Handing over the design to the works

In this paper the importance of effective communications is stressed. There are three stages in the handover: preparation, transfer and development. While there is still sufficient time to explore the reasons for disagreement between the parties each should be preparing the other to deal with problems which will be urgent later on. The formal transmission of design documents must take into account the mechanics of issuing different versions of the same assembly to different groups of users and coping both with the need for advance information to some clients and historical information to others. Development is the most hectic process. The differing objectives of the principal agents, project, design, inspection and works are described. There are several characteristic features of the manufacturing department which strongly influence this stage of handover.