Construction Challenges – 6 Steps to Tackle Them
From a broader perspective, construction is the expertise and adeptness of building space. These spaces come into being with thorough research, designing, planning, and the last stage, implementation. However, as with any other project, there are construction challenges, too. After all, there’s the involvement of materials, equipment, and different types of machinery. Not to forget there are legislations, policies, reporting, and whatnot.
The US construction industry is one of the most prominent globally, with an average annual expenditure of approximately $1,231 billion. And the sector contributes 4.3% to the gross domestic product value of the US, thus helping the country soar its economy upwards.
As a result, a significant surge in construction projects is evident, with companies striving for rapid growth. But unfortunately, blockers are also creeping in to hinder this explosion and impede productivity. These blockers encompass inaccurate stock accounts, high-interest rates, loss of equipment that results in delays, safety hazards, and inaccurate calibrations.
Construction companies can overcome some of these challenges if only they figure out ways to eliminate the inefficiencies that decimate the bottom line. Let’s take a look at the construction challenges that construction companies face and the steps they must take to tackle them head-on:
Boost productivity
According to research by Deloitte, productivity among all industries has increased by 25% in the past 20 years. Regrettably, productivity in the construction sector has only improved by 5%. This low productivity figure is mainly due to the stumbling blocks workers encounter on the construction site.
Construction workers often have to work gruelingly long hours on the bustling sites. The unavailability of portable toilets on-site leads to squandering of time and money. Therefore, construction companies should introduce a facility where workers can answer nature’s call.
Suppose you have a construction company located in the Western US, Oregon. In that case, type renting a porta-potty in Portland, Oregon, and click search to find the best porta-potty rentals in your vicinity. That way, you can keep the construction site compliant with the OSHA regulations and provide a convenient, hygienic, and clean toilet for workers.
Define clear-cut goals
Imagine going on a trip with no roadmap or proper destination. Undeniably, it would be a waste of time, fuel, and money. The same is true when companies execute construction projects without goals and objectives.
How can construction workers work at their full potential and give their best shot when they aren’t aware of project goals? Therefore, construction companies must map out well-defined goals and strategies for successfully completing the project. In simpler terms, the clearer the project goals, the greater the chances of success.
Try to develop SMART goals to avoid any hindrances in project management. Remember, stating project goals is one thing, but communicating with the crew members is different. So, construction managers should document the set goals and share them with all stakeholders so that everyone involved is on the same wavelength.
Set realistic budgets
As with any other industry, construction projects also come across budget issues. Unfortunately, unrealistic expectations and poor judgment often lead to miscalculations when budgeting for a project. As a result, the entire project is doomed to fail.
And while construction managers might have already defined a budget when setting project goals, nothing ever goes swimmingly in a construction project. There are times when construction project managers balloon out of the budgets due to various factors.
Therefore, companies must factor in any emergency such as labor shortage, environmental issues, currency exchange, or the new COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, they must review their budget whenever there is any change in scope or order to make necessary amendments.
Take safety measures
In contrast to others, the construction industry comprises numerous safety hazards and costly risks. As per the statistics by OSHA, the construction industry registered 20% worker fatalities in 2019.
That’s not surprising as the construction projects involve elevated heights, complex machinery, and chaotic work conditions. Given the nature of the job construction workers perform, it’s safe to say that construction is a risk-prone sector.
Given this, construction organizations should enforce safety protocols and stress risk mitigation strategies. Besides, on-site imagery devices such as CCTVs and drone cameras can click various shots of the construction sites. That way, companies can easily spot employees working in hazardous areas and identify potential risks such as collapse and trip-and-fall events.
Track progress
No matter how robust the plan might be, things may go awry at any moment. And this gives all the more reasons to keep track of the project. Failure to keep tabs on the progress may sink the entire project.
While delays are common in construction projects, they may lead to repercussions for the companies. These delays may affect the relations, tarnish the reputation in the industry, and clients may also lose trust in the company.
While eliminating delays is next to impossible with so many intricate steps and parties involved in construction projects. In situations like these, a tracking system can come in handy to ensure that the project remains on track. These systems allow construction managers to oversee project performance, detect issues, and propose timely solutions to avoid further delays.
Ensure proper communication
One of the main reasons projects fail in the first place or get delayed is due to poor communication. Missing a step in the construction process or ordering the wrong material or equipment are typical examples of miscommunication.
Lack of effective communication can give rise to confusion in workers present on-site and other stakeholders involved in the project. It also creates conflicts within the construction team, which, in turn, causes delays in the project completion. Therefore, construction companies must communicate effectively and in real-time to avoid slipshod mistakes and keep everyone in the loop.
Another best approach is to conduct frequent short meetings. However, construction firms can also make technology their friend. Several project management software and collaboration tools can render assistance in sending and receiving real-time messages. These tools also offer features such as mentions and contextual comments options to ensure transparency in the communication.
Final Words
For the past few years, several challenges have engulfed the construction industry. Unfortunately, main challenges, such as labor shortages, safety issues, increased project intricacy, and unknown tariff landscape, pose serious threats and thwart the industry’s growth. While some of these construction challenges are beyond your control, you can countervail them by streamlining other crucial areas.
Today, the construction industry has reached the verge – where integrating the newest technology is the only solution to move forward. However, stagnating and not incorporating it can lead to other challenges and put the companies behind the eight ball.
And while the steps discussed above, for sure, can help companies tackle any challenges that may spring up down the line. Remember, development is an ongoing process, and there are many more construction project management factors than what meets the eye. Therefore, be patient with the crew members and effectively communicate the project’s ‘when,’ ‘why,’ and ‘what.’
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