Manufacturers: Need to spend in Q4?

As Q4 approaches, manufacturers are wrapping up projects, allocating remaining budgets – and sometimes finding themselves in “use it or lose it” situations. Shive-Hattery’s Scott Anderson, Manufacturing Market Leader, gives his advice for making the most of year-end resources in your facility. 

Q: What’s top of mind for manufacturers as we head into Q4?

A: It’s construction season, so manufacturers are definitely thinking about construction progress, if they’ve got a project in the works. 

But they are also thinking about budgets. Many of our clients are seeing they still have funds to spend before the fiscal year ends. In many cases, it’s a “use it or lose it” situation. If they don’t spend their allocated budget, they may not receive as much next year – so it’s time to move!

Q: Suppose I’m a manufacturer in one of those Q4 “use it or lose it” situations. I’ve got $200K left over, and it’s September. What can I realistically get done and paid for by the end of the year? 

A: I think there are a few good approaches here. 

First, smaller-scale safety projects are really good candidates. These can often be designed in about 4 weeks and completed within 4-8 weeks. These are projects such as: 

• • Ladder and stair upgrades

• Personal fall arrest systems 

Another creative approach is to select a larger project, and complete the design portion by year-end. Then the design is ready for next year’s funding and construction can start immediately once budgets are approved. 

If you’ve got a locker room or restroom you’d like to renovate, you can take a big bite out of that project by doing the designs now. 

Q: What’s the benefit of tackling these projects now? 

A: Safety improvements are great quick wins. In just eight weeks, you can have your budget spent and your people working in a safer environment. 

A lot of times the facility manager has already identified the issue—they know they want to upgrade their ladders, for example. They may even have had a design proposal prepared earlier in the year. Sometimes it’s as easy as calling up your design firm and saying you’re ready to hit GO. Just do it early because you’re not the only one who may be asking for end of the year help. 

Q: What’s the fastest you’ve had to move to help clients at year-end? 

A: We’re used to moving fast! We are doing a lot of work right now for data centers. Nobody moves as fast as those guys! 

We expect every year to have clients come to us in August needing projects completed in early November. We’re ready for that. If you need help with a quick-turn Q4 situation, we can get the design work done quickly and deliver construction documents in time for contractors to finish the job before the fiscal year ends.

Best bets for quick + meaningful Q4 spend