Quantity surveying Term

Is this term being used in UK/Europe only or commonly referred in other parts of the globe also ? How does it is different from Project Controls (PC) tittle ? Is it exclusive of PC or subset of PC ?

A true QS is a degreed professional. They tend to focus on contractual matters and measurement in support of payment and work valuation. In my experience thay are on a prject from beginning until the end. They are not usually well versed in the planning and scheduling function. There can be overlap in the work process as most aspects of traditional cost engineering parallel QS work - but not all aspects are the same. I know of no formal project controls university level program, unlike the QS programs.

The QS is involved throughout the project from inception (when it is a glimmer of hope in the owners eye) to completion & closeout and even into operations, including forecasting, risk, and value. The project managers responsibility is the delivery of the end product. Project controls falls in the middle, sometimes overlapping with the QS role. Return on investment, due diligence, risk, time, timing, quality, stakeholder expectations, planning, sustainability, contracting strategies, vendor selection, resource allocation, supply chain management, asset management, reserves and contingency, field administration, performance, change, claims, contract administration (I could go on for many paragraphs)...all contribute to project and lifecycle costs, and then there is the discussion about value.... Cost is everything, and everything is cost; "cost" cannot be marginalized as just one aspect of a project or asset.

Project Controls and QS have different Roles and Responsibilities on the Project Responsibilities of Project Controls - 1. Preparation of Detailed Clause 14.0 CPM Programme fully resource and cost loaded 2. Monitor the progress at Site and Update the Programme on pre-determined frequency as agreed - Weekly, Biweekly or Monthly 3. Conduct Critical Path Analysis and Earned Value Analysis on the Project Performance Achieved and analyze its effect on the remaining works 4. Assess Time associated Risks on project and suggest mitigation measures prior to them reaching a critical stage. 5. Prepare Earnings, Cash Flow Forecast and conduct detailed what if analysis for the projects benefit Scenario : Cash flow forecast depicts 1.5 Million for Jan 2011, What needs to be done to Achieve 2.5 Million on that specific month - Analyze the options of accomodating additional works within target month with careful considerations and utilization of resources and floats (both total and free float) availability on works to the projects advantage. In this case to get increased value due to certain requirements as a contractor, you could utilize the float on the low value works and concentrate on bringing upfront the High Value works to be executed at later stage, considering the practical site operational point of view. 6. Detailed M.I.S Reporting - Planned Vs Actual, Physical Progress, VOWD Progress, Critical Path Analysis on Update, 6 Week Lookahead Responsibilities of Q.S Contractual Responsibilities 1. Ensure the Documentation for Insurances and Bonds per Contract Requirements are in place and maintained 2. Sub-Contract Agreement/ Work Order Preparation for the Works sub-letted 3. Review the Outgoing Correspondences from Contractual Perspective, Implications of the Statements Made, Comments recorded. 4. Cost Impact of Variations: Analyse the Cost Impact of Potential Variations and forsee the proper processing of scope changes dealing with variations. 5. Analyze the issues and hand and Potential Risks on the Project and their Cost Impact on the Project on continuous basis. Other Responsibilities 1. Calculate the Qty of Works from Drawings and Validate against the Bill - Key First Requirement on re-measured Contract to assess the True Value of Work 2. Preparation of Interim Payment Certificates in line with work completed 3. Setting up forms for ease in getting  updates on Materials Delivered, Actual Manpower Deployed and Equipments at Site and their monitoring on regular basis. 4. Payments to the Sub-Contractors/Vendors 5. Cost Control - Measuring how much has been spent for getting the value of work - cost variance in detailed manner on individual work items and their analysis - ETC, EAC, VAC, further utilizing the findings and communicating the same for future project requirements. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------