How a Construction Management Company Can Boost Efficiency of Commercial Construction in Westchester County, NY
Commercial construction projects that go over the budget and last beyond their scheduled timeline negatively affect everyone. Even the smallest hiccup can have a ripple effect that can end up costing a lot of money, so ensuring a project stays on budget and on time is vital. Here’s how a construction management company can boost efficiency of commercial construction in Westchester County, NY.
1. It’s All In the Planning
Many efficiency mistakes are made before the ground is broken: in the planning stages. A project can be derailed very quickly with simple math errors like miscalculating the amount of concrete and other materials; neglecting to reserve in-demand rental equipment; not following up with zoning and planning officials when they drag their feet in issuing permits; or even slow decision-making if design changes need to be made.
All of the intricate steps that go into your project have to be planned out before construction begins. Figure out the personnel, equipment, materials, processes, and of course plan for contingencies and who is responsible for what if materials delays, labor shortages, weather, or other factors cause delays.
2. Experienced Crews
Everyone on a large-scale commercial project should be seasoned, and have the knowledge and experience necessary to identify issues early on and prevent them from escalating. Regardless of experience, ongoing training will ensure that workers are up to speed on technological advances and industry trends. Most importantly, experienced crew are more attuned to safety protocols.
2. The Right Software
The right construction management software helps with the project progression as well as back-office organization including billing and invoicing, scheduling, and payroll. This makes the project manager’s job a lot easier, because it reduces the human error factor such as misfiled documents.
3. Clear Communication
A construction company’s eyes and ears in the field are not the project managers: it’s the workers. They know when something goes wrong, something has the potential to go wrong, or if something could be done more efficiently and effectively.
In fact, the difference between “efficient” and “effective” is one of the key areas of input that your workers can give. You can, after all, be moving the project very efficiently in the wrong direction. Listening to experienced workers helps project managers spot inefficiencies in the plan before construction starts and as it progresses.
Communication lines between the workers and management - and between the construction company and the client - must remain open at all times. The crew should have access to management to receive instructions and share feedback. Expectations must be clearly set and performance markers should be set to keep the project humming along smoothly.
4. Building Information Modeling (BIM)
Building Information Modeling refers to the creation of digital representations of buildings. The software calculates the overall impact of a design on the building occupants, which can prevent the need for change orders that come from unrealistic design.
5. Safety
Safety is paramount and will actually help keep a project on schedule. All personnel must follow stringent safety protocols as a preventive measure.
6. Well-Maintained Equipment
Ensuring all equipment is well-maintained will prevent delays due to equipment breakdowns.
7. Use a Project Manager
A project manager is the master coordinator of the entire project, responsible for communication between all parties including local planning and zoning officials, safety, scheduling, troubleshooting, crisis management, and much more.
Related: How to Find the Right Commercial Builder in the Queens and Brooklyn, NY Areas