6 Best Construction Practices for Managing Projects

The success of construction projects largely depends on how project managers encompass the best construction practices out there to ensure optimal outcomes. These practices can range from curbing unrealistic expectations from the get-go, documenting a meticulous plan for each construction phase, implementing safety policies for workers, crafting a sizable budget to mitigate risks, and more.

With new technologies emerging every year, the global construction landscape has undergone several changes. Project managers need to keep themselves updated with the latest construction management practices to gain an edge over their competitors.

1. Set a Clear Project Scope

Managing expectations is an important practice in construction management. Involve stakeholders in an approved project scope with a detailed timeline, interim milestones, and the budget. The budget has to be capable of covering all required work. Realistic expectations must be asserted to prevent project failure. While setbacks happen, this is the first step in a successful project.

Having a project scope in writing sets up a great base for managing construction projects. It ensures you have enough money to cover expenses, and sets your milestones. It also stops “scope creep” or “just one more thing”. Scope creep is the continuous or uncontrolled growth in the scope. It can cause projects to fail or take longer than expected and doesn’t lead to good project management.

2. Prioritize Health and Safety

Insurance is something that project managers often overlook because they find it too expensive. This is bad practice because on-site workers are essentially the lifeline of a construction project. Their health and safety should always be prioritized as part of the project management plan. 

Insured workers tend to enhance productivity, resulting in profitability for stakeholders. Note that the downfall of your construction management business is always one hazardous event away, so be wise and invest in a comprehensive insurance plan.

3. Plan Each Construction Phase Wisely

One key element to the success of a construction project is its set of documents and how a project manager creates plans accordingly. These include architectural drawings, structural schematics, plumbing and electricity pathing, and such. It is up to the project manager to go through all necessary documents and devise a plan of action for each construction phase and workforce. 

Having multiple teams on-site might get the job done faster, but they might get in each other’s way. Project managers must also ensure the availability of materials and equipment. The best plan is to create a chain of teams ready to switch when their job is done. This saves time, and money, and keeps the project on track to meet deadlines. However, it is easier said than done. A lot relies on the expertise of the project manager, which differentiates the seasoned ones in the market. 

Not to forget that going through documents and creating construction plans ensures that project managers do not overlook any small details. This, otherwise, can cause greater issues down the road.

4. Anticipate Project Setbacks

Setbacks can happen for every construction project. Even the best-laid plans might go awry because of unforeseen or outside factors. Hence, project managers should always plan for potential setbacks to mitigate risk or damages. This can be as simple as ensuring extra time in the schedule or increasing the budget to minimize negative impacts. 

Having a plan of action for setbacks can also stop smaller issues from ballooning into bigger ones. Successfully anticipating project setbacks and following steps to still meet deadlines is a top skill for managing construction projects.

5. Communicate Regularly

One of the biggest challenges in managing construction projects is keeping everyone on the same page. With multiple individuals working on-site under different teams, the project manager must provide clear and easy-to-understand guidelines because a single vague or misunderstood instruction can result in delays and additional expenses. 

Hence, effective communication is key to completing projects on time, which should always be a two-way stream. In addition to speaking, project managers should also listen to others and hear their perspectives based on their individual experiences. Remember that good working relationships are healthy for the project itself. This is one of the best construction project management practices to have on-site.

6. Stay On Top of Trends

Another best practice in construction management is to never stop learning. Since the global construction industry changes every year, project managers need to keep up with trends to know about the latest construction methods and implementations. Those new solutions just might save you time and money, and show potential stakeholders how you are bent on providing the best service by keeping up with all technological changes.

Efficient Construction Project Management With eSUB

Embracing digital solutions for construction management reduces unnecessary paperwork while automating several responsibilities for cost-effective and highly efficient results. Hence, construction management software like eSUB is a great practice for project managers. Its cloud-based technology ensures that everyone involved is always connected and has access to centralized information. This means real-time updates for seamless collaboration across the board to reduce risk and boost profits.

Schedule a demo today to experience how tailored management software can make life easy for your project.