The professional holiday of the construction and building materials industry workers is celebrated on the every second Sunday of August in Ukraine. It is Builder's Day.
On the eve of the holiday, we had a talk with Alexei Lebedev, General Director of ALD Construction and Engineering. The modernization of the aspiration units at PJSC Zaporizhstal, the construction of oxygen station in Regional Infectious Diseases Hospital of Zaporozhye city are among the company's successful projects.
Alexey Lebedev, General Director of ALD Construction and Engineering says that construction for him is an opportunity to improve people's lives. It applies not only to definite enterprise employees, but also to residents of the city, region, and country.
- What significant projects have been implemented by your company during year?
- Three aspiration units were built during year, they are on the tail parts of sinter machines No. 1 and No. 2 at Zaporizhstal. The project has been completed. It is being commissioned now. We also completed an aspiration project at Severnyi Washery Plant. Bag filters were installed in the pellet production shop at two sites.
One of the important projects for Zaporozhye is the installation of oxygen converter for the Regional Hospital of Infectious Diseases (oxygen station construction). It is a small project from the point of view of our work. But it is very necessary for the city and significant for people.
In just a year we operate six-seven large-scale projects and as many small ones. It is significant, concerning the fact that we have been working only for a year.
All our projects are designed to improve people's lives, more comfortable and safer. We carry out projects at Zaporizhstal within the framework of the environmental program being implemented at the plant for about 8 years. It is a significant contribution for ecological situation improvement in the city.
- How did the coronavirus pandemic affect your work?
- The most difficult thing was that people were sick. It is impossible to work remotely in construction. When people work in the same team, they communicate very closely. Therefore, when one person falls ill, the whole team gets out of the work process. Two, three, four teams got out the working process in November-December during another sickness rate increase. God be thanked, there were no serious consequences for people, but works were delayed. We survived and managed. If there are any further restrictions, we will cope with them. The coronavirus certainly affects, there is nothing you can do about it. We just have to learn to live with it.
- What principles do you follow in your work?
- We believe that in order to implement a project, first of all you should have a desire. The customer and the contractor both must have this desire, otherwise nothing will deal. You need to sit in one boat and row in one direction to reach the final path.
For the basis of the company's philosophy, we took Agile manifesto and slightly rework it for builders. It was developed for IT projects: “Individuals and interactions over processes and tools. Working software over comprehensive documentation. Customer collaboration over contract negotiation. Responding to change over following a plan.”
There are projects that take a year or two. They often have to be changed and updated. We are ready to be flexible in order for complete these projects.
- What projects do you implement now, what are your plans?
- We have large download and about eight projects are underway now. These are a number of aspiration units at Zaporizhstal, blast furnace No. 5, aspiration unit for the foundry yard. We get ready for the implementation of this project and carry out preparatory work and design. We are completing the design of aspiration units at blast furnace No. 4 at Azovstal. We have an extensive geography of projects in the South-East of the country. This gives certain advantages, but, of course, imposes a certain responsibility.
How important is construction for the development of the country's economy?
- Construction is progress, movement forward, changes for the better for city, region, and country. If we want to become a real country, we must build this country.
- What does Builder's Day mean to you?
- In fact, every person is a builder. He builds his life, apartment, and career. My parents are builders. I embraced a profession in my childhood consciously. Construction for me is the way that makes people's lives better and more comfortable by means of project implementation. Builder's Day is a holiday of like-minders whom you want to move forward and build the future.
Source: Industrialka
