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Inefficiencies plague the construction industry. According to a report, 98% of megaprojects are affected by delays and cost overruns. The report states that the lack of productivity in the construction sector is caused by several factors, such as poor communication, organization, and contractual misunderstandings.
One of the best ways to build a project is to use technology. Technology such as https://www.alicetechnologies.com/intelligent-construction-sequencing improves efficiency through resource-loaded construction sequences. The technology uses optioneering to create millions of construction scenarios that reduce cost and time.
Regardless, other causes of inefficiency include the following.
Causes Of Construction Inefficiency
Inefficiencies in construction can also be caused by poor short-term planning. An example is when the manager develops a three-month plan but fails to make daily and weekly construction plans. Daily plans are more realistic as the construction team knows what they require daily.
Insufficient Risk Management
Construction risk management requires the project manager to work with his team to develop a comprehensive risk management plan. A good risk management plan should consider specific risks, such as safety and financial risks. Safety is essential because poor safety procedures can expose the construction project to legal lawsuits.
In addition, the project owner must have a well-laid legal risk plan to protect the construction project from delays. Other risks should be included in the risk management plan.
Poor Collaboration Among Stakeholders
Most construction projects are affected by poor collaboration. Poor collaboration affects construction projects because subcontractors will not know what is required of them. To solve this problem, contractors should use modern collaboration platforms that make it easy for them to collaborate in real time.
These modern platforms can track the completion rate of a construction project reducing delays and increasing efficiency. In addition, the platform holds people accountable, which increases efficiency.
How To Determine Efficient Ways Of Building A Project
Some ways to determine efficiency are the following.
Define The Scope Of A Project
Project scope is a document that outlines the work required to complete a construction project successfully. The scope of work contains essential information such as the goals of the project, tasks to be completed, costs, deadlines, and material to be used. The scope of work is crucial because it helps subcontractors remain focused on what is required of them.
Another benefit of the project scope is that the project owner knows essential stakeholders who need to be involved in the project. For example, a newbie project developer will know that the project requires an architect, structural engineer, project manager, legal team, contractors, and subcontractors.
The project scope also helps protect the project from delays, as it has clear timelines.
Develop A Construction Schedule
A construction schedule is a timeframe of when contractors will complete a construction project. A schedule defines the sequence and method a construction project will be completed. A good plan needs to be created by a scheduler who understands the scope of work to guarantee efficiency and reduce risks.
Construction schedules are vital because they maximize quality control measures reducing unforeseen risks. In addition, it increases efficiency by enhancing collaboration among different stakeholders of a project.
Schedules help project managers plan when to buy material, ensuring that the project is not affected by negative cash flows. If material is bought too early, it can be stolen or damaged. An excellent example of this is cement. When cement is bought too early, it can spoil. Similarly, when it is not bought on time, it can cause delays.
Determine Suitable Resources
To create an efficient construction schedule, the contractor needs to identify appropriate resources before construction work starts. The contractor needs to determine the type of equipment that will be used. The contractor will also need to identify the material and expertise required.
If these resources {labor and equipment}, are not identified early in the construction phase, the project will be affected by inefficiencies.
Identify Risks & Develop A Mitigation Strategy
Construction risks are factors that can negatively affect the implementation of a construction project. To increase efficiency, these risks need to be identified before they affect the project. One common construction risk is the risk of an unexpected increase in material costs.
A sudden increase in the cost of materials can cause delay and stall the project altogether in a worst-case scenario. There are several ways that contractors can deal with this risk. One of them is by having a price escalation clause.
This protects the contractor from legal lawsuits. The project owner can deal with this problem by stockpiling material reserves.
Another common construction risk is labor shortages. Project owners can deal with this risk by working with outsourcing companies that will help recruit labor on behalf of the company. Contractors should also create mitigation strategies for risks such as natural disasters, poorly written contracts, and managing change orders.
Determine A Suitable Delivery Method
Project managers need to determine efficient delivery methods that best suit their use case. You can use several delivery methods. The first is the Design-Bid-Build method. This delivery method is best for commercial construction. In this method, the project owner hires the architect.
After the design is made, the project owner sends out bids for interested contractors to bid. The designer will review the submissions and recommend the winning contractor. In this delivery method, the designer will supervise the general contractor.
Another suitable delivery method is the Design-Build method. In this method, the designer or contractor is responsible for implementing the project. Though this method increases efficiency, the project owner is forced to be more involved.
In conclusion, there are several ways that contractors can ensure that their project is more efficient. One of these is to use technology that uses algorithms to simulate the construction process. These technologies can identify construction approaches that reduce costs and construction time.
In addition, contractors should create a realistic schedule and scope of work. The more accurate the schedule, the more efficient the plan. Similarly, you can identify an effective method by identifying risks and developing mitigation measures.
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