The construction industry is particularly resistant to change. There are a few construction-related businesses still run on paper, pen, and workflow chaos. In the current market, the inability to fix unorganized workflow and shortcomings can affect the employees and the business. The efficiency of production operations depends mostly on workflow. The better a project manager defines a typical construction process, the more efficient and productive the team will be.
For Today’s blog, we are detailing the top 6 smart ways to streamline every construction process.
1. Conduct Fewer Meetings
Meetings are often considered as a necessary management tool. Conducting a series of virtual meetups establishes the main project goals, recap on timescales and defines processes. However, if meetings are conducted too frequently, a large amount of time will be wasted. The essence of conducting a meeting might ineffective in the long-term.
Hence, minimizing the number of unplanned and spontaneous conferences with various departments will save time. The summary can also become less complicated. It allows project managers and construction team, to carry out work efficiently in a timely fashion. Start now by creating meeting schedules and suggesting other vital considerations.
2. Look after your Workforce
Perhaps, one of the many crucial factors in the journey towards efficiency is to ensure that the entire construction team is focused and motivated to reach the end goal. It only makes sense to provide the whole staff with adequate conditions. Doing so will give them the grounds and access to strive further as part of the team. Recommendations include providing every crew a secure locker area for their things and letting them wear the right PPE.
Building a resting area for the workers is also an excellent recommendation to follow. Not only will these things keep your colleagues happy, but it also strengthens the collaboration. The whole situation enforces a positive team mentality leading to more end goals achieved and completion of projects.
3. Protect the Site and Staff from Elements
Staff members should feel that they are appreciated and valued. It is the responsibility of construction project leaders to make every crew valued. If they are not properly monitored, there could be potential adverse effects for the crew. There have been natural factors outside of one’s control. Also, the majority of construction projects likely face harsh elements and environmental impacts.
The laborers working at the site and the site itself are vulnerable to harsh conditions. Hence, it is essential to monitor weather conditions, especially on a daily or weekly basis. If the monitoring process is successfully implemented, project leaders can quickly allocate job roles and alter some processes.
4. Explore a Venture towards Eco-Friendly construction
Another important factor worth considering in streamlining the construction process is considering a venture outside the business. Streamlining processes not just happen within a particular construction project but also outside. The outside sources serve as an additional sustainable effort. To begin with, one technique is worth implementing during the planning process, and it is the reduction of the distance of colleagues, laborers and equipment present onsite.
This technique reduces carbon emissions and reduces the time and effort needed for particular parts to arrive. As a result, it eliminates the risks of failing to reach the site in harsh weather conditions. If it is not a viable solution for the construction business, several simple options are useful in streamlining processes. Not only will it make the process more organized but also more eco-friendly too.
5. Utilize Software Technologies
In terms of reducing human error risks and reducing project turnaround, investing in a construction project management tool is a great option. Using such advanced applications, keeping various construction jobs at once is much easier to do. It promotes smart ways of handling construction projects, whether small or large scale. Time is saved, and projects are further managed.
Additionally, using software applications will give each crew access to communicate with each other. This real-time platform allows everyone to communicate effectively and access essential office files. Updates about the project and the progress can be monitor minute per minute. Real-time collaboration and increasing work productivity are some benefits this application provides for the users.
6. Make Use of Durable Materials
Another critical point to consider when establishing commercial and residential construction is the type and quality of materials used. One factor to also consider is the longevity of the structure. However, it depends on the crew’s role in the process if he can influence the building process’s materials. Stressing the importance of utilizing can use a long-term strategy.
For both commercial and residential construction sites, consider using impermeable and sturdy granite worktops. This material will endure the dusty and bust construction process surrounding it and ensure the building’s lifespan to last long after putting the materials in place.
5 Construction Processes to Improve Today
Want to whip the most crucial construction processes into shape? Here are the five construction processes that needed to improve further.
1. Preconstruction
Time is usually wasted during preconstruction because most stakeholders are often disconnected from one another. Many teams are participating at this stage, and there could be many rampant problems in the project. There are several other factors to consider, whether it is an estimation, bidding, or qualifying subcontractors. As a result, construction data and documents are unsorted and buried in the inbox. Missing confidential and critical files could also happen. As a result, teams struggle to organize everything from the start and collating all crucial details related to the project.
2. Submittal Review Process
One of the most critical construction project management process is submittals. It is also one of the most typically botched. Generally, the submittal review process is tedious and lengthy. Stakeholders have to aggregate them from all involved contractors ensuring that they cover every aspect of the project. The submittals have to be inputted directly in the system.
However, the inputting process for the submittals is often done manually, which is quite a disadvantage. Following manual procedures cause omissions and mistakes. It can take several weeks and months and as the project expands in scope and size, and so do the errors. Tracking and monitoring submittals are easier to accomplish using a scheduling application designed for better project management.
3. Requests for Information (RFIs)
RFIs are a necessary part of every construction project. Without the presence of a reliable management workflow, RFI processes can suffer. Requests for Information ensure that involved crews build properly, maintaining quality and minimizing rework. Everything mentioned is essential, but RFIs serve as a roadblock to a particular project, significantly if some processes are not streamlined yet.
Instead of relying on creating manual RFIs, paper, and managing on separate systems, using a digital strategy is a great option. Project leaders are responsible for onboarding every single crew from workers right up to the top management. Everyone knows where to answer and submit RFIs. Collaborate effectively but this time with the use of advanced project management tools.
4. Managing of Costs
Managing risks, tracking project costs, and keeping the project within budget is one of the biggest hurdles in managing construction projects. For example, a specific project can have tons of change orders. Hence, searching for efficiencies in the cost management process can make a huge difference in completing and delivering the project within budget and on time.
Project leaders and project executives often have to navigate and explore information silos. It increases possible risks due to missing and outdated information, convoluted processes, and unreliable response times involving several vendors, products, and systems. Above all, construction teams need to obtain real-time and accurate data on financial health and overall project. Well-informed decisions can be made faster by implementing such procedures.
5. Closeout and Punch Lists
In closing out a specific project, punch lists are essential, but they can be prepared at the last minutes if necessary. Manual tracking of punch lists is proven to waste time as there is no accurate and transparent system to see all tasks’ current status. In terms of punch listing, only 44% of the contractors use the method on half of the respective projects. In most projects, closing out is considered delayed because punch list items are not correctly handled and managed ahead of time.
Below are some practical ways to improve the process of punch listing:
Deploy “As-You-Go” Punch list – one of the many things to remember is to never wait until the end of a project. As an alternative, review tasks off as you finish everything. It is considered as further motivation in ensuring that you build a punch list system.
Track Punch Lists as a particular task – create tasks solely for punch listing using a cloud-based application. The application provides access for everyone, and a much well-planned punch list process is created. The software itself offers several other benefits.
Key Takeaways
Changes do not happen overnight. Project leaders must not expect the team to fine-tune every single aspect of the process and entire workflows. Approach emerging changes in construction processes like a marathon. It might take time to implement it but start implementing now, onboard everyone starting from the highest stakeholders and new laborers, and work out the kinks. Expect that you will go through a new transition period for the first few weeks.
