't Break the Bank! BenefitsLEED project teams often fail to harvest the incentives and rebates that are commonly available to high-performing buildings. Furthermore, teams rarely plan ahead and build the incentive opportunities into their design and construction strategies to ensure that all available dollars are captured. This results in projects going over budget, designers having to choose sub-par systems as a  more...

Owner Construction Risk: How a Controlled Insurance Program Can Protect Your Assets BenefitsOwners and contractors have been subject to increased litigation arising from risks created by construction operations. However, due to changes in the insurance market, contractors are increasingly challenged to secure insurance coverage to meet owner insurance requirements. As a result, many owners have turned to incepting an owner-controlled insurance program or relying on a  more...

Implied Obligations in Construction Contracts BenefitsWhen parties enter into construction or design contracts there may be numerous implied obligations that arise under law or in equity. These implied obligations should be carefully considered by owners, design professionals and contractors. These implied obligations apply to most construction and design contracts unless a specific contractual provision is provided in the contract that  more...

The Secrets of Successful Customer Onboarding BenefitsMany companies do not provide an orientation to new customers. This results in customer confusion, lack of customer activation, and eventually leads to customer attrition and negative word of mouth, which can damage a company's value proposition. This audio conference will help you understand the secrets of successful onboarding, and how to work with marketing and customer operations to  more...

Avoiding Legal Pitfalls on Construction Projects: The Three Ds (Dollars, Delay and Defects) BenefitsConstruction projects are notoriously fecund areas for legal disputes, most of which can be categorized according to the Three Ds: dollars, delay and defects. Is it inevitable that all construction projects will at some point be labeled troubled, or is it possible to avoid the chronic and recurring bugbears? This audio conference will help you anticipate and maybe even avoid the classic  more...

Purchasing Contract Remedies BenefitsAccording to the old proverb, 'When things get tough, the tough get going.' A corollary might be, 'When things go wrong, call the lawyers.' At which point a headache could easily become a nightmare. Is there a better way? Of course there is. Litigation can, and should be, a last resort. After all, litigation takes time and our business clients typically need something NOW: the steel for  more...

Brownfield Redevelopment and LEED in 2010: What Happens When You Mix Green and Brown? BenefitsA survey by the Northeast-Midwest Institute indicated a trend that large-scale, community transforming brownfields redevelopment in the United States is going green. This audio conference will help you understand the contributing factors to ROI of the maturing green building practices on brownfields. Many professionals in the real estate investment business have witnessed how the  more...

Metal Building Design for Changed Occupancy or Loading BenefitsIn today's economy, many building owners are electing to update their current location or existing structure instead of purchasing new facilities. Metal buildings are very common due to their efficiencies and lower up-front construction costs as they are designed to meet exact project requirements. Changes in the project requirements that increase loading or moving building components can  more...

Digital Manufacturing: Improve Productivity, Lower Costs and Compress Delivery Times BenefitsToday's globally competitive environment is forcing manufacturing companies of all sizes to rethink and better integrate their overall approach to product development, from concept to product design to manufacturing engineering and beyond. As a result, many companies are seeking new ways to improve their competitive position through the proper adoption of digital manufacturing and other  more...

Roadway Rights of Way: Understanding the Legal and Practical Issues BenefitsThis teleconference will provide comprehensive and useful information about rights of way, easements and issues related to their creation, use and liability. If you are a land surveyor responsible for determining property boundaries, an engineer involved in highway and roadway design, a governmental official affected by route location and selection, or an attorney involved in real estate  more...

Managing Construction Costs BenefitsRising construction costs are a fact of life. Budget overruns are frequent occurrences. When costs rise, someone pays - how can you avoid being the one who pays? A savvy construction business person can take many steps along the way to apportion the risks of construction in a way to ensure that his or her company avoids getting stuck with the bill for escalating costs. Some of the most  more...

Emerging Trends in Metal Roofing BenefitsThis teleconference will provide information on the current state of the metal roofing industry as well as the trends for the future. Metal roofing is the fastest growing residential roof product, and its share of the commercial roofing market continues to grow. It is becoming a product of choice for architects, designers and facility managers looking for a durable and energy efficient  more...

Implementing An Indoor Air Quality/Construction Hygiene Plan BenefitsIn the past, organizations developed management plans to help reduce damage to building materials during construction. Following the appearance of mold and water intrusion as a significant threat to construction projects, construction hygiene plans began to emerge in the early 2000s. Today, sustainability plays a key role in most new construction and large-scale renovations projects. To  more...

Current Issues in Cell Tower Leases BenefitsThe wireless industry has built more than 250,000 cell sites in the United States in the past 20 years. But many more cell sites are needed as iPhones, iPads and the like strain existing network capacity with data, email, computer and video applications, as well as to fill gaps in coverage. New cell sites and significant modifications to existing cell sites will also be needed due to the  more...

Best Practices for MRO Purchasing BenefitsMany organizations lack thorough MRO purchasing strategies that are comprised of a guiding strategy and supporting tactics to achieve the goals that have been identified for the MRO purchasing function. This is often a significant opportunity to reduce operating cost and improve mean time to repair. This teleconference will help you understand and design the MRO purchasing system and  more...

Kaizen Principles and 5S Activities for Manufacturing BenefitsBy attending this teleconference, you will learn how to design and deploy a 5S program; identify waste and nonvalue adding activities; choose the right change vehicle; improve safety, productivity and morale; and integrate 5S with a lean management system. Register today and find out how others have achieved success in 5S deployments. This teleconference is designed for manufacturing  more...

Perpetual Pavement Design and Sustainability BenefitsEnvironmental sustainability in road construction is becoming increasingly important as the public demands more sustainable practices and economic considerations make sustainable solutions more attractive. Asphalt pavements are widely recognized as being sustainable because they can be recycled easily and effectively, but an even more sustainable practice is to ensure the long life of a  more...

Sustainable Design and LEED Specification Requirements BenefitsThe project specifications are part of a legal contract that describe the quality of materials, the quality of workmanship and the administrative processes required for the contractor to deliver a building that meets the owners requirements. One of these requirements may be LEED certification. This teleconference will give you an understanding of the importance of the Division 1  more...

Illinois Accessibility Codes BenefitsIn order to address the needs of constituents with disabilities throughout the state, Illinois developed their own accessibility code. This is required to be enforced by all municipalities. While there are a number of applicable accessibility codes that may need to be addressed, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the International  more...

New Jersey s Rehabilitation Subcode BenefitsNew Jersey's Rehabilitation Subcode helps bridge the gap between modern day building codes and what can be done practically. The state of New Jersey will enforce different standards with little regard for grandfathering while also allowing older historical construction the ability to have some flexibility to allow realistic construction limitation to be accommodated. This teleconference  more...

Is Your Health Care Plan Grandfathered Under the Health Care Reform? BenefitsEmployers and other sponsors of group health plans routinely make annual changes to their plans that are designed to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve employee health and productivity. As plan sponsors consider design changes for 2011, they must also take into account new federal mandates under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as modified by the Health Care and  more...

Understanding, Preventing and Addressing Well Performance Issues BenefitsThe demand for reliable clean water continues to grow across the country and one of the most common sources is ground water. The most important component in a ground water based supply system is the wells used to extract water from underground aquifers. Maintaining the long-term performance of wells requires an understanding of the factors that effect well performance. Problems with well  more...

Building Information Modeling: Planning, Design and Legal Considerations BenefitsWhether you are an owner, a designer or a builder, you need information about building information modeling. The good news is that there is lots of information out there; the bad news is that much of it is not useful. No one knows everything about BIM but we can start by talking about authoritative sources for BIM information, then sprinkle in some basic BIM concepts. Information will be  more...

Condition Assessments and Structural Evaluation of Existing Buildings BenefitsCondition assessment and structural evaluation of existing buildings is not a course that is taught in most engineering colleges. However, this is a task that many engineers are asked to do by their clients and not all of them have had the experience to take on this seemingly simple task but which has several pitfalls. The client's reasons for requesting this service could be due to  more...

Common Principles for Successful Design-Build Projects BenefitsYou will learn how design-build project delivery systems differ from the traditional design-bid-build system, how to evaluate whether design-build may be advantageous for your particular situation and project, how to structure a design-build approach to maximize the probability of a successful project in either the private or the public sector and how to select an appropriate contract  more...

Basics of Trust Administration BenefitsThis teleconference will provide an overview of basic principles of trust administration under U.S. law, including powers and duties of trustees; relations with beneficiaries; removal and replacement of trustees; the use of directed trustees, protectors and investment managers, etc., to 'slice and dice' trustee powers; probate court involvement in trust administration; and concepts in  more...

Design Professionals' Exposure for Design Errors and Omissions BenefitsToday, design professionals are being asked to take on greater risk and liability than ever before. For the individual responsible for identifying and evaluating risk for design professionals on a project-by-project basis, complex issues concerning measure of damages, insurance and other potential sources of risk must be understood and examined on every project. This teleconference will  more...

How to Set Pay Ranges That Are Fair and Effective BenefitsOrganizations nationwide seek to continuously improve performance and motivation, while simultaneously reducing costs. This arduous task often becomes the responsibility of human resources. Without effective systems in place and data available, employee compensation can run counter to efficiency and performance objectives set by the organization. The implementation of market-based pay  more...

Utilizing RFID Technology in Inventory Management BenefitsMany companies have struggled for years with inventory management. Bar codes and wireless networks have helped, but they have not come close to solving the problem. Companies don't know precisely what or where inventory is, which leads to inefficiencies from the manufacturing floor to the retail store. This teleconference will explain how radio frequency identification technologies are  more...

Efficiency Estimations and Payback Periods for New Equipment BenefitsEnergy savings is possible for nearly every electric motor application but there are obstacles to buying and installing a higher efficiency motor. Practical considerations of the real world such as initial purchase, accounting system roadblocks, and installation and operating cost, must be part of the decision process. This teleconference will explain basic principles of electric motor  more...

Building Code Compliance Specifications BenefitsBuilding codes place responsibility for designing a building project in accordance with the appropriate adopted codes and standards in the location of the project while building officials are charged with reviewing the plans and specifications for compliance. Many design professionals do not understand how much information to include in their project specifications as it relates to code  more...

Innovative Energy Saving Strategies for Manufacturers BenefitsMany manufacturing facilities that deal with older technologies, 'that's the way it has always been done' mentalities and a tunnel view consider the manufacturing process the only investment which will result in increased revenue. This teleconference will address the potentials to update this older technology. We will discuss new strategies to help manufacturer's see new ways are not  more...

Noncompetition Agreements for the HR Professional: Protecting the Company's Business Resources? BenefitsNow more than ever, employers are seeing former employees trying to jump start their career moves - voluntarily or involuntarily - by cashing in on the employer's investment in relationships and information. Quite simply, the most effective way to protect your company's resources against the actions of departing employees is the noncompete agreement. But effectively using noncompetes  more...

Rewards Transformation: A Unique Approach to Total Rewards Strategy and Design in the Current Economy BenefitsIn the current economic environment, organizations are concerned with reducing costs while retaining top talent. Total rewards costs can often exceed 40 percent of company's revenue and in many cases it is difficult to demonstrate ROI. This teleconference presents a unique approach to total rewards strategy, design and cost management called rewards transformation. Rewards transformation  more...

Improve Productivity While Staying Compliant: Implementing Quality Procedures BenefitsMany organizations with customer delivery and quality problems (high reject rates across the supply chain) are unaware of the increased costs of tracking, repairing, scrapping and redelivering key products. When the discussion whether lean, six sigma and/or supply chain techniques are singularly the most effective way of dealing with quality problems, you miss the opportunity of using a  more...

The Construction Bidding Process BenefitsThe federal construction bidding process is complex. This teleconference will review the complicated federal construction bidding process, including sealed bidding procedures and negotiated procurements. The teleconference will also review practical substantive issues which commonly arise in preparing a bid or proposal for federal construction work, such as proprietary specifications,  more...

Construction Release Due Diligence BenefitsIt's not the release you see that will hurt you. It's the release you don't see. The release embedded in the fine print of the standard form contracts you sign. The release that's not called a release. It's called a lien waiver, or a pay application, or acceptance of final payment, or a change order, or waiver of subrogation. The document you sign without recognizing how it may impact your  more...

Design Tips for Retention and Detention Ponds BenefitsYou will learn design tips for both dry and wet stormwater management ponds. You will understand the relationship between variables in hydrologic and hydraulic runoff models and their impact on pond design. You will learn about the impact of USEPA Phase II stormwater regulation. Learning Objectives - You will be able to identify maintenance issues. - You will be able to explain weir and  more...

Design Tips for Rain Gardens: Storm Water and Runoff Control BenefitsRain gardens have been used to beautify landscapes while improving runoff quality since their inception in Prince George's County, Maryland, in the early 1990's. Research has shown that their cousin, bioretention, does a very good job of reducing pollutant loads, reducing runoff volumes and increasing infiltration, spurring regulators to look favorably on these practices. What these  more...

Asphalt vs. Concrete: Selection and Design Considerations BenefitsToday, asphalt and concrete receive equal consideration by engineers. Improvements in pavement technology have largely eliminated the ruts that once plagued asphalt and cracks that spoiled concrete. Choosing a material is a matter of economics that considers life span, maintenance requirements, and road closure time. Learn the pros and cons of choosing each material; design considerations  more...

Understanding LEED for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance BenefitsThe U.S. Green Building Councils' LEED for Existing Buildings Operations Maintenance program goal is obtaining higher performance in buildings that have already been constructed and are currently in operation. LEED EBO M emphasizes maximizing operational service and efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts. The system addresses whole-building energy and water use, indoor comfort  more...

Best Practices in Commission Pay Plans BenefitsThere are few management tools that work as well in recruiting, directing, motivating and retaining sales people as a strong commission plan. This is critical because sales people are often highly paid, remote from headquarters and entrusted with customer relationships (very valuable assets). A properly designed commission plan clearly and personally communicates the strategy of the  more...

Internal Controls BenefitsWhether you're part of the Fortune 500 or a small private company, understanding how to develop and implement effective internal controls is critical to your business. In addition to helping you comply with the law, a good system of internal control can dramatically improve your bottom line. In this 90-minute teleconference, you'll learn about basic internal control concepts that will help  more...

Contractor Selection BenefitsIn today's difficult financial times when construction is considered, it is vital to have the best construction team members available. While design professionals, lenders and other professionals are important for a successful project, in these 'watch the bottom line' times, the contractor you place in charge of the work is the most important person on the project. This teleconference will  more...

Access Management Design and Development BenefitsAccess management is a critical element of every private and public roadway or site development project. As a transportation engineer and/or planner, understanding the basics of access design and access development is crucial in delivering a successful project to your client. Driveway access to a site can have positive or negative consequences on the amount of potential business a retail  more...

Traffic Management for Construction Work Zones: Unique Challenges and Solutions BenefitsThe hazards encountered at construction zones vary by project and by project phases. To address these hazards, certain program elements must be completed before work begins, while additional elements must be addressed on-site and on an on-going basis. Many contractors who are required to prepare and implement traffic control plans often do not understand how to process the approval and  more...

Effective Job Rotation Programs: Development and Implementation BenefitsThere is little argument that job rotations, stretch assignments and on-the-job development projects are some of the most effective development tools in the talent management arsenal today. However, the design of many programs currently in operation date back to a time when the speed of organizational change was much slower than it is today, when the pressures of global competition were  more...

Construction Project Management in Remote Locations: Site Considerations and Unique Challenges BenefitsClients that are developing projects in remote locations are increasingly demanding comprehensive design-build solutions for projects where the defined scope is often little more than a half-page concept of the desired output or regulatory result. The client expectations: technical and commercial analysis, scope of work development, a detailed execution plan, a detailed CPM schedule with  more...

Product Development Metrics for Manufacturers: Measuring Your Productivity BenefitsR D and product development organizations are behind transaction processing and operations functions in their understanding of measurement and its place in the organization. Six Sigma and Lean initiatives have facilitated great improvements in corporations without significantly benefiting most marketing, R D and product development organizations. Inventive professionals resist measurement  more...

Managing Post-Construction Claims BenefitsClaims that arise after project completion can ruin a previously successful job. Such claims arise from a host of problems, such as physical failures, unpaid lower tier contractors, undiscovered defects of design and construction, and personal injuries. Taking steps to avoid such claims is prudent but companies also need strategies to deal with claims that inevitably arise. This  more...

Building Green Without Losing Green: Managing Risk in Sustainable Design and Construction Contracts BenefitsRising energy costs, government mandates and market forces are combining to produce a surge of interest in sustainable development. The introduction of new green practices and processes requires a fresh review of old design and construction template agreements. In this teleconference, you will learn to identify areas of contractual risk in the green development context. You will also learn  more...

Measuring Inefficiency on a Construction Project BenefitsEfficiency is often the key to profitability. Conversely, inefficiency boosts costs, busts budgets and kills profits. Given the consequences, understanding and managing the efficiency of construction is important to everyone on the project - from the contractors, subcontractors and suppliers that experience inefficiency to the owners and design consultants whose actions can lead to  more...

Lawful Hiring BenefitsEmployers must navigate a minefield of complicated and, in some cases, conflicting laws that affect the hiring process Discrimination claims often arise out of the hiring process. The new U.S. Supreme Court decision in Ricci v. DeStefano, 557 U.S. ___ (2009) shows how an employer (the New Haven Fire Department in that case) can violate discrimination laws when taking steps to attempt to  more...

Lighting Design and Control for Commercial Buildings: Increase Sales, Increase Productivity and Save Energy BenefitsWhatever your business is, the proper illumination can provide paybacks that far exceed the energy saved. Studies have confirmed findings. This topic will be presented in a fast paced teleconference with many real life examples. System efficiencies, impact on other architectural systems and integrated controls will all be discussed. We will discuss daylighting, a 100 year old feature that  more...

Conducting Effective Safety Audits BenefitsAudits are a key component of an effective safety program. Just as periodic physicals can help you check how healthy you are, periodic safety audits can help evaluate the health of your safety program. This teleconference will outline the four steps you should consider in order to conduct effective safety audits. Manufacturing engineers, presidents, vice presidents, plant managers,  more...

Practical Transportation Design and Solutions: Concepts and Implementation BenefitsDue to the increasing age of our nation's transportation infrastructure, in conjunction with the increasing demand for travel, the need for ongoing road preservation, safety and mobility projects has continually increased. However, the long term availability of funds for such improvements continues to diminish. Typical planning and design approaches may prioritize projects at the planning  more...

Pay-for-Performance Redefined BenefitsA bevy of proposed regulations, a more active investor community, and unprecedented media attention continues to change the environment in which compensation committees operate. The pace and direction of change is volatile and while committees focus their attention on design efficacy and business results, the landscape is such that the historical pay-for-performance perspective is no  more...

Ground Failures and Other Groundwater-Related Property Damage BenefitsOne ground failure can destroy your professional reputation or decimate your life savings. A ground failure doesn't have to make the national news to be a catastrophic loss to a property owner. Ground failure mechanisms come in many forms - landslides, sinkholes, soil expansion, bedrock heave, soil collapse, erosion - all of which typically include water as a major contributing factor.  more...

Slope Stabilization: Best Practices and Challenges BenefitsThis teleconference will address the types of slope stabilization failures and techniques used to avoid failures by the application of best practices. There are well-established engineering principles for the design and maintenance of stable slopes. This teleconference summarizes practices to overcome challenges to enhance slope stability. Many engineers are faced with challenges to  more...

Enterprise Resource Planning - Getting the Payback From Your ERP System BenefitsYou will get an overview of the planning hierarchy in world class businesses and how the planning process utilizes the ERP system. You will better understand the need for robust metrics and an accountability infrastructure, and will become more aware of the power the ERP discipline has in getting the most return for the effort invested. It will become apparent that there is a lot of  more...

Retaining Wall and Slope Design Considerations BenefitsLow cost sites ideal for development are becoming scarce as growth continues to increase in high density population centers. As a result, sites considered less ideal (small sites, sites with limited right-of-way, and/or sites with excessive topographic relief, etc.) are becoming more attractive. As a result, the design and construction of retaining walls and slopes are becoming more  more...

Health Care Facility Design and Development BenefitsDeveloping or expanding a health care facility is particularly challenging in the modern economic and regulatory environment. Health care administrators are looking for project delivery models that ensure excellence in planning and delivery. Incorporating thought leadership in design, operational efficiency and sustainability, as well as efficient project delivery are important  more...

Implementing a Health Risk Assessment for Your Health Plan: What Works, What Doesn't, What's Legal BenefitsMaybe you've heard about health risk assessments and wonder if they're a good idea for your organization. Or you've been tasked with implementing a health risk assessment as part of your health plan and don't know much about them. You have a lot of questions such as 'How can a health risk assessment help control health care costs?,' 'What makes for an effective health risk assessment?,'  more...

Green Building: LEED Water Efficiency Credits BenefitsFew things are more important in determining the long term sustainability of any habitat than the availability of water in sufficient quantity and quality. Through the ages civilizations have always sought to locate next to reliable sources of fresh water. In contemporary times the availability of water has become a major design driver and, in some cases, a limiting factor in development.  more...

Building Performance Benchmarking Strategies BenefitsGovernmental entities and private corporations in the United States and worldwide, face an enormous challenge to improve the performance of the built environment. The CO2 and energy reduction targets that are being discussed in pending legislation will require huge investments in the existing building stock over the next 25 years, whereas the performance targets for new buildings will far  more...

Managing Benefit Options for Part-Time Employees BenefitsAs the U.S. economy recovers and restructures, many employers find themselves employing more of their workforce on a part time basis. Additionally, in hard to recruit fields such as health care, or with entry level employers such as retailers, part-time employment is the norm and may account for more than 50% of the workforce. Employers struggle with how to design a program that will  more...

Preliminary Project Description Fundamentals BenefitsAre you ready for the new PPD and UniFormat? In 2010, the Construction Specifications Institute will issue a new Preliminary Project Description Guide and a new consensus-based UniFormat. Organized according to UniFormat, Preliminary Project Descriptions are the most effective way to describe a project during the schematic design phase of a project. PPDs organized according to UniFormat  more...

A Comprehensive Approach to Building Excellent ADA Facilities within the Public Right-of-Way BenefitsMany state and local entities have found full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act within the public right-of-way to be a difficult goal to achieve. This teleconference will provide proven techniques that will increase the chances of fully completing the ADA facilities the first time without costly mistakes or retrofits. This practical approach coordinates the survey,  more...

Green Building Design Basics BenefitsGreen buildings are structures that more efficiently use valuable resources such as energy, water, materials and land compared to buildings constructed to basic building codes. Green buildings are better for the environment and provide healthy, comfortable and productive indoor spaces. This teleconference will give you an introduction into incorporating green building design in your  more...

Fast-Track Construction: Opportunities and Challenges Management BenefitsMore and more construction projects are being done with at least some fast-tracking where construction starts before the design is complete. At the same time, there are industry trends that are dramatically changing the way projects are designed and built. Understanding the challenges and inherent risks of fast-track construction and these trends can help owners, architects, engineers and  more...

A Guide to Hybrid Coding BenefitsMany communities across the country are showing new interest in using zoning regulation to better realize a desired building form. Zoning codes have always contained the basic bulk relationships that create the three-dimensional building envelope, such as minimum lot area, lot coverage restrictions, required setbacks and maximum height, but additional design-oriented elements to better  more...

Simplifying PPE Program Implementation BenefitsThe implementation of a PPE program can be a difficult and time-consuming process. Multiple OSHA standards have sections that have PPE requirements, causing confusion regarding which standards apply to a particular situation. New provisions regarding the payment for PPE have been published by OSHA and you need to have this knowledge to be compliant. This teleconference will provide the  more...

Understanding Design and Construction Defects BenefitsA construction defect occurs whenever finished or partially completed construction fails to perform as required by applicable contract documents or accepted standards. It is the bridge whose cables flex and snap, the concrete that is under-strength or structurally deficient, the roof that leaks, the adhesives that do not bond and the paint that peels, to name only a few examples.  more...

All About Insulating Concrete Forms BenefitsInsulating concrete forms are a valuable new construction system that is poorly understood by many. ICFs provide high energy-efficiency, high-comfort, low-sound attenuation and disaster-resistant exterior walls for a wide range of buildings up to15 stories. They are widely used in high-LEED projects based mostly on their energy efficiency and indoor air quality properties. However, many  more...

Taxation and Accounting Methods of Executive and Employee Bonuses BenefitsBy now most employers know about the rules under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code governing deferred compensation. However, many employers are not aware of the broad coverage of Section 409A and the fact that some normal payroll practices, such as bonus payments, may be covered by the new rules or the accounting issues that are raised by these programs. This teleconference will  more...

Restrictive Covenants: Common Disclosures, Restrictions and Land Use Issues BenefitsThe ongoing real estate downturn has caused a re-evaluation of virtually every aspect of the real estate finance and development landscape. Restrictive covenants have long been a part of that landscape as property developers and owners have sought long-term protection for a variety of interests, including commercial territories, community character and architectural style. Over the last  more...

Understanding the Bridging Project Delivery Method BenefitsMany project owners who have elected to employ the Bridging method or their owner's design consultant (sometimes referred to as the bridging architect, design architect or lead architect) fail to fully understand or follow the details of what really makes bridging work for the project owner. A common misunderstanding that almost always leads to less-than-good results is using traditional  more...

Decentralized Wastewater Solutions BenefitsSensible and sustainable land development is becoming increasingly important in urban and rural areas alike. In areas of rapid growth where a centralized infrastructure does not yet exist, managing this growth becomes a challenge for communities, regulators and developers. As part of the sustainable development movement, decentralized wastewater technology is providing many creative and  more...

Concrete Structural Repair Methods BenefitsInterested in learning more or in refreshing your knowledge about the nuts and bolts of concrete? Besides being the most popular and versatile building construction material, concrete can also be the most complicated to work with. As such, anyone involved in the construction process should have a working knowledge of concrete material issues. This teleconference is a comprehensive overview  more...

Mixed-Mode Building Design Basics BenefitsThe 2030 Challenge exhorts building professionals to reduce energy consumption in newly-designed or retrofitted buildings by 50 percent immediately to support a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The US Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program estimates that heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems in buildings account for 40 to 60 percent of the energy used in  more...

Common Field Issues With Wood Building Structures BenefitsThere are a number of common field conditions observed in wood building construction that affect the strength and serviceability of these structures. Performance characteristics affected by these conditions include deflections, damaged finishes, decay, deterioration, weakened connections and resistance to wind and seismic loading. Wood structure building codes and materials are evolving  more...

Basics of Reverse Osmosis for Brackish Groundwater Treatment nMany professionals in membrane desalination design, operation and maintenance are faced with the difficult task of keeping current on the rapidly changing technology. Reverse osmosis membrane products change as the suppliers introduce new models. How and when to best apply these products and what features and benefits they offer must be analyzed before optimum performance can be realized.  more...

Storm Water Best Management Practice (BMP) Inspection and Maintenance BenefitsAvoid costly permit violations and problems meeting storm water discharge benchmark criteria with proper inspection and maintenance of BMPs. Storm water best management practices require regular inspections and maintenance to ensure long-term proper function. Inspections are the most effective way to detect and avoid potential problems before they become a liability. This teleconference  more...

Benchmarking your Health Benefit Program: How Do You Stack Up? nInformation is power. You can increase your competitiveness by knowing the kinds and the quality of health insurance other employers are offering. Measuring your health plan against meaningful benchmarks will help fuel your strategies not only for reducing cost, but also for recruiting, employee retention and health plan design. n nThis teleconference will work through several methods to  more...

Increasing the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Manufacturing Logistics nIn manufacturing logistics, the first priority is providing the right support to make production flow smoothly and put out the goods the company sells. This is effectiveness. The second priority is to provide this support without wasting human, technical or financial resources. This is efficiency. What most companies do in logistics is pursue efficiency at the expense of effectiveness, curtailing  more...

Design Codes and Standards for Noise Control nAcoustics strongly affects the human response to our environment and yet noise rises to the top of any list of user complaints in buildings. Complaints relate to poor hearing conditions, annoyance from neighbors, inadequate privacy, noisy mechanical equipment and a plethora of other issues. This teleconference will provide you with information on how to use building design to control sound and  more...

Using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis to Reduce Defects, Improve Quality and Make More Money nFailure modes and effects analysis is an increasingly popular tool that must be mastered by Lean Six Sigma professionals and can be used in every type of organization to reduce defects, improve quality and make more money! n nThis easy tool asks these simple questions: n- What can go wrong? n- Where can it go wrong? n- How bad will it be? n- Can we see it coming? n- Should we try to prevent  more...

More Affordable and Sustainable Communities: The Role of Good Design for Workforce Housing nYou will see at least three dozen case studies of completed affordable workforce housing developments which were well-received by their neighbors and residents. These will be explained using images of plans and photos of the completed developments. This teleconference will help you understand how to successfully organize a community to engage rationally and creatively in the design of new housing  more...

Getting to the Root of Root Cause Analysis nFailures are a fact of life. In every industry and occupation we are faced with failures. Failures of products, processes, systems and services abound. n nSome of us are tasked with fixing the processes that lead to failures. The customer wants "faster, better, cheaper" but we are delivering "slower, worse and costly." Failure can mean not meeting a customer requirement. It can relate to form,  more...

Writing Construction Specifications: Formats and Practices nAfter a facility's design is complete and construction products have been selected, construction specifications must be prepared that are clear, correct, complete and concise. Specifications also need to conform to recognized standards for formats in order to be expediently produced and used. This teleconference is an overview of current construction specification formats and writing practices,  more...

Construction Delays Caused by Permitting nConstruction delays caused by delays in obtaining permits can result in significant costs to all parties involved in a project. It is essential for you to know how to avoid permitting delays and how to address them when they arise. This teleconference will address how to use contract language to minimize and allocate the risks associated with permitting delays. In addition, it will address  more...

Floodproofing Fundamentals: Design Methods to Reduce Flood Damages nProblem: Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States. According to the National Flood Insurance Program, more than 80 percent of the natural disaster losses in the United States are caused by flooding. Over the past 10 years, the National Weather Service estimates that flood losses have averaged more than $4 billion a year nationwide. Various government and insurance groups  more...

Key Provisions of Two New EJCDC Contract Documents nThe EJCDC documents are widely used in the construction industry for design and construction of public and private infrastructure projects, including bridge, highway and other transportation projects, water and wastewater treatment facilities, utilities, processing facilities, pipelines, landfills, and other engineer-designed facilities. This teleconference will provide a focused discussion of  more...

Effective Exit Interviews nMost employers are always looking for ways to improve employee relations, attract new employees and retain the ones they have. But how do you know what to do to improve if you don't know what employees are looking for or why they are leaving? n nImplemented properly, a good exit interview program can provide an employer with a host of valuable information that can be used to improve its employee  more...

Roundabouts: Planning, Design Principles and Current Practices nAlthough roundabouts have proven safety and operational benefits, proper planning and engineering design is essential for roundabouts to function correctly. This brief, yet practical, teleconference is your opportunity to better understand modern roundabouts and their installation, learn specific design skills and current practices, and apply roundabout design principles to projects in your  more...

Maximizing Innovation and Design Process Credits for LEED. Certification nThis teleconference will help you understand how to gain credits for advanced green building practices, including both system technologies and design innovations, which may qualify under the Innovation and Design Process section. The IDP section and qualifications policy has been reworked under the 2009 revisions to the LEED® program. n nThe information in this teleconference is important to  more...

Begin With the Brain: Three Things Educators Need to Know! nThis engaging teleconference will provide valuable information about three key elements of brain-compatible teaching and learning. Recent research about how student's brains grow, develop and respond to the environment should influence our classroom practices. Understanding some brain basics can give you guidelines to help you design truly brain-compatible classrooms and school environments. When  more...

On-Site Power Generation: Challenges, Opportunities and New Developments nMission critical operations include electronic trading operations; semiconductor manufacturing (clean rooms); pharmaceutical plants; hazardous biological or chemical labs; military, defense and government facilities; certain security or public safety related projects, including 911 call centers, emergency or disaster response centers; airport air traffic control towers; and other critical  more...

Liability Issues for Design Professionals nIt is critical that design professionals keep up with the major issues affecting their profession. These issues range from the more traditional ones such as standard of care, indemnity, and ownership and use of documents to the more recent issues such as electronic media, building information modeling and limitation of liability. The effect on the design profession of these issues is even more  more...

Pitfalls with Lean Implementation nAre you (or about to be) in the 90% lean failure group? In implementing lean, the cards are stacked against your success. The sad truth is this: eight or nine organizations of 10 who embark on implementing an improvement initiative like lean, Six Sigma or Lean Six Sigma FAIL to get the benefits they should. This wastes time and money, and disenfranchises the workforce. In extreme cases, it can  more...

Noise Control Design for Condominium and Multifamily Dwellings nToday's condominium buyers have become much more sophisticated with respect to acoustical issues, largely because of the horror stories related to them by the media and their acquaintances. Buyers not only want a condominium unit that is quiet when the building is complete, but they also want assurance during the design and sales process that footfall noise from above and airborne noise from  more...

Effective Program Evaluation for Nonprofits nThe importance of evaluating your nonprofit cannot be underestimated! The data you collect and analyze will let you know the extent to which you have met your goals and objectives, how your clients feel about your organization and its services, whether you are using quality processes, what you can celebrate and how you can improve! Effective evaluations can also tell you about the program design  more...

Aging Building Management: Best Practices in Development Long-Term Capital Plans nUp to 30% of the average organization's annual capital outlay is spent on facilities and related infrastructure. How can an organization ensure it is most effectively leveraging this investment to support operations today and meet the needs of the future? n nOptimally managing capital assets requires detailed information about the condition of an organization's facilities and major building  more...

Reduce Downtime and Enable Lean With Total Productive Maintenance nEquipment breakdowns create chaos and reduce effective capacity in most companies. They are often a significant roadblock to lean manufacturing. Total productive maintenance is the proven approach for minimizing surprise breakdowns and increasing the utilization of plant and equipment. It is a major component of lean manufacturing and the Toyota Production System. n nThis teleconference will  more...