Experts predict the global construction industry will continue to expand, reaching a value of $18.59 trillion by 2028. This figure highlights the potential profits that are available for contractors who can deliver projects professionally and on time.
But what do you need to do to manage a construction project successfully? Making costly mistakes that could not only lead to clients asking for a discount, but they may even be entitled to cancel your contract. This could lead to reputational harm as well as hurting your business’s bank balance.
The good news is that we’re going to look at 7 great tips you can use to make the process go more smoothly and achieve excellent results.
Grab a comfy seat while we find out more.
Make a Detailed Construction Project Plan
You can’t simply begin work, hoping that your luck will hold and that project will come together. Instead, you need to take the time to make a detailed plan that gives you an overview of the workload ahead.
This should include aspects such as how many employees will be required and where you will source construction materials. You’ll also want to consider buying or renting heavy equipment depending on the job requirements.
You may even decide to hire people who have experience with the types of construction projects you’ll be working on and ask for their expert opinions on your plan.
Once you have a workable blueprint, it should be a living document. You can then refer to and add relevant updates to guide you through the construction process.
Ensure You Have Enough Finance in Place
It’s no secret that being a contractor in the construction industry can be expensive. Unfortunately, this difficulty in sourcing finance can prevent some ventures from getting off the ground, or mean that companies have to buy cheaper materials.
But if you need working capital, it’s possible to get loans for construction company work at cost-effective rates. This will allow you to hire employees, get the equipment required to complete the job, and cover other expenditures.
When you determine your construction project budget, you’ll know precisely how much you need to borrow.
Make Sure Employees Know Their Roles
Each person should have a clear understanding of their role on a construction site. Otherwise, some tasks may not be completed, or too many workers could try and do the same job. This could even lead to staff disputes.
Although verbally explaining employees’ roles can be useful, it’s best to also put the details in writing.
Should you hire subcontractors, it’s crucial to make sure they will operate to your standards, even if they have never worked with you before. If this is not agreed upon in advance, this can cause issues and disrupt your construction project.
Have a Reporting System in Place
Employees should know how to immediately report to their managers at any time of the day or night. This could not only help your team solve problems more quickly, but it could even be life-saving in certain situations.
Construction sites are dangerous places, and accidents can happen even when workers are being careful. Being able to report an incident as soon as it occurs should be a key part of your health and safety plan that all employees should be aware of. If your workers are equipped with radios or mobile phones, this will allow them to quickly get in touch with supervisors when necessary.
For less urgent issues, you could have a sheet where workers could write messages for supervisors to read at the end of the day. Or you could have an email address for staff to report any concerns when their shift is over.
By providing employees with several means of communication, you’ll be able to receive reports that help keep your project on track.
Communicate With Third Parties
You may have your side of the construction venture running like a well-oiled machine, but a supplier could cause havoc if they let you down. For example, if materials don’t arrive on time, you could have to stop production for the day. This could cost your business money, lead to complaints from your clients, and cause you unnecessary hassle.
While a supplier could suffer an issue, you can put contingencies in place if you know this has happened. If you make a point of talking regularly with third parties, you may hear about potential problems. This will give you time to adapt and make other plans.
Be Prepared to Be Flexible
With so many things happening daily, it’s almost inevitable that you will have to make changes to your plans. You may have to move construction project deadlines, hire more workers, or add additional unforeseen costs.
This can be stressful, but it’s important not to panic and lose control of the situation. Be willing to be flexible and explain to others why you have to make amendments. You can then keep all parties pulling in the same direction.
Ask for Employee Feedback
When you proactively approach staff and ask for their opinions, you are showing them you value their input and they are a critical part of the team.
They may tell you about processes that could be fine-tuned, or about construction project equipment that needs to be serviced. By taking everyone’s thoughts into account, you’ll be able to better manage your project.
Manage a Construction Project With Ease
Knowing how to manage a construction project from start to finish can help you complete the work without over-stressing. It’s vital to have an in-depth plan before you start and to ensure workers understand their roles. You should also stay in frequent touch with your suppliers, and ask employees to report any problems as soon as possible.
If you’ve found this construction management project post helpful, check out more of our fantastic blog articles before you go.