Gilbane Building Company’s Virtual Project Engineer (PE) Immersion program is designed to provide project engineers with the fundamental skills needed to perform their daily tasks, including:
- Defining PE operational accountability, responsibility, and obligations according to industry standards, contractual requirements, and Gilbane’s expectations when working on its projects
- Interpreting and acting on contract documents
- Applying best practices while using Procore
- Applying best practices for managing submittal reviews
- Navigingating CMiC and performing change management actions
All project engineers with less than six months of experience at Gilbane are invited to participate in this training program.
Program Details
Prior to 2022, Gilbane primarily trained project engineers in person, and and the training was not standardized throughout the enterprise.
The redesigned Virtual PE Immersion program has two types of training: self-paced online modules and virtual workshops. The program offers seven virtual workshops led by four experienced senior project engineers and senior project managers. Workshops include Procore Training, Communications and Meeting Minutes, CMiC Advanced 1-3, Working Effectively with Contract Documents, and Submittal Review Virtual Workshop.
To prepare for the virtual workshops, participants first complete associated self-paced online modules. These modules include CMiC Basics, Principles of Construction Change Management, and Contract Fundamentals. Each of the instructor-led virtual workshops and self-paced online modules utilize voluntary Kirkpatrick Level 1 feedback surveys.
Short-term reinforcement comes via job aids provided after each workshop is completed and as a collected resource package shortly after the completion of the entire training program. Remedial training sessions are available as needed.
Results
Even though the Virtual PE Immersion program is optional, Gilbane has seen a significant increase in voluntary participation in the training. Learning management system reporting shows there was a 149 percent increase in participation in the program between 2022 and 2023.
Turnover for project engineers with less than one year of service who participated in the program came in at 16.4 percent, lower than the overall rookie turnover throughout the company in 2023.
