Supervision for the Owner/Consultant

When the construction is entrusted to contractor the owner may appoint a supervisor who will ensure that construction is done strictly according to the contract drawings, specifications and conditions of contract. Alternatively, he may have an agreement with a consultant who in turn appoints a supervisor to supervise contractor's construction works. This supervision is done on behalf of the owner. Such a supervisor is not in the true sense of the term fist line manager directing and coordinating the efforts of the field workers. This is the responsibility of the contractor's  supervisor. Owner's supervisor has to mainly ensure that the work is being done according to the conditions of the contract. He has to strictly ensure that: 

1. construction is done according to the contract drawings, specifications, 
2. contractor adheres to the agreed schedule, and 
3. quality standards as regards materials, processes and workmanship are adhered to. 

Owner's supervisor assists the engineer in execution of work. He has also a few more responsibilities. He should : 

1. ensure that the reports of day to day progress are submitted to the owner's engineer. He should obtain instructions from the engineer and report his problems/difficulties to him, 
2. deal with responsible member of the contractor's staff, 
3. explain to the contractor accurately any aspect of the work which the latter may not understand, 
4. insist on strict adherence to the quality standards so that contractor realises that only high standard of workmanship will be accepted, 
5. be fair but firm in dealing with members of contractor's staff, 
6. whenever there is any problem,  take prompt action in solving it if it is in his jurisdiction  or he should promptly report it to the engineer, 
7. not wait till the contractor completes a job to reject it on the ground that it does not meet the contractual requirements. He should take timely actions to bring to notice any defective work or a departure from specifications, 
8. report serious matters needing dismantling any portion of work or stopping the work to the engineer, 
9. generally follow the contract document in their spirit and not in the letter but he should remember the limitations of his authority and always seek guidance from his engineer, 
10. be tactful while dealing with the contractor's staff and other concerned people, avert a state of aggression and see that an atmosphere of cordiality is maintained on the site, 
11. maintain all work diaries, registers, reports on the materials arriving on site, their consumption in the construction, labour employed, equipment deployed etc., 
12. maintain a work order book wherein instructions are given to the contractor by the engineer and other authorities. 
13. report stages of work requiring the inspection and approval of the engineer or any other authority to the engineer so as to ensure timely action and avoid any delay, 
14. assist the engineer in preparing or scrutinizing the periodical  bills to be paid to the contractor,  and 
15. he should maintain a set of contract documents as well as a register containing the details of documents (drawings, instructions, specifications) that may be introduced from time to time.