Construction Costs and Standardization in Enterprise Construction

Standardization was first used to improve efficiency with Henry Ford’s creation of the Model T in 1908. Ford was able to reduce assembly time, increase total production output, and minimize reworking errors with his pioneering of the concept of an assembly line. While it has long since been common practice in the manufacturing industry, standardization in enterprise construction is becoming popularized as well. Productivity is essential to be a successful and profitable construction company, and enterprise companies are largely ahead of the game in terms of implementing mobile technology on the job site. However, just adding technology is not a one-stop solution to increase job site efficiency and reduce construction cost; it is essential also to have technology that integrates seamlessly with other solutions and helps standardize the entire construction process.

Standardization in enterprise construction can reduce both the time and cost of a building project, as well as aid in scaling the size of the enterprise company. Using software in different aspects of the job site can get confusing, so it is essential to ensure construction software integrates seamlessly between all “point solutions.” With nearly 30% of all construction companies reporting that the construction technology applications they use do not integrate, it is more important than ever to find a software that fits all the needs of a building construction company.

Benefits of Standardization

There are many benefits to using standardization in enterprise construction. Since standardization helps control workflow processes, it also helps reduce the chance of errors being made and makes it easier to pinpoint and fix a mistake if it is made. Without standardization, each part of the construction process works independently of one another, and there can be a significant variation in the final result of a product. A lack of standardization can result in longer work times, a higher chance of rework, and less total profit for the company.

Standardization of Technology

A significant driver of standardization in enterprise construction is technology. As an enterprise construction business grows in size, they become more reliant on technology to ensure accuracy and high productivity in their projects. Since data is at the core of this, it is imperative to connect processes and systems through standardization to reduce variance. If each worker is using a standardized data management system that integrates effectively, they can provide everyone a live feed of up-to-date information that helps ensure the project is continuing to work cohesively and efficiently.

However, it is equally essential that enterprise construction companies find the right technology for their needs to help simplify workflows and standardize construction processes across the board. Construction firms need construction technology that helps facilitate communication, standardize processes, and streamline workflows in all areas of the job site. If a worker finishes a project or tasks on the job site, they need to be able to input that into their ConTech so that information is immediately available to other key stakeholders.

Standardization of Materials

Along with technology, the standardization of equipment and materials used on the job site can significantly increase productivity and efficiency. Using standardized components such as prefabricated roofs and flooring can lower costs, reduce chances of unforeseen delays, and improve integration efficiency on the job site. Standardized components can also help give an enterprise construction company a competitive advantage by ensuring a level of quality and certainty about the outcome of a project—it helps ensure a customer knows exactly what they are getting from a contractor. Additionally, standardization can help facilitate change and make updates to a product or project. Since each piece of the construction puzzle is standardized, it is easier to pinpoint areas of improvement and introduce modifications in response that enhance the quality, efficiency, cost, and productivity level of the project.

Conclusion

Using standardization in enterprise construction can help control rising costs, streamline construction processes, and improve communication between workers on the job site. It helps ensure responsive communication and quick access to necessary data, and aids project managers in managing the job site in a way that is both more transparent and easily accessible. Additionally, standardization can help improve the return on investment (ROI) of a project and make the project more profitable for the contractor and efficient for the company. The idea of standardization has been around for a long time, but the use of standardization in construction technology is quickly becoming popularized because of the many benefits such as increased efficiency, productivity, and quality of construction projects.