What are the principles of construction project management? The basics of these principles have been around for decades, and they remain the same today as they did then. There are many ways to improve the quality of a construction project and many ways to increase efficiency, but the basic principle is always the same: communication is key. Good communication with all parties involved in a construction project leads to good results. Learn with us the principles of construction management
Make plan
Each phase of the construction project begins with a plan; therefore, the plan must be consistent throughout the project. In this way, the project manager ensures that all stakeholders are aware of the overall plan, and that they are dedicated to following it to the letter. The construction manager must establish good communication channels with all of the key stakeholders and be prepared to explain the plan and why it was developed. After each step is completed, the manager must track how much money is saved or increased and give each stakeholder’s a date on when the work will be completed.
The planning phase
Another principle of construction project management is that the planning phase is the most important phase because this is when the most money is spent. Planning must start before construction begins, during the feasibility phase, and continue until the project is initiated. Each stage needs to be managed separately, and this means that not every job needs to be started at the same time. As the job progresses, the scope and complexity of the work increase, so too does the number of people involved in each job.
The scheduling and cost estimates
A third principle is that there are no “stand alone” phases in construction projects. The planning phase, cost estimate, and schedule should be the basis of each phase, but the actual work cannot begin until some of these tasks have been accomplished. Most construction managers believe that future cost savings will only come if the scheduling and cost estimates can be validated at each phase. Therefore, each phase must be scheduled in advance to provide for adequate and accurate information. In addition, each phase must be assigned to someone who has the necessary authority to make sure that it is completing to the agreed upon schedule. Everything related to construction work we offer to you in Alkonabe using the latest methods and strategies and by highly experienced engineers and workers. For more details, contact us now.
The lean construction
Another principle of lean construction is that the system is divided into two parts – one is the value stream, which is the raw material, supplies and labor; the second is the deliverables, which are the finished product, and the parts that make it up. Lean proponents believe that it is impossible to do any construction without using the value stream; therefore, they attempt to do as much as possible within the value stream. When something is done incorrectly, there will always be a way to fix it. Lean principles are based on the ability to identify the defects in the system and then to make changes in the system to make it work correctly.
There are four main principles of Lean construction, and they are designed to reduce costs, shorten the learning curve, improve productivity, and strengthen the entire process of construction. The first principle is called Total Cost Management, which tries to eliminate waste by making sure that every unit of the construction is done as efficiently as possible. In this phase, all costs are tracked, and when they start to add up, you can just say that there is a problem. The problem could be in your hiring, or in the design, or in the testing, or in any number of areas. Lean emphasizes efficiency and continuous improvement, so the first principle tries to get rid of unneeded units and functions. If this is not done, the entire phase will have been unsuccessfully.
The Warranty Period
The next principle is the Warranty Period, and this is very important for a construction project management. If there is a warranty period in place, problems cannot be launched before the warranty period expires, or if it has expired already. This phase is also the most difficult, because there are so many details to remember and it is during this phase where mistakes can really cost someone their job, or even their life.
Cost reduction
A project is any project that requires a specific duration of time. Typically, these projects include bridges, buildings, tunnels, power lines, dams, airports, pipelines, mines, and apartment buildings. The total duration of a construction project can be quite lengthy. For example, a bridge project might last thirty years, whereas a pipeline might span twenty. The actual duration of any given project is dependent upon many factors such as magnitude of the project, land area, the interest of the project, and local regulations.
The entire point of a construction project is to meet the needs and expectations of those who will be using it. Therefore, the primary principle of construction project management is cost reduction. In this regard, one must always keep costs as low as possible, while at the same time, still providing a high quality product or service to meet the deadline and customer demands. This principle is absolutely necessary in the construction industry. The lower cost of materials, the better quality construction products and/or services can be obtained.
Lean Manufacturing
Another principle of management is “Lean Manufacturing.” This principle requires construction businesses to use the maximum of the resources available to provide the best quality products and/or services possible at the lowest cost. The goal of this theory is to save money by eliminating wastes such as overloading a particular material or poor manufacturing techniques. In fact, according to lean manufacturing principles, a construction project can only be successful if it “sticks” to the basic organizational structure and process. If it does not adhere to the principles of lean manufacturing, then it will likely fail in its attempt to provide the best construction projects.
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Focus on customer requirements
Lean manufacturing has introduced many changes in the construction management industry. One of the most significant changes introduced is a focus on customer requirements and a more customer-centric approach. It was realized that the traditional top-down approach which focused on meeting the requirements of project managers, engineers and stakeholders had been ineffective in delivering value to customers. By adopting the lean methodology, construction managers have been able to remove themselves from the decision-making process and concentrate on ensuring that the project delivers the end result – excellent customer services.
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externalizing work
Another change which came about due to the application of Lean manufacturing principles is externalizing work. This concept implies that any task that does not require direct access to production equipment and/or employees can be outsourced. For instance, instead of having the project manager to obtain necessary licenses, purchase required materials and even arrange for an external crew to perform necessary works, an external team can perform these tasks. Since the main objective of lean project management is to reduce costs, external outsourcing eliminates unnecessary cost and thereby makes the construction industry more efficient.
The lean manufacturing concept also implies that the work performed by contractors should mirror the requirements of customers. By doing so, they will be able to provide better services which will result in improved relations between them. In addition, lean manufacturing emphasizes on the development of working capital which is the money coming in for a company at the end of each month. A company’s ability to increase its working capital is dependent upon three factors: the income coming in, the amount spent and the number of loans extended. All these factors are taken into account in the preparation of work estimates or bid by contractors. By incorporating these principles into the construction management, companies will be able to improve their ability to increase their cash flow.
In the end
It is also important to remember that the principles of construction project management should be used by project managers at every level. Employees should be taught how to delegate duties and how to perform those duties effectively. External outsourcing companies can do much to help project managers. These companies offer cost-effective solutions to business owners. Good contractors may often require several such external outsourcing companies to complete various construction projects.
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