Billing Engineer interview Question | Top most asked in MNC

2023-07-06 civilsitevisit

What is the best software for planning?

No software for planning, it is only for scheduling, the planning process only done in brain. However, oracle primavera is the best planning tool that helps to create time schedules.

As per IS 1200 part-1 what is offset for any foundation.

Offset for any foundation as per IS 1200 part-1.

As per IS 1200 part-1, the offset for any foundation should be 75mm.
Offset is the distance between the center of the column and the center of the foundation.
This offset is necessary to ensure that the load from the column is transferred to the foundation evenly.
For example, if the center of the column is 1000mm from the edge of the foundation, the center of the foundation should be 1075mm from the same edge.

Wastage limit of reinforcement steel as per cpwd and market practice

The wastage limit of reinforcement steel varies as per CPWD and market practice.

CPWD allows a wastage limit of 2% for reinforcement steel.
However, market practice may vary and some contractors may allow up to 3% wastage.
Wastage can occur due to cutting, bending, and handling of steel bars.
Proper planning and management can help minimize wastage and save costs.

Block work quantity estimation ?

Block work quantity estimation involves calculating the amount of blocks required for a construction project.

Determine the dimensions of the wall to be constructed
Calculate the area of the wall
Determine the size of the blocks to be used
Calculate the number of blocks required by dividing the area of the wall by the area of each block
Add 10% extra blocks for wastage and breakages

Rollin margin in reinforcement steel ?

Rolling margin is the extra length of reinforcement steel provided to compensate for any cutting or bending during construction.

Rolling margin is usually 5-10% of the total length of reinforcement steel required for a project.
It is important to factor in rolling margin during the estimation and procurement of reinforcement steel.
For example, if a beam requires 10 meters of reinforcement steel, a rolling margin of 0.5-1 meter should be added to the total length.
This ensures that there is enough steel to compensate for any cutting or bending during construction, without compromising the structural integrity of the project.

8 to 10mm=+-7%

12 to 16mm=+-5%

20 to above=+-3%

What is Escalation and what is the significance of this? What is the formula to determine Escalation.

Escalation is the increase in cost or price of goods or services over time due to various factors.

Escalation is significant in construction projects where the cost of materials and labor can increase over time.
It is important to factor in escalation when creating project budgets and timelines.
The formula for escalation is: Escalated Cost = Base Cost x (1 + Escalation Rate)^Number of Years
For example, if the base cost of a project is $100,000 and the escalation rate is 3% per year, after 2 years the escalated cost would be $106,090.

What are the involvements of Project Planner and vital Role in Project Management?

Since Planning Engineer directly involve in project management activities, project leadership to make decisions concerning the development of plans, and how work process broken down & the control how it be manage. Track, review, forecast & give inputs the status of the Project and product. Further more planning engineer should raise the flage to project team where s/he recognise and potential risks

If we increase 2 days to the duration of any activity on critical path that will increase the duration of project by 2 days?

Yes. It is on the critical path which means it as Zero Total Float and any increasing in its duration will affect the duration of project

How many blocks are in one m3 ?

The number of blocks in one m3 depends on the size of the blocks.

The size of the blocks can vary depending on the material used.
For example, if the blocks are 20cm x 20cm x 20cm, then there would be 125 blocks in one m3.
However, if the blocks are 10cm x 10cm x 10cm, then there would be 1000 blocks in one m3.

Plastering deductions as per is code ?

Plastering deductions as per IS code refer to the deductions made in plastering thickness as per Indian Standards code.

IS code specifies deductions for plastering thickness based on the type of surface and the type of plaster used.
For example, for a smooth surface and cement plaster, the deduction is 6mm for internal walls and 8mm for external walls.
Similarly, for a rough surface and lime plaster, the deduction is 12mm for internal walls and 15mm for external walls.
These deductions are made to account for the thickness of the plaster and ensure that the final surface is even and level.
It is important for a billing engineer to be aware of these deductions to accurately calculate the quantity of materials required for plastering.

What is the difference between penalty and Liquidity damages?

Penalty is a punishment for breach of contract while liquidity damages compensate for financial loss due to breach.

Penalty is a fixed amount agreed upon in the contract as a punishment for breach of contract.
Liquidity damages compensate for the actual financial loss suffered due to breach of contract.
Penalty is usually higher than the actual loss suffered while liquidity damages are calculated based on the actual loss.
Penalty is meant to deter breach of contract while liquidity damages are meant to compensate for the loss.
For example, if a contractor fails to complete a project on time, the contract may specify a penalty of $1000 per day of delay. On the other hand, if a supplier fails to deliver goods on time, the buyer may claim liquidity damages for the actual financial loss suffered due to the delay.

How to calculate budget man-hours?

In order to calculate budget man-hour you must have the budget quantity for each activity, from that and through the standard man-hour, convert the quantity into man-hours based on organization productivity rates, the total of these man-hourswill be the budget man-hours

How do you start planning without any information on hand?

Gather the necessary Materials, such as the Scope requirements, project start and finish dates and any documents needed to produce project objective

How many types of contract and their importance? What are the advantages and drawbacks of each.

There are various types of contracts in construction projects. Each has its own advantages and drawbacks.

Types of contracts include lump sum, cost-plus, time and material, and unit price contracts.
Lump sum contracts provide a fixed price for the entire project, but can lead to disputes over changes.
Cost-plus contracts reimburse the contractor for all costs plus a fee, but can lead to inflated costs.
Time and material contracts pay for labor and materials based on actual usage, but can lead to uncertainty in final cost.
Unit price contracts pay a fixed price per unit of work, but can lead to disputes over quantity.
Choosing the right contract type depends on project scope, budget, and risk allocation.
It is important to carefully review and negotiate contract terms to ensure a fair and successful project outcome.

What is redundant logic?

It means that if successor of A is linked to B and B is linked to C Also Successor of A linked to C then the link between A to C is called redundancy

How to prepare BBS ?

BBS or Bar Bending Schedule is prepared by calculating the weight of steel required for a particular structure.

Understand the structural drawings and identify the different components
Calculate the total length of each component and the number of bars required
Calculate the weight of steel required for each component
Prepare a detailed list of all the components and their corresponding weight of steel
Use software like AutoCAD or Excel to prepare the BBS
Ensure that the BBS is accurate and meets the requirements of the project

Difference between account and billing Engineer

An account engineer manages financial accounts while a billing engineer handles billing and invoicing.

Account engineers manage financial accounts and ensure that all financial transactions are recorded accurately.
Billing engineers handle billing and invoicing processes, ensuring that customers are billed correctly and payments are received on time.
While both roles involve financial management, account engineers focus on the overall financial health of the company while billing engineers focus on the revenue stream.
Examples of tasks for account engineers include managing budgets, preparing financial statements, and analyzing financial data. Examples of tasks for billing engineers include creating invoices, tracking payments, and resolving billing issues.

What is the difference between Float and Slack?

There is no difference between float and Slack. It is two different words of same meaning.

How do you explain project delay if earned value is more than planned value?

The contractor has performed better in areas which are not on longest path “The Critical Path”. In another words, the contractor executed the right quantity in the wrong place.

Wastage for concrete,steel etc

Wastage for concrete and steel depends on various factors such as site conditions, workmanship, and design.

Wastage for concrete can range from 2% to 10% depending on the quality of workmanship and site conditions.
Wastage for steel can range from 2% to 5% depending on the design and fabrication process.
Factors such as improper handling, cutting, and bending can also contribute to wastage.
Proper planning and management can help minimize wastage and reduce project costs.

Is Basic price variation is beneficial for a contract or not? If yes, then explain it how?

Yes, basic price variation is beneficial for a contract.

Basic price variation allows for adjustments to be made to the contract price based on changes in market conditions or material costs.
This helps to ensure that the contractor is not unfairly burdened with unexpected costs and can maintain profitability.
It also provides a level of transparency and accountability in the contract, as both parties are aware of the potential for price adjustments.
For example, if the cost of steel increases significantly during the course of the project, the basic price variation clause would allow for an adjustment to be made to the contract price to reflect this change.
This can help to prevent disputes and ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.

Plastering area calculation ?

Plastering area calculation involves measuring the surface area to be covered with plaster.

Measure the length and height of the surface to be plastered
Multiply the length and height to get the surface area
Subtract the area of any openings such as doors and windows
Add 10% extra for wastage
The formula for plastering area calculation is: (Length x Height) – (Area of Openings) + 10% Wastage

How to many types of billing in building construction ?

There are mainly two types of billing in building construction: interim billing and final billing.

Interim billing is done during the construction process and is based on the percentage of work completed.
Final billing is done after the completion of the project and includes all the expenses incurred during the construction process.
Interim billing can be further classified into monthly billing, milestone billing, and stage billing.
Monthly billing is done on a monthly basis, milestone billing is done on the completion of a specific milestone, and stage billing is done on the completion of a specific stage of construction.
Final billing includes all the expenses incurred during the construction process, such as labor costs, material costs, and overhead costs.
Final billing also includes any additional costs incurred due to changes in the original plan or any unforeseen circumstances.

What are three methods of measuring project progress?

Key Performance Indicators “KPI’s”, Cost Performance Index “CPI”, Schedule Performance Index “SPI”.

What is the best way to be professional planning engineer?

Understand the project management concepts, tools, and techniques. -Practice doing real projects and get comments/review from expects. -Continuous improvement by learning new tools that would help to increase the accuracy of decrease the time required for task

What’s the way to resolve the delay in project time?

Fast Track: Reduce activities duration, resequence, reschedule without affecting the project total duration, fast tracking has a problem regarding the quality issues if it is applied in a wrong way.

Crashing: Reduces activities durations, resequence, reschule but with additional cost to achieve better results. this additional costs could be:

-Acceleration Costs to subcontractors.

-Bonus.

-Additional costs result from less productivity due to increasing the manpower in workplace.

Tax deduction in RA BILL ?

Tax deduction in RA BILL

Tax deduction is applicable on certain items in a RA bill
The deduction amount varies based on the item and tax laws
Examples of items with tax deduction include TDS, GST, and service tax

Could we have more than one critical path?

Critical path is a dynamic path where it could be changed everytime we update the schedule, change durations, or relationships. However, the critical path of a project is one path that could have too many activities underneath. Therefore, the project has only one criitical path.

What are the duties of a planner?

Assigned in overall/master schedule, look-ahead targets, and accomplishment reports and monitoring

Which IS code we prefer for measurement, and how many parts are there?

IS code 1200 is preferred for measurement, and it has 3 parts.

IS code 1200 is used for measurement of buildings and civil engineering works.
It has 3 parts: Part 1 deals with Earthwork, Part 2 deals with Concrete work, and Part 3 deals with Reinforcement work.
The code provides guidelines for measurement, billing, and payment of construction works.

What is an S–Curve?

S-curve is a graph showing cumulative cost or value (measured in terms of money or man-hours) against time

What is needed for a successful project plan?

Contract document, drawings, B.O.Q as primary & other planning tools as secondary support. Furthermoe, the involvement of project team in the planning, estimation, and sequence of work would result more accurate project plan