Valley Interior Systems, a leading specialty construction contractor based in the Midwestern United States, takes pride in delivering a high standard of quality on every job. As the company has grown steadily into new markets and new services, upholding that standard has required evolving strategies to maintain consistency and improve efficiency.
The coordination of the punch list and managing multiple stakeholders through that process had become cumbersome and challenging. Valley was seeking a technology-based solution that would enable their project management teams to proactively manage quality assurance and site coordination. OpenSpace helped Valley proactively solve problems, lead communication on site and uphold their high-quality standards for craftsmanship and customer experience.
The challenge
Before OpenSpace, punch list processes at Valley Interior Systems were needing more consistency, efficiency and streamlining:
- Multiple stakeholders maintained separate lists, causing confusion
- Punch list items were often completed while trades were still working, leading to potential damage and rework
- Site visits for documentation and training were repetitive and time-consuming
Without a centralized process for capturing and sharing site conditions, it was difficult to maintain consistent communication and drive accountability. As a result, Valley often found themselves in reactive mode, addressing issues after the fact instead of having inputs to prevent them.
The solution
On a recent project, Valley deployed OpenSpace and pivoted from reactive punch list management to proactive problem-solving.
Key strategies included:
- Weekly documentation walks: A foreman walked the jobsite weekly, creating timestamped Field Notes in OpenSpace for each completed room. These quality assurance notes explicitly marked areas as completed and damage-free.
- Reporting to GCs: Weekly, the team compiled and sent Field Reports with need-to-know information to the general contractor (GC).
- Strategic timing: Job Walks were scheduled in the mornings and afternoons to consistently measure progress and align with other logistics across active project sites.
This new level of documentation built a powerful strategy: protecting all stakeholders from rework and additional costs.
The results
OpenSpace supported Valley’s operations with tangible benefits:
Improved GC Communication
The GC consistently referenced Valley’s documentation in jobsite meetings to create more accountability throughout all subcontractors. This culture of accountability minimizes finger-pointing and rework.
Schedule confidence and early starts
With OpenSpace, Valley began work earlier and with greater confidence, knowing their consistent documentation would capture the details necessary for each occurrence. This transparency and proactivity was so effective that the GC regularly cited Valley’s reports in jobsite meetings as a reminder to all teams to stay accountable.
Project manager time savings
The Senior Project Manager at Valley was able to remotely monitor progress in OpenSpace, saving half a day of travel and time at the site each week. Over the course of a year-long project, this translates into approximately 26–52 days of repurposed time.
Building leaders
With remote access to site walks, the Senior PM had a new opportunity to coach a less experienced PM without needing to be on-site, freeing up bandwidth, while supporting team growth.
Driving accountability
Consistent use of OpenSpace significantly reduced the amount of rework and damage-related issues. Capturing clear, time-stamped documentation eliminated any question of what parts of the punch list had been delivered, who was responsible, and when and how it was resolved.
“OpenSpace has completely changed how we manage projects. Instead of spending time and money fixing issues we couldn’t settle, we now have clear documentation that holds everyone accountable. It’s helped us save time, recover costs, and build stronger trust with our GC and trade partners.”
Looking ahead: a digital partnership for smarter construction
Valley Interior Systems sees OpenSpace as a vital tool for future projects, offering:
- Improved trust and transparency with GCs and trade partners
- A supportive tool for training and developing project managers
- Greater efficiency with less rework
- A more consistent means of delivering their standard of quality craftsmanship
Valley’s successful transformation of proactive practices with OpenSpace highlights how modern construction teams can save time, reduce costs, and build stronger relationships through visual documentation and accountability.
