Top 5 Tips On How Your Construction Company Can Reduce Schedule Delays

Construction industry and delays; not a combination that many like. Still, delays are a common sight. Technology, automation, cloud-based services; but delays have been a constant.

The extent of the adversity caused by scheduled delays is ineffable. No amount of statistics, numbers, metrics suffices to elaborate.

The basic impact of schedule delays is budget overrun. Simple. If the construction is not happening as per schedule, it will not happen within the budget.

So, what are the solutions? Before that, every construction company has to answer this question.

What are the reasons for construction delay?

If a construction company can answer this, it has many benefits. It helps in identifying bottlenecks. And assists in prioritizing tasks. Then, eliminating these bottlenecks reduces the delay. And construction happens within the deadline and budget.

The following are 5 major reasons behind the general delay in construction. If your company can address these problems, deadlines are no more a headache.

• Diversion from the plan,
• Inaccurate estimation of resources,
• Labor issues,
• Unnecessary paperwork,
• Lack of or bad communication.

Let us now move on to the next profound query.

How do you handle construction delays?

First, understand that delays are inevitable. Precision planning, adequate resources, labor, everything is in place. But, an invisible virus hampers your planning.

Yet, these are 5 tips which can reduce the delays to a great extent.

• Planning is non-negotiable

Basic, yet the most important tip.

A comprehensive plan forms the core of any construction project. The detailing should be top-notch.

An ideal plan defines the tasks of the ground-level worker. Yet also allows the manager to visualize progress.

The equation is simple. Better the planning, lesser the delay. But why?

Because proper planning with realistic expectations is the best step forward. Every worker’s role is defined. Tasks are scheduled. The communication path is streamlined. Monitoring of progress is scheduled.

Also, planning involves forecasting variables. From unavoidable weather conditions to delayed procurement. The forecasting allows your company to plan and manage the resources accordingly. It reduces wastage or/and duplication of efforts.

A comprehensive plan provides an ideal framework for construction. Moving on, the traditional issue, every construction company faces management.

• Improve your management

Construction is multifaceted.

Off-site planning | On-site execution. Seems simple, but is a very complex process.

For construction to happen seamlessly, management is the key. The project manager must define the roles of each worker clearly. He/she is also responsible for the timely procuring of materials and equipment.

Off-site management can be improved by reducing the time of approvals. Oftentimes, the off-site manager delays the review of progress and approval of furtherance. This delays the construction process by a substantial amount. Also, it hinders the morale of ground-level workers. They must have to unnecessarily wait.

Rather, we recommend using project management software for real-time access to on-site progress. Besides, this provides time leverage for the project manager. He/she can cater to the needs of builders, clients, contractors, without much effort.

• Communication

Delays in construction due to lack of communication is no more an issue. It is more of a crime.

Yet, there are many instances where communication issues have contributed to massive delays. Clients | Builders | Labor union | Contractors and more. The number of stakeholders in one construction project is alarming. More alarming is the scope for miscommunication.

The on-site personnel must have direct contact with the project managers. Any minor condition or adversity must be reported on time, for further assessment. Once the condition is resolved, all stakeholders must be made aware of the same.

Three tips to improve communication.

• Direct language: Lesser jargon.
• Feedback: Clarity in interpretation
• Proofs: Verbal communication, followed up with a mail.

The intangible facet of communication is now sorted. Moving on to the more tangible issue of resources.

• Procuring the resources

The construction industry is a resource-intensive industry. From human labor to earthmoving machinery. The key to seamless construction is two aspects of resources. The quality of the resources, coupled with timely procurement.

The failure in one aspect renders the other one useless. Henceforth, during the planning process, this has to be prioritized. Booking the resources and contractors in advance is a no-brainer. Then, the communication of roles takes place.

The inability to assemble the resources affects the construction, again, in two ways. Lengthy delays and the scope for rework.

Faulty equipment can alter the construction, at scale. So, this may end up in extra time and effort to rework. And rework comes at a cost, which is often over and above the estimated budget. 

Bonus tip: Mirage Industrial groups’ proven ways to reduce rework – Read here

• Schedule monitoring of progress and site visits

An underlying issue that contributes to delay is repeated site visits. One-time delays are insignificant. But, the frequency of visits adds up to a substantial amount of time lost.

If the site visits are scheduled on a fixed frequency, it helps to understand the progress better. It also provides enough time gap to have a macro look at the progress. This assists in identifying and solving underlying problems.

For example: Asset management.

Project managers tend to oversee the assets being used. The inventory is often overlooked. However, an eagle’s view of the progress helps in noticing misuse or theft, if any.

Using project management software, this issue can be solved. They allow for real-time updates of the progress. This helps the off-site managers to prepare a contingency plan. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, this plan is utilized.

Do not worry about the on-site utility of these tips.

The above-mentioned tips summarize the Mirage Industrial group’s working process. The meticulous planning to streamlined communication.

Mirage’s expertise in construction furthers the scope for forecasting the future. Thereby, reducing the extent of unnecessary delays.

With no compromise in quality, Mirage Industrial Group ensures the construction happens within the deadline. And delivers within the budget. Mirage’s expertise in construction furthers the scope for forecasting the future. Thereby, reducing the extent of unnecessary delays.