For Projects Already in Procurement
Already in Procurement and Hitting Problems? We Can Step In.
Not every engagement starts at the beginning. Sometimes a team starts stone procurement without advisory support and hits a wall: the specified material isn’t available in the required quantity, the delivered slabs don’t match the approved sample, the fabricator is behind schedule, or the stone scope is over budget with no clear path to resolution. These are the situations where course correction is more valuable than starting over.
Material shortfall discovered after partial procurement
The project needs 40 slabs. The distributor delivered 28 from the approved block. The remaining 12 will come from a different block. The color doesn’t match. The project is weeks from fabrication.
Delivered material doesn’t match the approval
The slabs that arrived at the fabricator are technically the same material name, but the vein character, color temperature, or finish quality doesn’t match what was approved. The design team is unhappy. The contractor is on schedule. Tension is building.
Fabricator is behind schedule or producing substandard work
The fabrication shop promised delivery in four weeks. It’s been eight. The initial pieces that arrived have rough edges, inconsistent finish, or incorrect dimensions. The project needs a new plan.
Budget overrun with no clear resolution
The stone scope is 30% over the original budget due to material substitutions, change orders, or fabrication rework. The owner wants accountability and a path forward.
We assess the current situation: what’s been procured, what’s been delivered, what the quality issues are, where the schedule stands, and what the budget impact looks like. This assessment is fast — typically completed within a few days.
We develop a corrective action plan: source replacement material, evaluate fabricator alternatives, negotiate with current vendors, or restructure the procurement approach. The plan addresses the immediate crisis while protecting the project’s longer-term stone quality.
We can take over procurement management for the remaining scope, providing the oversight and coordination that was missing. This isn’t about blame — it’s about fixing the situation and delivering the project.
We document everything for the project’s record: what happened, what corrective actions were taken, and what the quality and cost implications are. This documentation protects the owner and provides accountability.
The Situation
A luxury home in Connecticut was three months into a stone scope that had gone sideways. The fabricator was eight weeks behind schedule. Delivered countertop slabs didn’t match the approval — the block had changed. The master bath bookmatched marble had a crack in one slab that the fabricator was planning to fill with epoxy rather than replace. The builder called us for help.
What Happened
We assessed the situation in 48 hours. We identified a replacement lot for the countertop material that matched the original approval more closely. We rejected the cracked bookmatched slab and sourced a replacement from the same block (two additional slabs were still available at the distributor). We evaluated the fabricator’s schedule and determined the delays were systemic — the shop was overcommitted. We recommended transferring the remaining scope to a second fabricator with immediate capacity. The builder authorized the transfer. The project recovered the lost schedule within five weeks.
Rapid Assessment
Fast evaluation of the current procurement situation: material status, quality issues, schedule impact, and budget implications. Typically completed in 2–5 days.
Corrective Action Management
Source replacement materials, evaluate alternative fabricators, negotiate with current vendors, and manage the transition to a corrective plan.
Embedded Advisory
Take over procurement management for the remaining scope, providing the oversight and coordination the project needs to finish successfully.
How quickly can you assess a procurement problem?+
Typically 2 to 5 business days for a full assessment. For urgent situations, we can provide an initial read within 24 to 48 hours based on available documentation and conversations with the project team.
Will getting involved create conflict with the current contractor?+
Our approach is collaborative, not adversarial. We work with the existing team to resolve the problem. Most contractors welcome expert involvement when they’re struggling with a stone scope — it takes pressure off their team and moves the project toward resolution.
Is it too late to fix a procurement problem once fabrication has started?+
It depends on the nature of the problem. Material quality issues may require replacement sourcing. Fabrication quality issues may require a fabricator change. Schedule delays may require accelerated timelines with a different shop. We assess what’s salvageable and what needs to change.
18 Years
in Luxury Natural Stone
Former Antolini
Luigi & C Spa — 9 Years
Co-Founder
Stone Trend (Seattle)
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Read more →A procurement problem doesn’t have to become a project failure. The sooner someone with expertise steps in, the more options remain on the table.
Show me the project.
Start with a free 15-minute sanity check. If the project needs deeper work, we can decide that together.