Mark Rust, Kier Construction

How project manager Mark almost effortlessly achieved O&M compliance for Kier with Tech-12 Services

Overseeing construction successfully requires project managers capable of balancing multiple tasks to ensure a project delivered on time, on budget and to a high standard. 

This is particularly true when construction occurs on  Ministry of Defence estate sites, such as US Air Force bases in the UK, where projects must comply with strict standards, known as Tech 12. This procedural framework offers a reliably uniform and comprehensive approach to project handovers.

 As a main contractor for projects at USAF bases, Kier recognises the importance and value of compliance. A job, for example, cannot be billed until a complete set of Operations and Maintenance (O&M) manuals is approved and accepted by its military client.

At Kier,producing O&M manuals is the responsibility of its project managers, such as Mark Rust. Typically, Mark spends more than 60 hours of project time working on documentation,depending of the scale of construction.

Outlining the process, he explains: “The main challenges are: chasing the supply chain for their information; checking the information is relevant to the project; ensuring the timescales in the programme are maintained and; allocating time at the end of the project to complete the manuals.”

Producing O&M documentation was an administration-heavy task that was distracting Mark from his main role as a construction project manager.

 Around half of his time working on the manuals was, spent chasing the project’s supply chain by phone and email.

Another time-consuming task was completing the 140 asset register. Mark knew there had to be an easier way.

Around this time, Mark’s team leader told him about Tech-12 Services which was launched in 2023 by David Caddick, to specialise in the production of O&M manuals specifically for USAF projects in the UK.

He recalls: “He was full of praise on what they could offer, and that they knew their stuff.

It was case of right place right time as I was due to handover a few projects and needed some help to make sure that the manuals were completed.”

Over the years, Mark has worked with a number of vendors providing O&M documentation and he was impressed by Tech-12 Services USAF experience and knowledge. He explains: “Tech-12 provide a knowledge and understanding ofthe documents and structure needed for the facilities maintenance manuals through the Tech-12 handover process.

 It was very clear that Tech-12 Services knew what the requirement was and how to achieve this… and that impressed me enough to give them a trial project.”

The partnership relieved Mark and his team of a distracting task. He explains: “It’s allowed me to do more productive work instead of this chasing. It also lets me focus on challenges that arise on site. It means I now spend more time on construction works and less on collating O&M manuals.”

Since the completion of that first project Mark and his colleagues at Kier Group plc have not looked back. Tech-12 Services was introduced to support project managers working across three separate USAF projects.

Client feedback

“Tech-12 Services relieved pressure for myself and the team. They helped our project be successful and delivered on time.

“Following work on my project, we brought them in to support project managers working across three different projects. 

 “They are highly recommended and we are confident they will be a good supply chain partner in the future for more complex projects. “