With mind-bogglingly large projects, rising costs and constant moving pieces, always expect the unexpected. Despite carefully designed blue prints and timelines, the construction process will never be perfect.

To effectively manage the complexity of commercial construction, prioritize thorough organization and coordination. With some additional attention and forethought, many common mistakes can be avoided.

For quality output, carefully plan each phase of construction, coordinate for dependable delivering, and look for ways to consolidate materials. Here are some crucial strategies for conserving energy, health and money.

ALWAYS PREPARE EFFECTIVELY

When you fail to plan, you plan to fail. This is especially true when it comes preparing for each detail of the construction process, down to delivery companies. Here are some tips for ensuring client satisfaction and quality delivery.

• Start with main phases of construction:  develop the blueprint for your primary goal and break it down into 3 to 5 main phases. If the project is projected to take one year, consider breaking the timeline into chunks of 2 to 4 months.
• Coordinate thoroughly with your crew: Each project requires coordination with suppliers, clients, contractors, subcontractors, skilled laborers and more. Provide clear expectations and an understanding of the big picture added value for each team member. Communication clarity will prevent unnecessary confusion.
• Write, edit and rewrite the master plan: After multiple sources have reviewed and made corrections to the master plan, provide edited copies for all relevant personnel. Unpredictable factors such as weather, labor and costs may vary the projected completion date; plan for these factors and provide clearly communicated updates. Consider designating a communication role to provide a centralized voice for changes.
• Manage your resources: To avoid wasted cash and frustration, develop and implement a thoroughly organized inventory of materials and tools. Utilize labels, color codes, and common sense for storing and tracking your resources for each project. Make sure you take stock of the needed tools, you may need to rent, lease or purchase tools!

FIND RELIABLE DELIVERIES

With massive crews working onsite, every day counts.  Utilize effective communication and develop positive working relationships with your suppliers to ensure timely delivery. Here are some tips for coordinating with your suppliers:

• Research suppliers first: Ask other project managers about supplier reputation for timeliness, organization and communication. Seeking notes from others’ experiences will help ensure quality service.

• Clarify expectations: Clearly spell out what you need and the order in which you need it. Ask for feedback on their understanding of the plan to avoid miscommunication.

• Coordinate for supplier access: A slip in supply arrival schedule could unnecessarily waste time and add frustration. Be sure each project lead has access to scheduled deliveries to ensure prompt site access at the correct time and location.

• Record supplier experiences: Avoid making the same mistake twice by noting your experience with different suppliers. If a bad experience happens twice, take note and find a new supplier.

For schedule convenience and a happy wallet, CDF Distributors provides fast and free delivery. The FEDEX freight delivery works as a one streamlined network and is regarded as the best international option for flexibility, reliability and cost-effectiveness.

SAVE WITH RESOURCE CONSOLIDATION

For each construction project, an endless supply of resources is needed and often needed again in other parts of the building. Consider securing an offsite storage space to properly conserve and consolidate your resources. Here are some clear benefits to organized consolidation:

Save money, avoid confusion: In storing your resources organized in an offsite inventory, it will be easier to know what you have or what you need to purchase. The supplies are less likely to be lost or damaged as well.

Reduce onsite traffic: By keeping the unneeded resources out of the way, your building site will be clear and concise. A clean working environment is an effective working environment.

Provide safe worksite: With massive complexity and moving pieces, obstacle hazards may become an issue. You can avoid these problems and provide a safer work environment by accessing the resources as needed. Although you may spend a little extra time in delivery, construction will run smoother with fewer accidents.

At the end of the day, safety is key. Leading as the most dangerous industry to work in, 1 in every 5 worker deaths occurs in construction. Industry safety onsite is especially crucial. Ensure safety for your laborers and clients by utilizing sound structure materials.

February 15, 2017
Wayne Foreman