This case study explores how MRU Consulting's custom software solution has enhanced Shadforth’s Safety and Compliance. It highlights MRU's commitment to tailored solutions, efficiency, and an agile approach to personalized support.
Key Outcomes
Enhanced Safety and Compliance: Real-time compliance tracking & integrated safety features has led to improved safety records & reduced insurance liability.
Better Decision-Making: Integration with systems like Viewpoint & Power BI has increased data visibility and enhanced decision-making.
Embracing Innovation in Civil Construction
Shadforth Civil Engineering Construction, a family-owned civil construction company with almost 1,000 employees based in Queensland, Australia, has been growing steadily under the passionate leadership of their progressive CEO, Ray Shadforth. Central to this growth is an unwavering commitment to their Digital Transformation journey and a focus on ensuring a safe and supportive work environment through their charter ‘The Shadforth Way’. With increasing challenges in managing safety and compliance for their workforce and subcontractors, Shadforth are always seeking continuous improvements using innovative, digital solutions and partnerships.
Overcoming Industry-Wide Turnover and Compliance Risks
Managing safety and compliance was a complex task for Shadforth, reflecting broader challenges faced by the civil construction industry. Paul Leerentveld, the IT Special Projects and Business Analyst, joined Shadforth in 2014 when the company had around 200 employees. High turnover rates among staff and contractors are common industry-wide issues, making it difficult to ensure all personnel have the necessary documentation and training. "In the civil construction sector, managing the constant turnover of staff and contractors poses significant challenges for compliance and safety," Paul explains.
Additionally, the existing system was not only time-consuming but also prone to errors, leading to potential compliance risks. Employees in the field faced significant challenges using the old system. "Our team on-site had to carry around laptops and connect via VPN, which was cumbersome and often unreliable," Paul notes. This setup slowed the workflow and hindered productivity.
Another major challenge was the delay in accessing crucial data. For instance, identifying gaps in on-site compliance often took a week to surface due to slow data processing as systems were disconnected. Mark L., Shadforth’s compliance manager explains - "Previously, we had to wait a week - or sometimes even longer - to see the data needed to address specific compliance issues,". This delay meant issues were often remedied too late, impacting project timelines and efficiency.
A Tailored, Integrated Approach to Streamline Processes
Recognizing the need for a robust solution, Shadforth engaged MRU, their trusted partner for over a decade. Now known as ShadConnect, the solution was aimed at solving the safety and compliance management challenge.
As a key design goal, Shadforth made a conscious decision to separate employee and contractor access. "We created specific portals for employees and contractors to ensure that each group had access to the tools and information relevant to their roles," Paul notes. This also provided a security benefit by restricting access to sensitive information based on user roles.
Additionally, maintaining a consistent employee experience (UI/UX) across different systems and devices was crucial to ensure when changes were made, there was no need to retrain their workforce. It was also important to ensure seamless integration with other external systems like Viewpoint, their existing ERP system.
Achieving Seamless Integration and Improved Efficiency
The implementation process began with detailed workshops to understand Shadforth's specific needs. The MRU team, led by Michael Usov, worked closely with Paul and his colleagues to design a system that would streamline their processes. The agile methodology ensured continuous feedback and adjustments, resulting in a solution that met their requirements.
- Safety and Compliance Management. ShadConnect integrated all safety and compliance processes into a single solution. Contractors can onboard, complete pre-qualifications, upload certifications, and undergo inductions. Real-time compliance status provided site foremen with immediate insights, reducing the risk of safety incidents. "Having all the compliance information in one place means we can act quickly if there's a gap," Mark L. explains.
- Daily Log and Centralized Data Collection. Foremen can now log daily activities, track progress, and report any issues encountered on site. This real-time data collection improves project management and facilitates timely interventions when necessary. "Our foremen can quickly log issues and updates, which keeps everyone informed and responsive," Mark L. notes. The centralized collection of photos and notes within the system also reduces the risk of non-compliance and saves time by eliminating the need to chase individuals for information. This also introduces the potential for scoring contractors based on their performance meeting policies.
Main dashboard for contractors showing onboarding and compliance tracking features.
Foreman log screen showing daily activities, labor, conditions, and issue reporting. - Mobile Access. ShadConnect's mobile-friendly interface allows employees to access the system via smartphones and tablets. "Our team on-site can now use their mobile devices instead of lugging around laptops," Paul explains. This accessibility has significantly improved productivity and ease of use, making it simpler for employees to input and retrieve information in real-time.
Realizing Operational Gains
Since implementing ShadConnect, Shadforth has seen significant improvements in several key areas:
- Improved Compliance. Real-time data has ensured all safety and compliance requirements are met as issues are addressed as they arise, rather than reacting to them after the fact. This proactive approach has led to better project outcomes and increased client satisfaction. Mark L. details - ‘Having real-time data from every part of the system on what’s happening across our sites gives us the ability to make informed decisions on risk management and compliance. ShadConnect keeps us ahead of the game, giving us, time-stamped data that shows we’re consistently taking care of our people and meeting our responsibilities as a principal contractor as well as reducing our insurance liability.”
- Robust Reliability. A testament to the quality and supportability of ShadConnect is the minimal need for dedicated support. "We have very few tickets generated, which speaks volumes about the reliability and robustness of the system," Paul notes. This low incidence of issues allows Shadforth to operate without the need for extensive IT support resources, allowing teams to address other value-add tasks.
- Greater Data-Driven Insights. ShadConnect's comprehensive reporting and analytics tools have enabled Shadforth to gain even deeper insights into their operations. "We can now generate detailed reports that help us identify trends and make data-driven decisions that were not possible before," . These insights have been instrumental in optimizing resource allocation and improving overall efficiency.
Growing Together: A Long-Term Partnership
Shadforth's partnership with MRU extends beyond the initial implementation. MRU's commitment to continuous development and long-term support ensures that ShadConnect evolves with Shadforth's needs. Paul states, "Working with MRU has been a collaborative experience. What truly stands out about ShadConnect is its simplicity and adaptability. Unlike other systems which were clunky, it's intuitive, easy to use, and aligns with our operations. With MRU by our side, we’re continually evolving the system, making it smarter and better."
ShadConnect's design ensures that it can scale with Shadforth's growth. The system's architecture supports increased data loads and additional features without compromising performance. "As we expand, ShadConnect scales with us, providing consistent performance and reliability," Paul says.
Leveraging Data for Future Continuous Improvement
Shadforth's partnership with MRU has transformed their operations. The solution has addressed their safety and compliance challenges while dramatically improving overall efficiency. The custom software solution, ongoing support, and scalable performance offered by MRU have been instrumental in driving Shadforth's success. And as Shadforth continues to grow, ShadConnect will play a crucial role in supporting their success, ensuring they remain a leader in the civil construction industry.
Looking ahead, Shadforth plans to leverage the vast amounts of new data collected to gain future insights. "We are excited about the potential of using new data collected through ShadConnect to predict trends and make proactive decisions," Paul explains. Additionally, because Shadconnect’s architecture is flexible, they can easily replace backend systems while maintaining a consistent user experience – allowing them to seamlessly transition without needing to retrain nearly 1,000 users. This commitment to innovation and efficiency is a testament to Shadforth's dedication to their employees.
The Value of an Innovative Partner Like MRU
For other businesses considering a similar transformation, Shadforth's experience demonstrates the value of partnering with a dedicated and innovative solution provider like MRU. "I would tell anyone considering MRU that their flexibility, responsiveness, and ability to meet our unique needs have been critical to our success," Paul notes. Their ability to deliver customized, scalable, and robust solutions that require minimal support while significantly improving operational efficiency makes them an excellent choice for companies looking to streamline their processes and create a safe and supportive work environment..webp?width=1000&height=478&name=Bitmap%20(8).webp)
ShadConnect welcome screen