Perhaps\nthe most common problem within the construction industry is delays. No matter\nthe planning and preparation that goes into a construction project, there are\ninevitably surprises during the process. As Central Minnesota\u2019s premier\ncontractor, the team at BCI has plenty of experience managing and preventing\nproject delays. In this post, we want to take a moment to recognize the most\ncommon project delays and to prevent or combat them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perhaps\nthe best way to keep your construction project on time is to understand and get\nahead of potential issues. Some of the most common causes of delays\ninclude: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s\ngood practice to watch for potential problems, but some project delays aren\u2019t\npreventable. You can only react and address the issue after the fact. Follow\nthese four tips: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nnumber one cause of construction delays is improper planning. Even alterations\nthat seem insignificant can change the scope or duration of the project\u2019s\ntimeline\u2013not to mention the cost. This is why thorough planning is important.\nNo matter the size of the project, having a clear pathway will reduce\nsetbacks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before\nthe project begins, work with your builder to create a clear timeline, finalize\nblueprints, and set up a standard of communication. It\u2019s also a good plan to\nleave some wiggle room, or float, in your project schedules for unforeseen\ndelays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remember,\nmaterials matter. Plan for their lead time and acquisition. Many materials are\ngenerated overseas and\/or in unique time frames. Understand what you are\ndesigning and what it takes to get it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is\nalso important to understand \u201cwho\u201d is responsible for delivering certain\ninformation. This includes the deliverables and action items for the owner, the\narchitect, and the contractor. It is important to identify key stakeholders and\ndecision-makers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
No\nmatter the project, a construction team is made up of various experts. Clear\nmanagement of your construction team is important. Establishing roles and\nresponsibilities is an important step. This includes and contractors,\nsubcontractors, project managers, designers, and anyone else working on the\nproject. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
During\nthe first phase of construction, take the time to get to know each facet of the\nprocess and get to know the construction team, how they manage expectations,\nand how each role interacts with one another. Secondly, when you are being\nasked, be honest about your abilities, available time, and support\ncapabilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Along\nwith clear expectations, communication is key. Small issues can easily turn\ninto bigger problems without proper communication. Resolving an issue quickly\nand with the best solution involves timely communication between the\nconstruction team, managers, and any key stakeholder in the project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Set a\nstandard of communication early on. This should include who and how you are\ngoing to communicate. We are big advocates for Procore, a project-based software.\nHowever, many clients prefer to utilize e-mail, phones, text messages, and many\nother forms of communication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a\ngroup, we need to share communication with everyone to achieve closure and\nactionable steps. When feedback is clear, providing updates and strategizing\nwith one another greatly reduces delays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hiring\nthe right team is key to the process. We are not here to say other contractors\nare bad at delivery, but at BCI, we are constantly working on bettering\nourselves and our processes. We work to ensure your projects get delivered on\ntime, on budget, and with the quality our community has come to expect with our\nbrand. We break our construction processes down into many steps along the way.\nEach phase is specific in the range of tasks we perform and risks we strive to\naddress and prevent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n