QUANTITY SURVEYORS: THE GAME-CHANGERS YOU DON’T SEE ON SITE
When you think of mega projects such as power plants, highways and skyscrapers, you probably picture engineers in hard hats and cranes on the skyline. But behind the scenes, another professional is quietly steering billions of Rands in the right direction: the Quantity Surveyor.
Too often dismissed as number crunchers, Quantity Surveyors (QSs) are in fact the strategic backbone of big construction and heavy engineering. Without them, projects bleed money, collapse under disputes, or fail to deliver real value.
Money talks and QSs speak it fluently
Mega projects live or die by financial discipline. A single cost underestimate can derail a project and leave taxpayers or investors footing the bill. Quantity Surveyors are the ones who put financial reality front and centre. They don’t just tally costs. They test whether a project is even viable, sharpen budgets and keep spending in line once the work begins. In projects worth billions, that discipline isn’t just important, it’s survival.
Contracts: where projects win or lose
Big projects mean complex contracts. Navigating contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and consultants can be a legal minefield. This is where Quantity Surveyors earn their stripes. They write and manage contracts that cut through ambiguity, reduce risk, and keep everyone accountable.
“When disputes do arise, Quantity Surveyors are often the ones called in to settle matters fairly. Think of them as the referees who keep the game moving and the scoreboard honest.”
Robert Palmer
Head of Professional Services, Afroteq
Efficiency is the new currency
Every cent that is wasted on inefficiency is a cent stolen from a project’s future. QSs fight waste by applying life-cycle costing and value engineering. These are valuable tools that balance upfront cost with long-term value.
They don’t just say “no” to bad ideas; they find better ones. Smarter procurement. More efficient designs. Supply chains that actually deliver. The savings? Often measured in millions.
Sustainability isn’t optional anymore
The world has moved on. Green buildings, energy-efficient systems and sustainable construction are no longer simply “nice-to-haves.” They’re demanded by regulators, funders and communities.
QSs are on the frontline of this shift. They put hard numbers behind sustainability, weighing costs against benefits and identifying incentives that make green choices commercially viable. In a sector that has been slow to change, QSs are catalysts for progress.
The bottom line and the call to action
Quantity Surveyors are not just bean counters. They are strategists, negotiators and value creators. Ignore them, and projects risk overruns, disputes and mediocrity. Empower them, and you get projects that finish on time, on budget and built for the future.
It’s time government, private clients, and investors gave Quantity Surveyors a seat at the decision-making table and stop relegating them to the backroom. If South Africa is serious about delivering world-class infrastructure and engineering projects, then QSs must be recognised, resourced and trusted as central players.
The cranes may get the spotlight, but it’s the quiet work of Quantity Surveyors that keeps our biggest projects standing tall.
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