Nine tips for construction companies to increase efficiency

The construction industry is a major part of the global economy, which is why you should use construction estimating services to increase efficiency. The United States alone spends $1.2 billion on construction each year. Furthermore, the construction industry employs around 7% of the global workforce. Despite huge investments in this sector, labor productivity levels have fallen below those of the 1990s, leading to a productivity crisis in the industry.

Many things can lead to inefficiencies on the job site, and productivity rates are likely to be affected by almost any change. A shift in the scope of the project or a schedule slip in the construction industry may lead to cost overruns. A study has shown that nearly 98 percent of large projects experience a cost increase of at least 30% whenever there is a change to the project.

We know now that poor productivity leads to cost overruns. The major cause of productivity decline in any project, regardless of its scale, is a lack of effective management. Additionally, having a poor and unsafe workplace that causes injuries or accidents can also lead to a company’s loss. To increase the safety of your workplace, you should look into ISN safety programs to help your company be certified and meet the safety programs required to create and maintain a safe work environment.

Therefore, this article highlights some smart tips for construction companies to increase productivity.

1. Make sure you hire good managers

Hiring good management is an important component of increasing productivity on a construction site. Managers who demonstrate respect and are assertive will positively impact your team. They keep the workers focused and motivated to achieve company goals. In addition to relaying problems between upper management and construction workers, managers act as mediators.

2. Invest in temporary housing

Construction workers often travel from a great distance, which makes getting to the construction site on time a challenge. Providing them with temporary corporate housing will relieve them from the daily commute expense and save time. Moreover, workers who live near the construction site are more likely to be punctual and stay focused on their tasks.

3. Visits at regular intervals

Maintain a discreet yet frequent presence on site to ensure everything is going according to plan. Therefore, you should have regular conversations with the staff so you can easily identify problems that are not resolved or troublesome situations that arise. It is important to take a personal approach when dealing with your team members to motivate them and build strong, trusting relationships. That way, you will be in full control over your project, and you can keep a close eye on everything that takes place on-site.

4. Analytical and data-driven improvements

The construction industry is quickly embracing big data because of its collaboration capabilities and useful insights. It is estimated that 95% of construction data is discarded or left uncollected, which is an astounding statistic. It highlights just how problematic data management in construction is.

Forecasting of future projects can be done using insights generated from one project. Before starting a new project, the manager should consider the data obtained from the previous project and analyze it to improve productivity in the following project.

5. Maintain an up-to-date inventory

Construction materials should be kept up to date regularly. The productivity of any project can take a serious hit when workers run out of essential supplies. Therefore, it is important to replenish supplies and materials before they run out.

The efficiency of any construction project can be increased through proper planning and forecasting. In order to keep track of resources, construction software can be implemented in large construction projects managed by main contractors so that all resources are tracked.

6. Encourage flexible working and taking breaks

Breaks benefit every industry, including construction, because they increase productivity. In addition to being stressful, construction is also physically demanding. A great deal of manual labor is involved, and these people get exhausted after hours of hard labor.

Workers must be properly rested and in a healthy physical when operating heavy machinery. Your workers’ productivity will increase if they are given adequate time off. If they have been working hard for several days or weeks without breaks, allow them a long weekend to rest. Following a well-deserved break, they will eagerly get back to work on the project.

You must also ensure workers can access toilets and washing facilities at break times and when required. This can be difficult when working on sites without access to water. That is why you must opt for portable toilets, such as those supplied by Prime Dumpsters, to remain compliant with health and safety regulations.

It may also be beneficial for construction companies to adopt flexible working practices to ease the stress on-site and attract potential resources.

7. Communicate more effectively

You may have created a foolproof construction plan, but this does not mean the problem is solved. Most industries suffer from a lack of productivity due to poor communication. Particularly in construction, poor communication can negatively affect the end result.

In order to prevent mistakes and meet deadlines, supervisors and workers must communicate consistently and effectively. Teams can better communicate with each other when workflow-based project management systems provide real-time updates on changes on the job site.

In addition to improving communication among employees, organizations should communicate the value of productivity to their employees. Train your supervisors in communication techniques and invest in their training. Set incentives to encourage employees to achieve their goals and suggest ways to improve productivity.

8. Prioritize Safety

Safety in construction is always a work in progress. To maintain the highest level of productivity on the job site, you must keep injuries to a minimum. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports that one out of every ten construction workers is injured annually. In 2017, the National Safety Council reported that companies lost 104,000,000 production days due to work-related injuries.

Therefore, you must implement a safety program and ensure your employees are educated about the methods and procedures used by your company. The more you raise awareness about safety, the more you gain the trust of your employees. Eventually, they will follow safety measures and feel confident, leading to higher productivity levels. As an added benefit, you will avoid delays and expenses associated with employee injuries by keeping the accident rate low.

9. Construction based on modules

A modular building is constructed in a factory environment where the structure is formed off-site. As soon as it’s ready, it’s transported to the construction site, where it’s incorporated into the building. Although modular construction isn’t the best option for every situation, it can save time and money in some instances. Workers on the site are able to complete their tasks more quickly, and the environment has a less significant impact on the project’s completion. Modular construction is a very common and popular choice for the offshore building sector.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, enhancing construction efficiency is a very challenging task. Despite this, construction efficiency management can be taken to the next level with the right plan and persistent effort. With the use of digital tools, you can make a remarkable difference in the way your work is done, and by doing so, you can be assured that you will finish your work on time and accurately. Prioritizing workers’ safety, accommodation and health is essential to increase productivity.

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