Large teams and long deadlines are almost often involved in construction projects, which can make project management of individual tasks difficult. It can be difficult to keep track of subcontracted expenses, bids, deadlines, and supplies when handling jobsite duties and office paperwork.
From our 35 years in the construction industry, we’ve compiled a list of six tips for making project management easier. We hope that this piece of advice will assist you in remaining on budget, on schedule, and on time for your next project.
Know everything there is to know.
It’s how you lay the foundation for a good project if you know all the details. By evaluating this, you can foresee and prepare for potential threats, as well as resolve problems before they become a problem.
Begin by identifying observable achievements and milestones that you can monitor as the project progresses, such as completing projects on time and within budget, or ensuring client satisfaction. Make sure the team is up to date on building codes, bricks, materials, and any new items. Finally, know the lead times for all materials before starting the project.
Create a solid strategy.
Following the five typical phases of project management: initiation, planning, launch, success, and termination, is the best way to anticipate the project’s lifecycle and develop a consistent plan of operation.
Create incremental deliverables based on the project’s phases. This will assist you in clearly identifying your mission and objectives. And, at the end of each process, conduct an assessment to ensure that the project evolves in a managed manner.
Maintain a continuous line of contact
Even if the meeting is only a short weekly check-in or conference call, having regularly scheduled meetings is the best way to keep everyone involved in the project up to date and aware of any issues.
Emails are also a great way to stay in touch with the whole team, but being on the move can make it difficult to get online. Construction project managers spend an average of three hours a day reading or writing emails to their staff, according to a recent industry report. So, maybe don’t bombard your contractor with so many texts.
Collaborate with the rest of the party.
Listening to what the team has to say is an important aspect of teamwork. Discuss new ideas or directions with them and seek their guidance. Giving and getting input is an essential aspect of partnership. Learn about your teammates’ strengths and weaknesses so you can assign tasks based on experience and maximise success based on knowledge.
Maintain your company.
Staying organised is the best way to stick to your schedule, even when delays and unexpected issues occur. Project management requires keeping track of project deliverables, workers, schedules, and activities. You’ll be able to make adjustments and updates to your schedule as soon as things change if you remain organised.
Using construction-focused software that monitors and communicates every part of a project’s lifecycle in real time is a perfect way to remain organised. Contractors can control all aspects of their operations from their smartphone or tablet using technological resources like this, which allow entire teams to remain connected whether they’re in the field or in the office.
Adapt to the changes.
Setbacks are unavoidable on almost any project, and they must be resolved as soon as possible to keep the project on track. A project’s design, pre-construction, and procurement phases all necessitate thorough preparation, and each can require revision before the next phase can begin.
The secret to success is to adapt and adjust to the changes as quickly as possible, or you risk losing a customer, losing money, and possibly even delaying the start of future projects.
