CHAPTER  7 PLANNING PLUMBING PROJECTS The NCF/Seabee PO 1 & C, NAVEDTRA  12543,  the   Battalion   Crew Leader  Handbook,  and Seabee  Planner’s  and Estimator’s   Handbook,   NAVFAC   P-405, discuss  general  considerations  of  planning, estimating,  and  scheduling  of  projects.  This chapter  contains  information  you  may  need when planning plumbing projects. RESPONSIBILITIES You are the technical advisor during both the   planning   and   execution   phases   of plumbing  projects.  You  will  be  supervising crews in the field and following an approved project schedule. Planning is not worth the paper it is written on unless it is executed properly on the job. TECHNICAL   ADVISOR As  technical  advisor,  the  battalion Operations  Officer  (S-3),  your  company,  and crew  expect  you  to  have  answers  to  their questions  about  plumbing  jobs.  You  must have   access   to   plans,   specifications, plumbing  codes,  technical  references,  and manufacturers’   manuals.   You   are   not expected to know every detail of your rating. You can be an effective technical advisor by  knowing  and  using  the  resources available to you. Many  problems  will  require  you  to  make decisions  based  on  personal  experiences.  Do not  rely  on  rate  training  manuals  or  formal schools  to  provide  you  with  everything  you need to know to be a Utilitiesman. The extra effort of self-study, combined with on-the job training and field experience, will enable you to  make  recommendations  with  confidence. PLANNER Now  that  you  are  advising  people  on  the 7-1 technical   aspects   of   installing   and   maintaining plumbing systems, you may become involved in the planning of these tasks. Planning  takes  on  many  applications  and phases.  Home-port  project  planning  results  in  a schedule  that  you  should  use  to  decide  how  and when your work is going to be done. The resulting precedence   diagram,   along   with   other   available information   about   a   project,   can   help   you   in managing  and  supervising  your  project. SUPERVISOR Your  company  should  follow  the  construction schedule  that  was  prepared  during  the  home-port period.  After  arriving  at  the  deployment  site,  you may need to make changes to the schedule to show actual  conditions  on  the  job,  such  as  changes  in personnel,   equipment   availability,   or   material delays.   The   schedule   is   designed   to   be   a management   tool   to   assist   the   supevisor.   Used properly,  the  schedule  will  alert  you  to  problems and   job   requirements   in   enough   time   to   avoid project  delays. Coordinate  your  requirements  with  other companies  and  departments.  For  example,  decide on   material,   equipment,   and   personnel requirements   about   30   days   in   advance   at   the company  level,  2  weeks  in  advance  at  the  job supervisor  level,  and  no  less  than  1  week  in advance  at  the  crew  leader  level.  This  should provide the time necessary for supporting elements of  the  organization  to  break  out,  deliver,  and provide  support  to  your  job.  The  project  you  are working on should decide the amount of lead time planning   you   should   allow.   During   home-port planning,  you  may  not  know  the  conditions  on  a particular jobsite. After being on the site, you may have to reevaluate the original