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INTERN EXPERIENCE AT
INDUSTRIAL PROCUREMENT SERVICES (IPS)

AN INTERNSHIP REPORT BY
ANTWI BOAMAH JEFFERY.
ID: 01201936D.
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING.
ACCRA TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY.

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PREFACE.
The need for an industrial attachment creates the need for any discerning student to create a clear
picture of what he/she has done in the form of writing (a report).

This report contains information which was gathered during my four weeks of industrial attachment
with IPS which is Industrial Procurement Services.

This includes the activities carried out by the Industrial Procurement Services, the activities I undertook,
experience obtained and personal inputs.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
The compilation of this repot has been challenging and fascinating. This piece of work entailed different
levels of experience and research including consultation, observation, participation and opinions which
have finally produced this report.

First and foremost, I am grateful to God Almighty for giving me good health, guidance and protection in
the field of work during my internship period. My sincere thanks also go to the University (especially the
attachment unit) and I give thanks to both the working staffs, non-working staffs and all the service
personnel in industrial Procurement Services, for granting me the privilege to undertake my internship
program within this difficult period, for gaining experience in the field of work and also how to manage
and settle employer and employee disputes within the engineering industry.

In addition, I wish to express my gratitude to my supervisors, Rev. Mrs. Francisca A. Afrifa (Human
Resources Maneger for giving me all the assistance I needed in the field of work, the advice, delegation
and also having courage in me for other assistance.

My final appreciation also goes to all and sundry who in various forms assisted me directly and indirectly
towards a cherished practical experience of work ethics and the application of learned academic
knowledge into reality.

MAY THE GOOD LORD BLESS YOU ALL

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TABLE OF CONTENT.
Chapter One.
 Background/ Introduction………………………………………………………………………1.1.
 Objectives of the industrial Attachment…………………………………………………….1.2.
 The Organization……………………………………………………………………………………….1.3.
 Brief History……………………………………………………………………………………………….1.4.
 Vision/Mission statement……………………………………………………………………………1.5.
 Department/Unit/Section…………………………………………………………………………….1.6.
 Major Activities……………………………………………………………………………………………..1.7.

Chapter Two
 Description of the nature of work………………………………………………………………1.8
 Detailed Account…………………………………………………………………………………………1.9
 General Observation…………………………………………………………………………………….1.10

Chapter Three.
 New knowledge/skills acquired and challenges encounter………………………………1.11
 Contribution by student to improve the Organization (value addition) ……………1.12
 General Observation………………………………………………………………………………………….1.13

Chapter Four.
 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1.4
 Recommendation………………………………………………………………………………………………………1.5

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 CHAPTER ONE. 7

INTRODUCTION.
The industrial attachment training is an essential component of the curriculum of Accra Technical
University which is partial fulfillment of the requirements of the award of Higher National Diploma in
Building Technology, Students are required to undergo an industrial attachment program during which
the students are expected to acquire additional practical experience to supplement, their program of
study in the University. They are also exposed to the real world of work and its challenges which will
prepare them towards their future careers.

It is said to be a supervised program since lecturers from the University will come and assess the
students, during this period and at the end of the program to ascertain the success of the program and
the amount of seriousness students attached to it.

This report is the outcome of the four weeks practical training I had at Construction and Building
Materials Workers Union. The duration of the attachment was from Monday, 17 October, 2022 and ends
on Friday 25 November, 2022. Work begins from 8:00 am and ends at 5:00 pm from Monday to Friday.

OBJECTIVES OF THE SUPERVISED INDUSTRIAL ATTACHMENT.

1. To assess the interest of the student in the occupation he/she plans to undertake.
2. To expose the student to work methods not taught in the University and to provide access to
products equipment not normally available in the environment of the University.
3. To provide the student with an opportunity to apply knowledge in real work situation thereby
closing the gap between University work and the actual practice.
4. To make the transition from school to the world of work smoothly and to enhance student
contacts for job placement.
5. To enlist and strengthen employers involvement in institutional activities and in the entire
educational process of preparing the student for employment in the industry.

BRIEF HISTORY ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION.

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The Industrial Procurement Service is an trade union representing workers in the building and road
construction industries in Ghana. The Union was founded in 1954, and became the National Union of 7
Building Traders Operatives and General workers in 1956 when it’s absorbed the Ghana Housing
Employees' Union and the Ghana Masons' Union. Its membership initially focused on workers at state-
owned companies, such as the State Construction Company, Public Workers Department and Ghana
Highways Authority. It was later renamed the Construction and Building Workers' Union, and by 1977
was the third-largest affiliated of the Ghana Trades Union Congress, with 68,820 members.
From the late 1970s' Government construction jobs were gradually outsourced, and membership has
fallen accordingly, standing at 10,000 in 2018. By that time the construction industry in Ghana was
dominated by Chinese-owned companies with worker’s on insecure contracts. These provides the bulk
of the union's small membership, for which it competes with the Construction and Allied Workers'
Union.
We recognize that people are a great asset and are committed to ensuring a safe and healthy workplace
for all our employees. Site personnel are given site awareness training relevant to their occupation and
duties with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) provided to site personnel. The Project Manager
ensures compliance with health and safety rules, investigates health and safety complaints from workers
and takes preventive and corrective measures at all sites. Our Company has a policy of maintaining
Workmen’s compensation and Contractors’ All Risk insurance for every project carried out.
VISION STATEMENT.
To be amongst the best industrial and engineering services in Africa.
MISSION STATEMENT.
To promote and to protect the social and economic well-being of workers in the engineering and
procurement in the industry by defending their rights and interests.
CORE VALUES.
A. Unity
B. Excellence
C. Service
D. Innovation
E. Integrity
F. Leadership

CHAPTER TWO.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NATURE OF WORK DONE AT THE
DEPARTMENT/ UNIT SECTION STUDENT WAS ASSIGNED.

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First, The Architectural department is the department where building plans and 3D drawings are
designed by the Architects and the draftsmen in general because it is their responsibility. In the 7
department, AutoCad 2017 was the software used in designing building plans, elevations and roof plans.
Archicad was also the software used in designing buildings and 3D designs. The Architects and draftsmen
ensure that their clients get what they want pertaining/relating to the design. They work with the other
departments for a great work since they have excellent interactional skills with their clients.
Again, I worked with the Industrial Relations department of Construction and Building Materials
Worker's Union. The Construction Union of TUC is basically in for the welfare of workers in the
construction industry. The Union go on scouting in order to locate construction workers and talk to them
on some key benefits like compensation monies, ssnit been paid amongst others the workers would
enjoy when the agree to join the Construction Union. Afterwards, they organize and unionize the
workers to be fully part of the union by filling a declaration forms which will serve as an evidence. Also,
the Construction Union builds relationships by fostering and maintaining a collaborative work
environment with management and the employee as well as Labour representatives to identify, address
and resolve worksite issues. They perform outreach to members and non-members by placing cold calls,
visits at their worksite and homes also identify contract violations, file grievances and represent
members in meetings, Develop agenda, talk points for members, inoculate against push back/
management’s message, and make a plan to address and negate points.
Lastly, the site work I have been through was in sub structure and superstructure work exclusively. A
normal building consists of two parts in general this are the super structure and the sub structure. Any
structure below the ground floor slab level including the basement, retaining walls, ground slab, grade
beam, and foundation is called a substructure. In most of the cases, substructure work can be
categorized as earthwork, concrete work and masonry work. I have seen that how the excavation was
done, concrete pouring, masonry work and back filling. Super structure is the part of a building which
extend above the grade beam or everything above the sub structure includes slab (1st floor slab),
column, walls, roof etc. the purpose of the super structure is to enclose and divide space as well as
spread load safely in to the sub structure. I learnt a lot during my internship period and I can say, I have
gained a lot of experience which has brooded my knowledge in the Construction industry.

DETAILED ACCOUNT OF WORK PERFORMED/ TRAINED.

On the 3rd of October, 2022 which marks the beginning of my internship at Construction and Building
Material Worker's Union of TUC Ghana. The internship stared with an orientation for the first day,
followed by an introduction of the company's general rules and regulations which geverings the
company. The site work that I have been through in the 13th week internship period was in AutoCAD,

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then I again joined the Construction and Building Materials Workers Union to also have a feel and a clear
picture of how they go by their work in general, sub structure work and super structure work 7
exclusively. Firstly, the department which I was made to work with was the Architectural department/
drawing office. During my attachment for the first two weeks, I was introduced to AUTO CAD
ARCHITECTURAL 2017 environment and its key features. I was the taught how to design with the
AutoCAD architectural 2017. With that, I was able to design floor plans, elevations, roof plans and how
to use the command linen or prompt to design in AutoCAD.

However, in the second week, I was again taught how to draw sections and how to use the hatches in
the AutoCad. In that same week, I was sent to the site to work on a project as a project supervisor and I
learnt new things about construction as well. I was taught how to calculate the mean-girth of a building
as a whole which is also the same as the perimeter of a building.

Again, I joined the construction and building materials worker's union TUC, and I was made to work with
the Industrial Relations department for eight good weeks with which I learnt alot and its now helping
me. The construction union, which i worked with is in for the welfare of workers basically in the
construction industry. What they do is to go out on scouting to fish out some construction workers then
organize them as well as unionize as the labour Acts 2003 permits every worker to join any union he/she
likes. For the first week at the Construction and Building Materials Worker's Union office, I was oriented
followed by a brief introduction to the Union’s rules and regulations. Again for the second week, the
Construction Union organized a program and invited some special guests from other mother companies
to take part. The General Secretary, Mr. Asamoah talked to us about LEAD poisoning and ways to
prevent it also certificates were issued to some hard working executives from various construction
companies.

To add more, on the third week, I was made to go out on scouting alone to organize and also unionize
the construction workers and submit a technical report. I was able to embark on this exercise per the
knowledge my boss impacted in me. Also the company builds relationships by fostering and maintaining
a collaborative working environment with management, members and employees, Labour
representatives to identify, address and resolve worksite issues. Perform outreach to members and non-
members by placing cold calls, visits at their work site and home also identify contract violations, file
grievances and represent members in meetings. Develop agenda, talking points for members, inoculate
against push back/ management messages, and make a plan to address and negate points. With my first
month at the construction Union, I proved to be a candidate who is ready to learn and aviators myself
for instructions and directions. I put up an attitude which fits into the corporate world. I was acquainted
with the job description of the department because of my learnable skills. I was very proactive and
smart at my duties. My interpersonal relationship was unique as I exhibited respectful and submissive
attitude.

8.CONCRETE WORK - Concrete is a composite consisting of the dispersed phase of aggregates

(ranging from its maximum size coarse aggregates down to the fine sand particles) embedded in the
matrix of cement paste. This is a Portland cement concrete with the four constituents of Portland

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cement, water, stone and sand. These basic components remain in current concrete but other
constituents are now often added to modify its fresh and hardened properties. This has broadened the 7
scope in the design and construction of concrete structures. It has also introduced factors that designers
should recognize in order to realize the desired performance in terms of structural adequacy,
constructability, and required service life. These are translated into strength, workability and durability
in relation to properties of concrete. In addition, there is the need to satisfy these provisions at the most
cost-effective price in practice. Since our building is a reinforced concrete structure, the concrete work
was commenced every day for constructing/development of every part of the building.

CONSTITUENTS OF CONCRETE.

The constituents of modern concrete have increased from the basic four (cement, water, stone, and
sand) to include both chemical and mineral admixtures. These admixtures have been in use for decades,
first in special circumstances, but have now been incorporated in more and more general applications
for their technical and at times economic benefits in either or both fresh and hardened properties of
concrete.

a. Cement.
b. Aggregates.
c. Water.

d.Mineral

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS (NEW KNOWLEDGE/ SKILLS ACQUIRED).

Professional, I had the opportunity to practically feel some of the academic work I acquired from school
during the attachment program. Examples are, survey works, masonry works, Architecture, Batching,
Quantity surveying and Laboratory works.

Personally, my confidence level has improved greatly. My interaction with people (respondents) and top
officials paved some social contact for me. Good friends were made, effort to understand people and
ability to use and work with some construction tools. Working under stress conditions could not be
overlooked.

CHAPTER THREE.
GENERAL OBSERVATION

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CHAPTER FOUR.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION.
The internship is a bridge between the theoretical knowledge and the practical or the reality work at
the field of construction or civil engineering work. We all who take the internship class go to
companies that already working either as a consultant or a contractor. The responsibilities of the
hosting company are to teach student and shape them in the four weeks as a real site worker. My
hosting company is a consultant team and they help me and my friends who took the internship
session in this company in acquiring different knowledge in different positions. They collaborate
with the contractors to teach us in that section and they believe that the civil engineering work is
more important for us than the consulting office. This program played an important role to break
the conventional thought that field works can be only implemented by students who hold a degree
or people who have an experience in building construction. We were able to acquire a high level of
confidence to deal with problems that arise in a building construction. Most works in the site needs
careful attention and successive supervision of works but the in some case the site works goes
improperly due to different causes. This kind of carelessness is not good for ether the consultant or
the contractor. Therefore, I suggest supervisors and site engineers to take a care full look after the
work executed on the site and the work that will be executed. In the site there are works which is
performed in the way that not to be performed. Such works lids to safety problem, loose of human
power if its degree is high and economy if it is ordered to demolish it. Thus, I recommend for the
company the following:

1) Testing of material before it delivered to the site and after it delivered and also when it is in
use for construction.
2) It is better to use steel form work than wood (plywood) formwork as it is very repetitively
used, stiff, not flammable easily and removed easily without damaging the concrete
structure.
3) Addition of water for concrete casting should be known not by guessing.
4) Use thicker eucalyptus false work in order to avoid the bulging of concrete.
5) The mixing is very local and it must be mixed using mixing plant and the proportion must be
redesigned by using laboratory tests since the project is very huge and is constructed a high
raised building.
6) Bar staggering around support also need a special attention or re designing because of that
it hard to compact using vibrator through it.
7) The soil blended at the site must be as it is specified in the laboratory result and the
equipment used for blinding must be effective in the mixing process.
8) Compacting of the soil more than 20cm in pit and other excavation is improper and it
doesn‘t full fill the needed density. So, compaction must be in each20cm layer as specified.

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 9) A cover material could be used for curing for any casted concrete structure until it attains its
strength. 7
10) Formwork should remove easily without damaging the concrete surface.  Addition of
water for concrete casting should be known not by guessing.
11) Exaggerated design of some structural part of the building also uneconomical and must be
studied its requirement before provide it

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