Costly logs

Costly logs result from inconsistent and/or non-standard processes, and the use of inefficient processes and tools, and human resources in a way not aligned with their skills, interests, and capacities. The inability to produce boring logs at a predictable cost can result in less-than-desirable cost-saving behaviors and outcomes, including:

  • Employing less skilled, lower cost human resources to perform logging and/or prepare logs;
  • Reducing the time spent reviewing logs for quality control purposes;
  • Decreasing investment in employee training and new technologies as profit margins on boring logs erode; and
  • Loss of company competitiveness resulting from the inability to contain log preparation costs.

Costly logs are most commonly caused by:

  • Too much reliance upon human labor, and too little reliance upon technology, to provide assurance;
  • Use of slow, inefficient, physically-based paper processes versus fast, efficient, electronically-based processes;
  • Inconsistent understanding of project quality objectives by project team members; and
  • Consulting contracts and employee performance metrics based on utilization versus project profitability.

Recommended solutions, once the cause(s) of the problem(s) is/are understood, may include any or all of the following actions:

  • Implementation of electronic field logging;
  • Strengthening of employee capacity through additional training;
  • Reevaluation of existing boring log software with respect to cost and complexity of use, and transition to less-costly, easier to use software; and
  • Development of greater resolution in operational cost tracking systems.

Achieving cost-effectiveness in logging and log preparation is made possible for you and your company by GroundLogs in the following ways:

  • We provide field logging software that allows for electronic field data capture and eliminates costly manual reentry of field data;
  • We provide online boring log software on a pay-by-the-log basis so that its benefit can be demonstrated at the project level; and
  • We draft logs for fixed fees so that you already know what the cost of drafting your logs will be when budgeting the project.

Does this sound useful? If so, simply register to get started.

If you would like to engage us on a consulting assignment with the goal of improving office, program, or company cost-effectiveness in logging and log preparation, please contact us. We have extensive experience in implementing electronic field data collection for a variety of processes, and evaluating the cost of geoconsulting operational processes for services performed under various types of contracts (e.g., time and materials, unit-priced).