Scheduling is a long-standing pain point for construction firms for a variety of reasons, but there are some measures that you may not be aware of that can significantly improve your ability to manage even the most complex of projects.
The construction landscape can be complicated at the best of times, with a series of different variables that can create strain on any project. Many businesses still rely on outdated management methods, leading to a lack of support throughout different phases of projects.
In a recent study of 480 infrastructure projects worldwide, 43% were found to have experienced delays that ranged from 2% to over 600% of the originally specified schedule.
Unpredictability is a common theme throughout construction projects, where even the most efficient schedules can be derailed by unforeseen issues. However, businesses can counter scheduling challenges by keeping three life hacks in mind.
If your firm is struggling with its scheduling, here are three essential hacks that could see your projects benefit from greater efficiency from start to finish:
AI Construction Management Software
The artificial intelligence boom is helping to optimize countless areas of the construction industry, and advancements in the quality of scheduling software may be one of the most beneficial improvements for firms to benefit from.
While many construction firms utilize construction management software (CMS), many businesses are missing out on the advantages of artificial intelligence solutions when it comes to scheduling efficiency.
One key example of AI CMS in action can be found in the field service management tools provided by Access Coins Evo. Here, field teams can become better connected with office operations with the help of artificial intelligence software that provides scheduling, dispatch, and management tools that are compatible with mobile and smart automation.
The effectiveness of artificial intelligence as a key component of CMS means that firms can benefit from drag-and-drop simplicity as well as intelligent routing, resulting in an easy-to-use tool that consistently delivers results. In practice, this means that deliveries can be made faster with real-time input on the fastest possible route to a project, while keeping all relevant parties up-to-date with every aspect of the scheduling process.
Diversify Your Supply Chain
Taking a proactive approach to your supply chain is at the top of any construction firm’s priority list, but it can be easier said than done when it comes to using the right suppliers to avoid lengthy delays.
Adopting a proactive approach means thinking tactically about how to manage your supply chain. Taking the lead with procurement can help to drastically reduce the wait times between the ordering and receiving of materials.
Diversification is key when it comes to using the best hacks to boost your supply chain. You should avoid relying on a single source for materials and instead look to nurture relationships with multiple suppliers for the same inventory items. This may seem counterintuitive when you have an efficient supplier already, but it helps to significantly boost your flexibility and to manage a quick pivot if delays begin to emerge.
It’s also highly advantageous to transform your approach to consider long-lead items like structural steel or mechanical units as a priority, and you can involve sub-trades during the design phase of projects to identify these items to order earlier.
Another way to make your supply chain hack more effective is to purchase warehouse inventory. If you frequently use specific materials, it’s certainly worth buying them in bulk and storing them. You could even find a partnership opportunity with your suppliers to store materials at their yard, locking in agreed prices and ensuring the ease of availability. In this case, you should always check to see whether this is a service your supplier can assist you with.
Optimize the Critical Path
The critical path refers to the longest sequence of dependent tasks that can tell you the earliest possible completion date of a project. This hack works by compressing all relevant activities along this path to lower the overall timeline for getting work completed.
To get this hack to work, you’ll need to map out your dependencies using a Gantt chart or your project management software to build a network diagram of all your project tasks and their dependencies. This will help you to work out your critical path.
Be sure to accelerate your critical tasks by adding resources where they’re needed to speed the process up. This part of the process is known as ‘crashing’ and may involve adding more crew members or offering overtime to get work done.
For this hack to work, you must keep vigilant in the face of scheduling inefficiencies. Regularly audit your critical path to eliminate false dependencies to save time on your estimates. Even if you can shave a single day from multiple tasks, you may find yourself freeing up a week or two in savings.
Managing Construction Timelines
Saving on construction timelines can carry major cost implications for construction firms, so it’s vital that you ensure that you identify any hacks that can make a major impact on your project timeframes.
In many cases, keeping organized is the most important aspect of keeping on top of your construction timeline. Be sure to constantly review your processes to check whether you can find greater efficiencies by dedicating more resources in the right areas at the right time.
In an ever-increasingly technologically advanced landscape, more construction firms are taking control of their timelines. By using the right software to your advantage and looking for the best solutions for your needs, your construction firm can take advantage of cost-effective project management and make troublesome delays a thing of the past.
