However, one aspect of the building process has recently emerged as one of the most important factors affecting a job’s success: project delivery method. Although the delivery method debate has typically been dominated by design-bid-build and design-build, there’s a new method creeping into the narrative and demonstrating successful results: Integrated Labor DeliveryTM
What is Integrated Labor DeliveryTM?
Under the guiding principles of Integrated Project Delivery, Lean Construction Institute, and Design Build Institute of America, Integrated Labor Delivery brings labor (subcontractor) closer to a delivery framework with the premise that labor actually begins at the design phase. Facilitating a new nature for labor ILD streamlines the process from design through prefabrication and assembly and presents a unified framework to an industry plagued with labor shortages and poor productivity.
Through BIM and Common Data Environment, Integrated Labor Delivery connects all stakeholders to the entire project lifecycle to improve communications, accountability, and productivity to reach better business results.
The aim of Integrated Labor Delivery is more collaborative projects where all stakeholders can offer their opinions, especially at the early stages of the project. If done successfully, according to experts, they can:
- Allow for faster construction timetables
- Keep projects within budget
- Reduce the number of change orders
- Allow companies to secure their preferred trade partner early on in the process
Best Integrated Labor DeliveryTM
"eSub provides a great cloud-based solution that meets all of our project management and project tracking needs. As a subcontractor, it was nice to finally find a software solution that is tailored to the needs of subs and our work flow."
Encouraging a team atmosphere
Finding a way to bring all of the key project participants into the process earlier and in collaboration with each other creates a more efficient work environment and more successful project.
ILD allows stakeholders to join a project earlier in the process, rather than waiting after all the designs and documents have been completed. This element of ILD is especially valuable, as the ability to have an impact on a project is diminished the further along it goes.
Therefore, bringing on different parties to offer their opinions at the early stages allows them to have an actual effect on the project, rather than taking the completed designs and starting construction with no say in the plans. This early input can potentially result in fewer change orders down the line.
The costs of design changes are low at the start, but it costs a whole lot at the end when construction actually starts.
Effective for early stage development
In traditional Design-Bid-Build and Design-Build projects, Subcontractors are rarely included early in the process. ILD aligns with eSUB very well in the sense that it allows Subcontractors to become involved and show that they have a tool to manage projects effectively from very early stage development.