ROLE OF CONSULTING ENGINEERS

Introduction

A Consulting Engineer is a person who with his high engineering qualifications

specialised background, and wide experience, can plan, design, supervise and help
in undertaking maintenance of any type of structure according to the needs of the
client. This article gives an insight into the parameters such as qualities and functions
of consulting engineers.

Consulting Engineering Profession

Consulting engineering is a professional service that provides basic, detailed engineering

and construction monitoring/ supervision services for all types of project to diverse nature
of clients – governments, lenders, private companies/ owners, industries, developers or
contracting companies. Pure consulting engineers are independent of any association
with suppliers/ vendors, fabricators/ erectors and contractors so as to ensure that their
services are unbiased.

Functions of Consulting engineers

Consulting engineers are usually engaged for ability to provide appropriate and cost
effective solutions and their ability to adapt and transfer the technology and designs for
execution of new projects or for expansion of existing projects. Each project has a specific
mission or purpose to be achieved within a specified period and specified cost. To attain
these, six parameters are needed to be strictly evaluated. These are: size, complexity,
quality, productivity, completion time and cost. The planning, controlling and
implementation of these parameters reflect the final outcome and it is in here that a
consulting engineer can make a lasting contribution depending on his skill, experience
and expertise.

Generally, the services provided by consulting engineers can be classified as the

following:

 Pre-Project Stage
 Feasibility Studies
 Master Plans
 Technical Evaluation Studies
 Detailed Project Reports
 Advisory Services
 Business Plans
 Training / Knowledge Transfer
 Management Services
 Technical Assistance
 Renovation & Modernisation (R&M) Studies
 Operation & Maintenance (O&M) Studies
 Project Stage
 Detailed Design & Engineering
 Tender Specifications & Tender Documents
 Procurement Assistance
 Inspection & Expediting
  Construction Monitoring/ Supervision
 Project Management
 Quality Management
 Health, Safety & Environment (HSE)
 Assistance during Commissioning
 Post-Project Stage
 Operation & Maintenance (O&M) Consultancy