Looking to Prevent Construction Delays? Follow These 5 Tips

Looking to Prevent Construction Delays? Follow These 5 Tips

No one likes delays but for a construction company they can be much more than an inconvenience. At ECL Software, we’re always looking for ways to streamline the construction process. Read on to get our five best tips to avoid construction delays on your next project. Then reach out to us at 800-625-5972 to learn how our software can help.

  1. Plan everything
  2. There’s nothing that’s going to have a bigger impact on your project’s schedule than creating one. The best project plan is one that can be easily updated as needed, and that offers everyone involved in the project the ability to view it. It should be clear enough that potential challenges can be identified and solutions can be created.

    It’s always surprising to see a construction project started when it doesn’t have a specific timeline, final drawings, or any method for contractors and subcontractors to easily communicate. That’s here JDIO can come in. It offers a seamless way for everyone involved to stay in contact.

  3. Make sure roles and responsibilities are made clear
  4. Many construction delays are a result of what’s known as the bystander effect. Essentially, it means that workers will see a problem but will assume that someone else will report it or do something about it. When no one does, the problem gets worse and causes delays. One way to combat this is to make sure that everyone on the crew has their specific role and that they understand what their responsibilities are.

  5. Make it easy for everyone to communicate
  6. It’s one thing when your project is held up by something out of your control, like weather or a mistake on the part of a supplier. However, when a significant delay happens simply because one contractor wasn’t in touch with a subcontractor, or because a disbursement wasn’t made on time, the delay is simply indefensible. ECL Software has a number of solutions that can help your project avoid these pitfalls.

  7. Know what your blockers are
  8. A blocker is one aspect of the construction project that, if not completed on time, would hold up several other aspects of the project. An easy example to see is the pouring of a foundation. You may have ten things on schedule for a particular week, but if the first one is pouring that foundation, and it doesn’t get done on time, then it’s likely the other nine won’t either. Knowing what your blockers are helps you properly prioritize your job site.

  9. Work with an experienced manager
  10. You can have the best software in the world, very clear plans and contingency plans in case those plans don’t work – but if your construction manager can’t pull it all off then you may as well expect delays. The construction manager’s job is to assign roles, make sure everyone understands their responsibilities, and keep everything on track. This is an integral job that should be carefully filled.

To learn more about the ways in which ECL Software can help you lower your risk of delays, reach out to us online or at 800-625-5972.