Management Information Systems

For the effective administration of composite works, a significant number of primary or/and supplementary data - information is required, which are directly or indirectly connected with the phases and activities of the Project.
For obvious reasons of effective management, it is of vital importance that the direct connection of all Project data and information will be elaborated and communicated within a uniform environment in real time, using interactive Data bases at an On Line system.
In the opposite, heterogeneous environments of critical information management are created (manual or computerized in various and usually not compatible Application Software), leading to time-consuming data retrieval or processing. As a result, significant delays are observed for the availability of critical information to the decision making centers, with all its consequences.

The establishment and development of an Online Document Management System (ODMS), is the minimum requirement for the establishment of the Management Information System and can be used as an information source for making critical decisions. It constitutes an important tool for the Administration and Management of the Project. The ODMS is based on standardized document formats (forms) that are defined by the Project custodians, at all the hierarchical levels compatible with the Quality Management System (QMS).
Interconnected selection criteria (filters – complex searches) constitute the operation mode of the ODMS, which assures - through a defined methodology - tracing and recording of the essential critical data and information.

The MIS of each individual Project may consist of the following individual and interconnected Data Bases

• Correspondence and Documents register system as accompanied by a dispatch and handling monitoring system.
• Project Designs Monitoring System for their submissions, reviews, approval status connected with the global Project Schedule needs.
• Project Construction Time Schedule Monitoring
• Cost Control Management and Value Engineering.
• Monitoring of the Laboratorial Quality Control Tests, ability to instruct on line Corrective Measures.
• Project Registry data reported in real time.

Typical example of the philosophy for the development of an MIS applicable in the Major Infrastructure Projects Supervision is the case of the combined monitoring of the Project Construction Time Schedule together with the Cost Control Management.