Best Ways to Overcome the Challenges of Construction Projects
- Monday, 10 April 2017
In a broad sense, construction is the mastery of creating space—be it for work, for play or all of the above. These spaces come to life through research, planning, design and implementation, and just as with any project, there can be challenges. After all, there’s machinery, materials, and equipment to worry about. Then, there’s reporting, payments, policies and software to attend to. The entire lifecycle of a construction project has its complexities, and the most common challenges can be avoided with accurate planning and good systems in place. Take the following into consideration:
Inadequate Project Management
Project management is essential in all stages of the construction process. Good project management uses commitment, planning, and transparency to manage possible changes, highlight the importance of procedures, communicate across groups and implement appropriate governance; all of which can be shared via construction software.
Some of the common causes of hazards, delays and unexpected costs stem from a lack of communication. In order to avoid such difficulties, information on all parts of the project (i.e. design, management, evaluation, approvals, health and safety issues, etc.), should be readily available in a clear, detailed and organized location. Skilled and experienced project managers are also essential to overcoming the challenge of inadequate project management.
Sudden Changes in the Project
When changes happen suddenly in your project, they can have big consequences like increasing construction cost, damaging team relationships and inhibiting your ability to deliver on schedule. Keeping an accurate account of information, making information easy to find and having a contingency plan in place are best practices to navigate sudden changes in construction projects. In this instance, technology is also on your side. CIMS, construction information management software, and BIM software allow easy and effective communication, document storage and exchange, data collection and more. These tech-wise systems ultimately help steer construction projects toward success.
Delays in Construction and Additional Costs
In every aspect of the construction processes, delays in construction can be devastating. Delays not only pose risks to project development, they negatively impact good faith relationships with clients and owners. In addition to increasing risks and impacting business relationships, delays in construction almost always result in additional and unplanned costs. To avoid this, make use of rules, stages, and methods and outline clear definition of roles and responsibilities for all participants of your project. High quality and effective project management, coupled with a reliable means to communicate deadlines and expectations can help increase your chances of completing projects on-time and on budget, every step of the way.