Ways to Make Your Construction Job a Success
Anyone involved in the construction industry is aware of all the common pitfalls that can crop up, such as poorly estimated costs, inefficient methods or equipment, health and safety incidents, a lack of teamwork, or an ill-defined scope of work. By acknowledging these potential areas of failure, you can identify what you need to work on in order to have a successful construction project. Whether you’re building a home or a hotel, here are five boxes that you need to tick before making a start.
Construct a Clear and Realistic Schedule
Without this, you are really flying blind. There are so many components that go into any construction job and if you’re in charge of project management, then you need to ensure everything comes together as seamlessly as possible, and on time. Put plenty of thought into your schedule and be conservative where possible. If your building materials are estimated to arrive in two to four weeks, then put down four weeks in your schedule. Never, ever, overpromise on deadlines. Also share your schedule with key decision makers and managers in order to get their opinion, and to filter down the time expectations for the job to all workers involved.
Crunch Some Numbers
Right about when you’re creating your schedule, you should also be doing the math when it comes to cost of labour, materials, and equipment. There’s nothing worse than underquoting on a job, or going to a client with an unexpected change order. Ultimately, you can save yourself plenty of headaches by simply sitting down and going through every aspect of the project’s estimated costs. Also leave room for unpleasant surprises, just in case.
Recruit the Right People
This principle crosses industry, cultural and geographic boundaries; from corporate giants in the accounting industry to your local café, without the right kind of staff, your project may be doomed before you even set foot onto the site. Ensure that you fully vet any potential staff and speak with previous managers to ascertain what sort of work ethic they have and whether or not they are dedicated to following workplace health and safety procedures.
Consider Hiring Equipment
Depending on what sort of project you have, hiring your construction equipment could save you plenty of money. With the ability to control how long you have the equipment for, what price you pay for it, and where you get it from, you could save on transport, maintenance and storage expenses. Many hire companies, such as Mabey Hire, also try to provide value-adding services, including the ability to order pre-assembled items, allowing you to get on with the job quicker.
Communicate
From your clients and suppliers to your staff, communication is vital for a smooth and successful construction job. Be sure to always keep your clients up-to-date, even if it means notifying them of delays; there is nothing more frustrating than being given confusing statements or being promised the world but receiving little. Similarly, establish an honest relationship with your staff and suppliers, whereby they feel as though they can approach you and speak candidly about any issues.
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Posted in: Your Career
Tags: construction jobs