10 deadly sins in construction

It’s surprising how often construction projects don’t go as well as expected. Why is this and what can be done to improve the success of construction projects? I’ve often been asked what contractors should do differently.
Here are some items I believe are critical to the success of all projects. See if you agree. I’m sure you can add a few more to my list. I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments below.
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10 deadly sins which impact the success of your construction project

1. Ignoring good safety practices. We have a duty to ensure our employees return home safely at the end of each day. Furthermore accidents cost money and disrupt projects. Unsafe working conditions can result in a loss of productivity and negatively impact the morale of our employees. Accidents happen quickly on construction projects – don’t add another injury to the industry’s statistics or another headline to tomorrow’s newspapers. Ensure your team has the knowledge and equipment to carry out their tasks safely. Don’t accept unsafe practices.
2. Producing poor quality work. Poor quality workmanship negatively impacts your reputation. In addition the cost of rework is enormous and industry sources say it could add over 5% to the cost of every project. It also causes project delays. Of course poor quality work can endanger lives should the structural integrity of the facility be jeopardized. Ensure your team has the proper skills and equipment to carry out their tasks and that they clearly understand the specifications and the quality expected from them. There is no excuse for poor quality and we all need to step-up and take pride in our work and our projects.
3. Not training your team. We depend on our team to deliver a quality project safely, efficiently and on time. Do they have the necessary skills to do so? We continually hear moans that we cannot get the skilled people we need. We often have to pay inflated wages and salaries to obtain particular skills which are in demand. Yet, what are we doing to overcome this skills shortage? Are we training the next generation of workers for our company and the industry? I’ve always found training to be an essential component to my business. Trained, skilled employees are an asset. But more importantly providing training to employees is good for their morale and helps with employee retention. Train and mentor your team – it will pay dividends.
4. An unplanned project. Planning starts before we set foot on a project. It involves deciding the most suitable construction methodology, how we’ll manage the project, deciding what resources are required and by when and then procuring these resources. Planning our equipment needs, where we’ll place our cranes, sheds and offices. A project that’s not planned properly will cause problems later. Planning also means considering all alternatives to ensure we’ve chosen the most suitable methods and materials. But planning is also an ongoing process. I am frequently amazed how many project managers don’t appear to plan their projects on a daily and weekly basis. Work comes to a halt because materials or equipment haven’t been ordered or because we haven’t got the project ready for the follow-on activities. Projects seem to drift from one crisis to another. Obvious problems seem to be overlooked until they hit like a run-away express train. Yes, some project managers are good at putting out these fires, but how much better would it have been to avoid the crisis in the first place? Set time aside each day to plan and consider what has to be done next on your project, then ensure that the processes, materials, people and equipment are in place so the work will be able to proceed as planned. A little extra time spent on planning will save you money and time later.
5. Not having a good construction schedule which is regularly updated and referenced. I’ve always found a project schedule an essential aid to managing a successful construction project. ....Continue Reading......



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