Polybouw implemented digital quality controls with Snagstream

You see fewer and fewer notepads on the construction site. No wonder, because build partners need insight and overview. Quality assurance tools help you meet the Quality Assurance Act, make processes transparent and cut the administrative load. Polybouw Aluminium B.V., a specialist in aluminium facade engineering, was also looking for more overview and efficiency. In February 2022, Lotte Schulenburg started the project to implement Snagstream. The first good results are now in.

Lotte explains how the choice for Snagstream came about.

We wanted to create overview. For example, when people are ill, we want others to be able to take over the project and know what is going on. What agreements have been made, what is the project's history? That used to be very hard to retrieve, because information was stored or written down all over the place. So we went looking for a system and arrived at Snagstream. Other programs were fairly cluttered and very standardised. In Snagstream you can adjust and change quite a lot yourself, and that mattered to us.

A step-by-step rollout

The rollout happened in stages.

We started with a few projects and with people who were keen to try the new system. Some have more affinity with digital tools than others, and it is easier to start with people who find it interesting too. That went very well straight away, so after that we worked to bring the rest along. We scheduled a session and started with the installation supervisors. In the second session we brought in the fitters and production, and finally we added work preparation. That way we tried to keep the lines of communication short, and each group of colleagues could give feedback easily.

Away with the booklets

The positive results are already clearly visible.

I think we have already achieved a great deal. People used to work with whole stacks of paper. They kept everything in an installation booklet: from order lists and orders placed to drawings, and so on. All that information is now in the system. They no longer have to carry the booklet around, which is great. All the information is in one place and accessible to everyone. If someone is away and someone else has a question, they can just look it up in the system. We make the most of everything Snagstream offers.

Insight into purchasing

Snagstream is also very handy for purchasing, Lotte notes.

We work a lot with facade elements such as glass panels, and those break regularly. When a pane has broken, people on site can now easily take a photo of it and send it straight to purchasing through the system, so they can order a new one right away. Previously that all had to go by email and was kept on lists. Now you can see the delivery date immediately and no messages need to go back and forth about the status. That saves us a lot of time. You can also see the overview very easily: all the information is in the computer instead of on loose sheets. You can filter easily and see exactly which panes are on order, with which order number and which delivery date.
Lotte Schulenburg, Polybouw Aluminium B.V.

Changing behaviour

The new way of working was a big switch, Lotte notes.

People who join and get the system explained pick it up very easily. People who have been here for years sometimes still struggle a bit and like to reach for pen and paper. It is really about behavioural change, so that always takes time. Some people are willing but do not quite get it yet. Others have a bit of trouble with the change itself. We are steering more and more on processes, so people can no longer get around it. The more people use the system, the more they come to see that it really is useful.

Lotte is in regular contact with Pro4all about issues she runs into and how to solve them.

That is very good. We always get a quick response, even with short videos of how it works when needed. That helps us a lot to get everyone on the same path.

Keeping it alive

Lotte also has a tip for other companies looking to start with Snagstream.

Make sure someone is genuinely dedicated to it, or work with a working group. Keep people involved, be clear about why you are doing it and what the benefit is. By bringing people on board, they see the benefits sooner and you make the rollout easier. We are not there yet either. We still hold regular sessions.