CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT
The construction phase may be thought of as the final stage before actual operations can begin, and as such, the risk is now significantly reduced but certainly not eliminated. Among the primary concerns during construction is cost control. Many potential problems can be thwarted, or their effects mitigated by regular construction reports, promptly handling Requests for Information from contractors and architects who need the information to proceed and maintaining involvement so as to be proactive in the permit process.
When millions are on the line in a construction project, avoiding costly mistakes becomes priority number one. Bound by strict time parameters and financial constraints, you must account for every detail and contingency.
Construction project management helps you do just this. From planning and design to resource management, budget allocation, and more, construction project management helps you keep the entire construction process efficient and on track.
Construction project management involves directing and organizing each part of the project life cycle, from ideation to completion. It’s a holistic practice with the goal of delivering projects on time and under budget. Construction project management is a complex discipline that requires addressing many important concerns, including cost control, scheduling, procurement, and risk assessment. Project managers interact with all team members involved in a construction project, from architects to owners to contractors.
Stages of Construction Phase
1. Preconstruction
Preconstruction involves creating a roadmap that will guide you through the construction process. It’s about building a game plan for the project that shows everyone what they need to do, when they need to do it, how they should accomplish it, and what it should cost. If all parties stick to the plan and execute their roles to perfection, they’ll deliver the project on time, to standard, and within budget.
Preconstruction involves a wide variety of critical tasks. Here are a few of the most important:
- Define and allocate resources.
- Set up mini budgets.
- Create timelines and deadlines.
- Distribute tasks.
Map out work and operations through work breakdown structures (WBS), organization breakdown structures (OBS), and other tools.
Risk assessment and contingency planning are also a major part of preconstruction. Things rarely go just as planned during a construction project — often due to factors outside your control — so project managers and stakeholders must prepare for things going awry. The more proactive you are, the less time, money, and resources you’ll lose trying to get back on track when hiccups occur.
2. Procurement
Procurement encompasses sourcing, purchasing, and managing the material logistics and services you need to complete a project. Procurement and supply chain managers should provide input in the planning stages to keep unexpected cost overruns to a minimum during this stage. Even so, some volatility is inevitable, as prices are subject to shifts in the market. You should account for this risk to the extent possible through robust preconstruction planning.
There are benefits and drawbacks to sourcing materials from local, regional, or global markets. Local procurement may take less time, but it may come at a greater cost, while less expensive materials shipped over long distances may be more subject to delays and supply chain interruptions. Engage in thorough research so you can choose the right options to meet budgetary requirements and stay on schedule.
Choosing when to perform procurement is another major decision. Rather than completing procurement before the construction project begins, you can obtain the resources you need as the project progresses to meet evolving requirements. While this strategy provides additional flexibility, reduces holding costs, and preserves liquidity, it risks delayed shipments or shortages that may slow the entire project. It also exposes you to potential price increases. Whatever approach you choose, try to align purchase orders with your construction plan and have contingencies in place to preserve your budget and schedule as circumstances change.
3. Construction
You’ve made your plan, everyone knows what their jobs are, and you have the resources you need to get started. Now construction can commence. All your preparation and planning pay off in this stage, helping the construction process move along smoothly and finish successfully. Even the most thorough plans can’t anticipate every hiccup along the way, of course, so regular monitoring and evaluation of progress during this phase is vital for staying on course.
When you must adjust due to new circumstances or goals, change management comes into play. Project managers must adapt as needed while remaining within the parameters of the project’s plan. Look for a change management solution that can help analyse the impact of changes and minimize their impact on the project.
Effective construction project management solutions help you improve forecasting, centralise information, boost efficiency, and keep costs low. We offer project performance solution that helps you do that and much more. It takes the burden off your shoulders through an easy-to-use platform that mitigates risk, eliminates errors, and facilitates communication. Get in touch with us today to learn more.
Why Ecolink Projects
Led by our Principal Consultant with more than 20 years industry experience & knowledge.
With qualifications in construction, projects, risk, and business management and with experience working on different sides of the industry (developers, main contractors and consultancy outfits), his approach to project management comes with a practical and well-rounded understanding of construction management offered with a deep appreciation for the social, economic, environmental and cultural objectives that a development may be aligned with. A statement backed by experience in successfully delivering projects within a diverse international portfolio and programme management roles.
Being small is an advantage, we can scale up quickly to hand-pick and manage project teams
As a boutique firm, we can scale up or down quickly to meet your needs without the burden of having to maintain a high cost to support a large overhead. While we capable of handling your property problems on our own, we are well supported by expert consultants where required to deliver results. We can identify the most suitable professionals to get you the best and most cost-efficient result.
We can integrate with your existing or preferred team of property professionals
We are more than comfortable playing the leader in your project team, or simply as a bit-part contributor amongst your preferred team. We genuinely enjoy the collaborative process and remain focused on getting you the best result.
We are a lean machine, so our fees stay reasonable
We operate as a small core staff base. If it’s an involved project that we’re working on together, we might even ‘hot-desk’ at your place while we work with you. This lean and cost-effective structure allows us to provide tailor made services for the best-value fees.
Our fees are also flexible and transparent
We devise fee structures that work for both of us. Some clients prefer fixed fees, others prefer hourly rates or flat fees. If we like dealing with you, we’ll work hard to find a solution that we’re both happy with.
