How to Keep Your Construction Project on Schedule
Almost every construction project goes over schedule or over budget — or both. No matter how much contractors and project managers try to plan ahead and create alternate plans in case things go wrong, things happen along the way. There are some scheduling hurdles that you have no control over, which is why you need to focus on the elements you can control to keep your projects on schedule. Not only does this reflect on your reputation, but it can also impact your profits and cause you to pay penalties for not getting the work done on time.
Be Prepared and Plan Ahead
A proactive approach is best for your construction schedule. By planning ahead and reviewing all of the details of the project before you begin, you can put yourself in a better position to build a schedule that is actually feasible. Review all of the drawings and specs, as well as any other project documents you have on hand. Make sure you understand the drawings and utilize them to help organize the project site. With proper planning, you can create an efficient construction site that includes material storage and laydown areas, jobsite trailer location, break areas and employee access points, and more. An organized site will contribute to getting work done on time.
On the same note, make sure that subcontractors and other workers review their own documents and project details ahead of time. Invite them to ask questions or resolve any issues as soon as possible so that they can help you create a schedule that will work for everyone. By coordinating with your people ahead of time, you can avoid miscommunication and make sure everyone is on the same page to get the project completed in a timely manner. Plus, subcontractors might inform you of things that could change the schedule you had in mind, such as materials acquisition delays or potential weather-related delays that only affect certain parts of the project.
Plan the Entire Project, But Work One Day at a Time
Construction project delays are rarely the result of one huge issue. Most projects get off-track one little thing at a time, which is why daily monitoring can help you keep things moving. Get daily progress reports and make sure that your subcontractors report to you whenever there is an issue or minor hiccup that could result in time lost down the road. Communication is key — it can increase productivity and teamwork, which will help get your projects completed on time.
There are a lot of details involved in even a seemingly simple construction project, and all it takes is one detail going wrong to stall the entire project or change the schedule. Every day, you should sit down and look at all of the areas of the schedule, what work was completed that day, and any issues that have arisen and haven’t been resolved. Pay special attention to anything that was completed behind or ahead of schedule. You can use this insight to improve this and other project schedules and compare performance.
Utilize Technology to Save Time and Hassle
The average construction project takes 20 percent more time than what is scheduled, which is a solid increase since the 1990s. As technology has evolved, many industries have embraced its tools and resources to improve their productivity. The construction industry, however, is lagging in this area. As a project manager or contractor, it is your job to utilize the best tools and resources for the job. This includes technology. From online and shared project scheduling tools to time and task reporting tools, there are a lot of resources to help you keep your projects on schedule and on budget, no matter how big or small they might be.
If you aren’t familiar with the technology available to you, take a little time to get familiar. Look to see what competitors are using and how they plan projects. Look up the companies with the best on-time completion rates and see what they are doing to get the job done on schedule. Instead of fighting against your competition, you should learn from their successes and mistakes alike to help you become better at scheduling your own projects.
