Managing Construction Delays: Tips for Staying on Schedule
This research identified schedule overruns as one of the most prevalent risks to effective and efficient project completion within the construction industry. Small slips can lead to a domino effect which causes the general timeline and cost to be affected. A Construction Estimator needs to minimize the chances of a delay occurrence as much as he or she can. Here are some practical tips for staying on schedule when delays occur:
Also Read: Cheryl Ann Pontrelli: Stepped Away from the Limelight
Careful Planning is Key
Effective time management from the beginning can enable a project to absorb any setbacks that may arise should they occur. In some cases, some reasonable contingencies should be incorporated into the schedule as and when possible. In planning, try to figure out where in the process certain tasks will become prone to bottlenecks or will require long lead time items. Develop and maintain a contingency strategy for the procurement of significant products and necessary equipment if your current suppliers are slow or inefficient. No plan is infallible to delay but what of having more flexibility to alter a schedule you put forward when the actual need arises?
Communication In The Family
In such a situation, it becomes desirable to open and immediate communication between the different project teams. Problems have to rise to the top to allow for response to reduce the effects arising from the problem. Daily huddles, progress reports, and alerts allow the project manager to look at the overall schedule and either adjust the schedule or resources to offset delays. When the various Teams have a clear vision and working understanding of the progress and the events scheduled to follow, it gets easier to identify early signs that could lead to delays.
Source Substitutes
The postponements in construction are normally parallel to the slow provision of materials, equipment, or prior construction work. The delays can be avoided by acquiring other supplies, getting equipment that meets all specifications but belongs to a different brand, or arranging alternative installation sequences. Keep in good standing and option with multiple-source vetted and multidimensional spare parts vendors and subs to get contingency support quicker in case of a delay.
Resequence and Refine While Writing
Construction Managers will benefit from the expertise of Outsource CAD drafting services specialists in the form of timely modification of project drawings and work plans to address issues of schedule disruptions. Even if some activities depend on others this way, the project can simply make minor adjustments to the order or concurrency of activities while those tasks are brought back into line. Shaping details to negotiate by limitations created by delays makes productivity continue.
Add Manpower Strategically
Resource availability particularly the labor resources commonly deter growth and development progress. Determine which activity segments require the engagement of new teams for an increased pace or completing activities that are behind schedule, without compromising the quality and safety levels. Refrain from having too many workers occupying work areas but add in spots making crucial swing critical path sequences back on track. Over-budget conditions resulting from delay sometimes can be partially resolved by postponing staff cutting if it will be proactive.
Negotiate Schedule Impacts
When suffering delays from clients or other outside influences, discuss the adjustments with regards to the schedule, who wants immunity from liquidated damages, and provide coverage for future milestones as necessary. The denial should be done professionally, calmly, and optionally with evidence that refutes the unsupported allegations. Show that reasonable steps have been taken inside of the organization to minimize productivity effects before claiming that a fair retrial has been given on the schedule.
Slow Down to Save More Money
Delays being followed by cost increases are seen in all projects and hence it is still possible to work under the existing costs by extending the time frame. Some of the activities should be held for longer periods to make the resource requirements less volatile. Monthly positive cash flow is what counts most for a business. Slow and sure takes time to avoid too much wastage of workers and many other negative occurrences that cost heavily.
Quality Assurance while experiencing Production delays
Delays, by their very nature, create pressure on the schedules, while the quality of outputs must remain an uncompromised priority throughout. Prevent escalating failure of slow-moving activities as the degradation of quality typically leads to more problems including reprocessing, losses, and lawsuits. Here are tips for upholding quality along with minimizing delays:
Ensure Compliance with Strong Quality Controls
Ensure that quality assurance and quality control processes are working as smoothly when there are stoppages or when the pace is rapidly stepped up. Project and site managers might look for ways to avoid following procedures through fear of loss of time. Emphasize the organizational commitment to quality in union with the ability to overcome barriers. Independent QA/QC can always detect weaknesses at the initial stages when they observe that the schedules have been condensed.
Retain Skilled Staff
Where relations are tense, such as when there is a large delay, then having competent staff who are more than capable of managing their work to a high standard is indispensable. Forget it to eliminate high performers before targets change right? They have better skills, high output, strict adherence to the laid down procedures, and little or no supervision needed – all of which translate to quality and reliability. It pays to retain them for the longer term.
Confirm That ‘Other’ Work Has Not Been Left Out
When they happen, construction works are renovated or compacted via schedule compression strategies. Prevent susceptible steps for omission so that they are not overlooked and forgotten through the process. Review new plans and add/review with additional checklists that prerequisite work, inspect, approve, and properly stage materials before proceeding.
Execute More Progress Inspections
Though delays should not lessen quality, greater activity verification by more frequent QA observations and progress inspections add a level of protection against deteriorating quality. Sampling rates associated with work testing and review of quality control documentation may also require an increase. The sense of quality has to be as acute as the increased risk resulting from the reduction or elimination of recognized process guards.
Conclusion
Construction delays occur, sometimes due to factors that are entirely beyond the control of a team. It is unlikely ever to avoid delays completely, yet implementing their consequences should not incapacitate budgets or end dates when using rational mitigation strategies. Damage control strategies include schedule balancing, timely relaying of information, creative planning as well as schedule haggling, high quality, and timely planning. Additional support is provided by Construction Estimating Services to increase delay response flexibility even more. How one weather delays remains a function of readiness, acceptance of responsibility, communication, tolerance for change, and decision making – plus a commitment which stands for doing things correctly, no matter how lengthy in the doing.
