Construction management is a lengthy and extremely labour-intensive process. The main goal of construction management is to accurately control and monitor the progress of the project in terms of quality, cost, and time. It covers a wide range of responsibilities and extends to many different areas (construction, engineering, law, software, etc.). For this reason, the role of a construction manager is considered fundamental. A competent project manager with multiple competencies and skills is required to ensure project progress. Construction projects are constantly in need of last-minute changes and this aspect requires a strong team leader who can maintain stability and facilitate coordination between team members.
Construction Management is a service that implements specialised project management practices to manage the design, construction, and planning of a project from start to finish. The construction project management process can be extremely confusing, but the core is always the same. Coordination, planning, and completion of a project regardless of its type (for example, commercial, residential, industrial, agricultural, heavy civil). Reliable construction management requires good real-time communication between the various project participants.
Construction Management Stages
Now that the bidding process has come to an end, the construction of the facility should officially begin. Managing a construction project is completely different from managing another type of project. However, there are some basic principles of project management that remain unchanged.
A construction project usually consists of five main stages:
1. Initiation
Before starting a construction project, the construction manager must draw up a business case that considers the feasibility of the project. A feasibility study is required for many projects. Once presented, the various parties to the project can determine if it is a good idea to proceed with their plan. If everyone agrees that they should proceed with the project, the construction manager draws up a Project Initiating Document that covers the scope of the enterprise as well as the needs of the business.
2. Planning
This is where all the basic guidelines are set. The project manager builds a Project Management Plan that includes information on several important aspects of the project, such as a roadmap for implementation and cost estimates. When it comes to planning, a problem arises: it is a long process that never ends. Until the project is completed, there will always be changes to the project. Planning is also difficult in terms of documentation. More specifically, during the planning stage, there is a need for four different types of documents: – Communication plan: a strong and very thorough communication scheme must be built. This document should cover various aspects of communication in order to ensure the smooth flow of information during the project. – Bulky document: it is considered one of the most basic documents for every construction project. It includes and comprehensively analyses the purpose, benefits, needs, and key elements of the project. – Risk management plan: The risk management plan document includes all potential threats to the project. It is a powerful document that can help project managers plan and manage project resources ahead of time so that the entire plan is not compromised.
3. Execution
This is where the actual construction project begins. This stage of the process usually consists of two different processes: a) project execution and B) project control and monitoring.
4. Monitoring
Construction managers devote most of their time to supervising the project and adjusting its schedule in accordance with the latest changes and problems encountered. In this way, the manager can maintain control over the project.
5. Closure
Last but not least, the final phase of the project. This stage represents the completion and delivery of the project. At this stage, the construction manager checks whether the project has met its original objectives and whether the initial budget estimates by the quantity surveyor were successful. In the end, he draws up a report that represents the final result of the project and which can be a valuable source of knowledge for future construction projects.
Construction Management and Work Scheduling
The program is key in construction. You must turn it in on time, or it will cost you a lot of money and put extreme pressure on your project. However, construction projects need digital solutions that can provide visibility throughout the supply chain and allow multiple project stakeholders to closely track every detail around the project.
In short, there are four fundamental planning components in construction management:
1. Real-Time Task Assignment
The creation, assignment, and prioritisation of tasks in real-time in the development of a construction project is of utmost importance. This way, you can ensure that all problems are resolved on time and that costly delays can be avoided. Simply put, this is the first step towards avoiding misunderstandings in the sector.
2. Online tracking of progress
The digitisation of the construction industry is progressing gradually, and it goes without saying that planning is part of this process. In that sense, being able to track progress online and in real-time can help you accelerate project progress and shorten project cycle times. It is very important to track construction progress in real-time with the right digital tool.
3. Giving the schedule to workers
Once the tasks are set and a clear action plan is established, then it’s time to communicate this work plan to all employees involved. With robust construction software, this can happen in real-time, allowing the team to coordinate their next steps faster and effortlessly.
Conclusion
Construction project management is a whole range of measures aimed at optimising the time spent with the given material and financial resources at all stages of the construction of an object, including the design itself.
For the successful implementation of the project, a complex of knowledge from various management areas is required: general management, financial management, personnel management, and many others, etc. In this case, it is important to have the skills to work in conditions of limited resources and information uncertainty. Thus, construction project management should be carried out by specially trained professionals with the necessary amount of knowledge and sufficient practical experience.
