For many contractors, a successful project means completing it on time and within budget. However, when a project fails, it is typically a result of conflicts and issues that cause overruns in expenses and delays in the schedule. Contractors must manage their construction Projects properly, or it can potentially lead to wasted time, money, and liabilities. They can avoid the issues known as profit and productivity killers, helping keep everyone involved in the project on the same page.
But what is it that causes construction projects to fail? Just like any construction project, many factors can lead to project failure. However, typically, the following factors are most commonly known to delay productivity, waste money and time.
One of the biggest profitability killers in construction projects is not clearly defining both company and project goals. It would be best if you were forward-thinking for both the short and long term when considering the bigger picture. Before beginning a project, a solid strategy and plan should be created, with all those involved in the project being a crucial component in the planning process. A good construction schedule is your best tool to communicate goals to team members to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
Inadequate planning leads to poor execution. The more time and effort put into planning and scheduling a project, the more successful the project will be. Careful, detailed planning and scheduling should include reviewing and fully understanding the project and plans, job specifications, the scope of work, and the expectations tied to the project. Good planning involves effective communication with the clients, subcontractors, architects, suppliers, and anyone else involved to establish realistic construction schedules and project milestones.
Effective communication is essential to delivering a successful construction project. By streamlining communications, project profitability is more likely to increase. Improving the communications between all team members and all other involved parties will also increase productivity, improving profitability overall. Most people are poor communicators, and it is your responsibility to bridge the gap by providing clear defined goals and expectations. Your Construction Schedule is your best tool to communicate project goals and project expectations.
In construction projects, both the productivity of contractors and team members is crucial to keeping a project on schedule and within budget. You need to ensure that all team members are performing to their fullest potential. Management, Project Managers, Superintendents, and Foreman need to stay on top of employee performances and their strengths and weaknesses. The only way to enforce and measure the productivity of a project is with an effective construction schedule.
