FMI Quarterly

2021 Q4

Recalibrating Your Operations For 2022

Featured Article: Project Selection Discipline Yields Better Performance Outcomes

The statistical risk of taking on a bad job increases with the size and number of projects. Sophisticated project selectivity controls can help manage this risk and make balanced, objective pursuit decisions.

How Strategic Investments in Your Talent Drive Operational Excellence

A focus on team productivity and unity will provide sustainable short- and long-term success.

Supply Chain Disruption: Is Now the Time for Contractors to Warehouse or Carry Inventory?

Purchasing and holding long-lead inventory of construction materials can provide advantages for certain projects or customers, but also brings with it carrying costs, increased risk and other considerations for your business.

Planning Compensation in a Dynamic E&C Environment

By carefully evaluating jobs and employees, E&C companies are better positioned to meet operational needs and address talent requirements among a workforce that can afford to be demanding.

Anything But Typical: Managing Subcontractor Default Risk in Today’s Environment

As the pandemic continues to disrupt supply chains and cause inflationary pressure on the engineering and construction industry, we talk to four large subcontractor default insurance carriers about the events of the last two years, key trends and what’s next in 2022.

2021 Q3

Capitalize on Engineering & Construction Momentum to Succeed in 2022

Featured Article: Wanted: New Leadership Competencies for Managing Megaprojects

Large complex projects—those valued at $1 billion or more—are gaining momentum across the U.S., causing new and unanticipated challenges for project teams.

The Path to Environmental, Social and Governance Goals Runs Through the Built Environment

There’s no one solution to the environmental and social challenges that we face, but many in the built environment across the infrastructure value chain are looking for ways to improve their environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact.

Supply Chain Disruptions: What You Need to Know

Global supply-chain disruptions have disrupted the engineering and construction industry, with all eyes now watching the horizon. A boom is underway, but firms can't get enough of the materials they need in hand, nor can they find the staff to build once they do have supplies.

Are You Ready for the Post-COVID Boom?

Here are four key trends that are shaping the built environment and helping engineering and construction firms reposition and prepare for a post-COVID expansion.

2021 Q2

Positioning Your Engineering and Construction Organizations for Long-Term Success

Featured Article: Culture Through the Pandemic: Challenges and Opportunities

A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the country is beginning to open back up.

Bringing Employees to the Table: Using Compensation to Achieve Successful Ownership Transfer

How can owners ensure business continuity when they’re ready to relinquish ownership and management responsibilities?

State of Play: Why the HVACR Market Is Ripe for Consolidation

If you explore the landscape for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) for contractors, the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) sectors have always represented a vibrant component of the built environment for transactions.

Preparing Your Organization for the Long Term

It’s time to embrace what matters and ignore what doesn’t. As we move into the second quarter of 2021, there’s reason to be cautiously optimistic about what lies ahead.

Ownership Transfer and Management Succession: Positioning Your Organization for Long-Term Success

Here are 10 questions all E&C firms should be asking themselves as they either reinvent existing ownership transfer and management succession plans or develop brand-new ones.

Stop Treating Symptoms: Tips for Successfully Implementing Construction Technology

Technology has become a critical capability in construction operations, and as we look to get more out of that investment, we have to tackle issues and opportunities by considering all aspects of innovation, including people, process and information.

2021 Q1

Emerge Stronger and Better: The Great Reset in 2021

This is quite an ambitious theme and goal for the first quarter of 2021, yet, now is the time to evaluate your plans and strategies to make sure you're ready to take advantage of opportunities.

Featured Article: Leading Construction Innovation and Agility in 2021

As design and construction executives navigate through 2021, many are reaching the same conclusion: The more things change, the more the leadership fundamentals remain the same.

A New Era of Work: Recognizing and Rewarding Remote Employees

Addressing common concerns about working from home now and supporting employees through the current disruption will improve trust, reduce worker turnover and build teams that are invested in your organization’s future.

Don’t Wait: Craft A Winning Strategy Now

This isn’t the time to ignore the operating environment and hope everything gets better soon. Instead, start strategizing now for the future.

How to Prepare for a Changing Infrastructure Market

With 2021 infrastructure investment likely to remain the same as 2020, companies need to prepare for fewer opportunities for growth and increased competition.

Time to Focus: Competing to Win in the Building Products Industry

COVID-19 continues to alter the building products industry. The firms that will thrive in 2021 are turning their attention to setting strategic plans and executing on what differentiates them from the competition.