Best Practices for Construction Project Management
In the world of construction, the journey from early development to completion comprises a complex ecosystem, in which project budgets, timelines, and communications must align seamlessly to meet client expectations.
Fortunately, with proper construction management, successful delivery becomes achievable with a few simple frameworks. To that end, this guide will reveal the best practices that set our foundation here at MFS Construction.
1. Develop Project Budget and Negotiate Cost Estimates
From initial bidding to project close, a project manager must carefully track and monitor all costs—including permits, wages, materials, and equipment—with an eye toward the budget.
Setting realistic budgets from the outset is the key to managing client expectations. And with so many moving parts, it’s important to make allowance for contingencies or unexpected costs. As Carnegie Mellon University notes the most common budgetary changes you should prepare for include:
Design development changes
Schedule adjustments
General administration changes (such as wage rates)
Differing site conditions for those expected
Third-party requirements imposed during construction
By performing careful cost estimation and negotiations, you can establish baseline costs to build a more accurate budget that ensures the project stays on track.
2. Review Project Schedule and Arrange Work Schedule
A proper construction schedule establishes work timelines and outlines how the work will get done and by who.
Strategically setting a project schedule creates a sequence of events that contractors and subcontractors can use as a framework to prepare and plan their own operations. It also establishes lead times and ensures that available resources are utilized effectively.
3. Select the Most Efficient Construction Methods
No two projects are the same. Even if they share similarities, there will always be unique elements that impact the way construction occurs, such as:
Weather
Budget
Building permits
Design complexity
Supplier failures
Low-quality or damaged materials
Depending on the various factors involved, what works for one, may not be ideal for another. Therefore, every construction project requires its own strategy—and the construction methods therein must be tailored to that specific job.
For example, if your company aims for energy-efficient construction, you may want to implement:
Recycled building materials
Sustainable insulation
3D printing
Green roofs
That said, no matter your strategy or area of expertise, it may be helpful to document construction methods in a manual to streamline and formalize your operations.
4. Client and Team Member Coordination
One of the major roles of a project manager is to facilitate communication between stakeholders and the project team, particularly regarding schedules and budgets. For this, you may want to implement:
An established chain of command
Regular meetings
Written records detailing updates to the project timeline
Quality checks
When all parties involved are on the same page, you set the project up for success and increase the likelihood that a client will be satisfied with the end results.
5. Personnel Oversight and Supervision
How do you know that the job is being done the right way?
For that, a hands-on approach to construction project management is necessary. Regularly being on-site enables you to:
Maintain quality and speed
Promote worker safety
Monitor the budget
Anticipate potential setbacks
Deploy your resources
React when problems arise
Project Management with MFS Construction
To reach the finish line, a construction project manager must plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise the project throughout its lifecycle. The scope and complexity of each project will dictate specific challenges your team may face.
Fortunately, you can set your project up for success by taking agency over each phase of the project with a detailed budget, an effective work schedule, uniform construction methods, and streamlined team communication and oversight.
MFS Construction is capable of delivering such services across various markets, including commercial construction, real estate development, energy, education, healthcare, institution, and infrastructure, including bridges, tunnels, and ports.
And our project management team has the experience needed to act as your primary point of contact and deliver on the promise of excellence.
We provide solutions for every challenge. To explore our services, reach out today!