Construction project management involves many duties and responsibilities related to planning, executing, and supervising a building under construction. Even the simplest construction projects have dozens of variables that require careful monitoring from inception to completion.
If even one of these variables takes an unexpected route, the result can mean going over budget or past your scheduled project end date. Here is how to start managing a construction project.
Provide a Clear Outline
Clarify a project’s goals, objectives, and deliverables. Ensure all stakeholders are on the same page with the project’s objectives.
Engage Stakeholders in the Planning
Be sure to involve the client and all relevant stakeholders in deciding the timeline, budget, and other details about the construction project. Have all stakeholders sign off on the details, including the project scope.
Hire and Lock In Your Team
The key to an efficient construction project is who you hire. Regarding project managers, architects, engineers, and contractors, hire a well-rounded collection of workers you can trust to deliver on what you’ve decided for your project.
Establish a Budget
Decide on a budget that outlines your spending and detailed expenses for labour, materials, and more. Set up cost controls through construction software to monitor cash flow and expenditures and automate real-time reports so that you can monitor where your financial health is.
Choose the Right Software
The construction management software you choose is important. Select software with features such as scheduling, budgeting, document management, cloud-based team collaboration tools, and more. Ensure you have what you need to manage your construction project adequately.
Scheduling Comes Next
A project has to have a schedule. Break down a project into phases, assigning each a set number of tasks and each with a deadline. Be ready to stay on track with progress and use scheduling tools in construction software to monitor how well your schedule is being adhered to.
Establish a Communication Plan
Define how you intend to communicate with your team. This may include details, such as daily updates, weekly meetings, and written progress reports. Minimize miscommunications and false expectations.
Source Materials
Contact material suppliers and negotiate contracts to buy quality materials in bulk at the most competitive price. Ensure you arrange for material delivery and storage. Track these orders and ongoing inventory in your construction software, ensuring they’re received correctly.
Seek Out Equipment
It is often more affordable to rent construction equipment than buy it; however, each company or contractor differs. Be sure to service your equipment and verify that you have what you need to complete the work planned.
Establish Safety Policies
Author safety guidelines for your project. Ensure workers are aware. Prioritize a safe environment at all times. Monitor safety compliance throughout the project and complete safety inspections as needed.
Set Up the Construction Site
Prepare the site before you begin building. This may include clearing the land, setting up fencing, and arranging utilities if they are not already available.
Monitor the Project Daily
Ensure team leads report daily activities to management and that progress reports are filed project-wide. This helps keep all stakeholders accountable and informed. Monitor worker hours and productivity levels, minimizing delays and increased costs at every turn.
Be Prepared to Adjust
Stay flexible. Unexpected changes may occur, such as weather delays and material shortages. Adapt quickly, update timelines, and reallocate resources where needed.
Note Your Actual Expenses
Compare actual expenses against your budget. Identify discrepancies. When overspending occurs, or your budget needs to be shifted, ensure you make data-backed moves and tap into contingency funds where needed.
Inspect Work Quality
Conducted site inspections and ensured the work performed met quality standards. Regular quality checks minimize costly rework, and what rework needs to be performed can be done before its cost increases.
Maintain Site Cleanliness
Ensure debris and waste are removed from the construction site. Keep your construction site safe and productive at all times.
Monitor Environmental Impact
Have monitoring policies in place to identify your construction project’s environmental impact. Implement eco-friendly practices that minimize the project’s footprint. Track environmental compliance as much as one monitors on-site regulatory and safety standards.
Resolve Personnel Disputes Quickly
When conflicts arise, resolve them as quickly as possible. Whether it’s with the client, between team members, in management, or between contractors and subcontractors, clear communication is required to de-escalate. Document and track dispute resolution.
Automate Your Administrative Duties
The right construction software can automate a construction project’s administrative duties, including timesheets, payroll, cost controls, and more.
Keep the Client Informed
Commit yourself to keeping the clients informed about project progress and milestones. Be transparent about your successes and failures. Share progress updates with accurate, up-to-date information.