A construction manager and contractor’s job is to supervise a project from its initiation to the closeout phase. But following the traditional management approach might not earn you a bigger reward.

Many companies hire a construction project manager to organize key construction activities. But that doesn’t guarantee good results, as the person must be highly qualified. You’ll also need to implement some effective and new construction project management strategies.

This article will give you 8 construction project management tips to boost efficiency and win the race in the industry.

Construction management tips and tricks

Managing a construction job requires diverse skills, including management, design, engineering, and communication. You can learn these skills by joining a construction academy.

However, you must follow these 8 tips and tricks to initiate and close a construction project efficiently.

1. Visionary planning

The planning phase determines whether the construction project will be completed or not. First, you analyze the core project requirements by the client in the form of a document. After the analysis, you consult with the construction manager and contractor to work on the following:

• Budget – The overall project costing
• Schedule – A detailed timeline of the construction activities
• Resources – Equipment and workforce required for the project

Remember that you must establish project objectives and plan accordingly. That will help you keep following the planning document throughout the construction. You can also break the project objectives into smaller segments called milestones.

A project milestone keeps you on track while working on a project. However, you must share the additional documents with other construction teams to keep on the same page. Otherwise, unnecessary delays might occur due to miscommunication.

2.Controlled budgeting

Many companies win or lose construction jobs due to the cost factor. But unfortunately, some companies also go bankrupt due to poor financial decisions. So, you must prepare a sound budget estimation document and submit it to the client.

The project budget must be controlled, so identifying resource wastage or unnecessary luxury is your responsibility. 

The best practice for controlled budgeting is introducing a shared working culture in your teams. That will make efficient resource utilization and boost savings during the construction.

3. Time management

Although construction projects run for several months, sometimes years, you must stay on schedule and efficiently manage time. You can do that by using the following strategies:

• Create a work breakdown structure (WBS)
• Prepare a master schedule and align it with the project scope
• Establish an accountability lab to hold people accountable

Remember that you can’t avoid delays in construction activities due to unexpected circumstances. However, you can prepare a risk assessment plan to mitigate the negative effects on the construction.

4. Adaptability

Change is never easy, especially when working in the construction industry following the traditional methodology. But, of course, your company survives in the market and keeps on getting construction jobs.

However, understand that you can’t stay ahead of your competitors if you ignore adaptability. That refers to any of the following construction areas:

• Construction management tool – Software to manage a construction project
• Modern machinery – Advanced construction equipment that reduces the workforce
• Communication – Technology tools to establish a communication channel between the construction site off-site teams

Adaptability is a slow process that requires time to equip every worker with updated knowledge and skills. Therefore, you can organize seminars and workshops by inviting experts who give training in a particular skill.

5. Collaboration

Spreading awareness about the collaborative working culture is important, especially in the construction industry. You must efficiently utilize the resources to keep them under the budget and fulfill the project milestones.

You can let the workers collaborate with their and other team members. That will create a stronger network among different teams, a sense of sharing, and working chemistry.

Working collaboratively also saves common resources; for example, you might only need to subscribe to software once if your construction teams have an understanding.

Similarly, virtual systems like cloud computing and cloud data sharing also provide advantages through the collaborative work culture.

6. Relationships

The construction industry involves diverse skill sets. But yet, teams with multiple expertise don’t communicate with other teams.  For example, the design team works independently of the subcontractors. Unfortunately, this practice doesn’t build strong relationships within a company.

You already know how long a construction project goes. So, if teams don’t connect, you might face communication errors during the project. Therefore, the only solution is to bring all the construction teams on the same page and keep a friendly work environment. 

That might include:

• Virtual meetings – You can schedule online meetings with the whole construction crew and allow everyone to connect professionally with each other.
• Physical meet-ups – You can rent a venue and invite the teams to meet and greet.
• Events – You can organize social, professional, or entertainment events and invite the construction teams to create a network.

Building strong relationships among team members foster efficiency, responsibility, and accountability. So, ensure your teams are well-connected with other members for efficient project completion.

7. Reporting

The project status is reported in daily/weekly/bi-weekly/monthly reports. Preparing the project report by going to the construction site rather than believing someone’s words is better.

Since minor details matter in a construction project, overlooking them might create chaos, and the one who submitted the wrong report will be penalized. You can use construction management tools to prepare these reports and update others. That will help you stay vigilant about the report and its submission.

8. Project tracking

Never rely on the contractor or the construction manager when concerned about the project status. You must leave for the construction site and observe the project’s situation. You might find errors, which is good because you can identify them before they create a bigger problem.

Besides, construction management software for project tracking is an efficient way to check the construction status. You will get instant alerts and updates about construction activities on your mobile or computer.

So, equip yourself with the latest construction tool and maximize your and your team’s efficiency in the project.

Conclusion

Without proper management, a construction project can never be successful. So invest in suitable technology and follow the above tips to manage your construction project effectively. These tips will help you from the planning to the project closeout stage.