This year, the western part of the United States saw some of the wettest weather we’ve had in a decade. In fact, June set several records for the highest recorded rainfall in a century. Since summer is prime construction season, this has had serious impacts on construction project completion schedules, from road construction to bridge projects to large commercial building work.
Construction project managers know that there are lots of ways that a job can fall behind schedule. Weather delays are common, but you may also run into permitting issues, supply chain delays, equipment breakdowns, or even labor disputes.
The best strategy to avoiding delays is to be proactive and aware of what could go wrong. By understanding the possible causes of construction delays, you can put in place strategies to quickly address anything that comes up in an affordable and responsive way.
Construction logistics can be complicated. Even small projects require permitting, on-time supply deliveries, disposal of construction waste, and can be affected by weather delays. As projects grow in size and scope, there is the potential for even more delays or disruptions, many of them completely out of your control.
The bigger the project, the more complicated things can get. With large projects, there may be a need for traffic management and continuous access to the worksite. Project managers need to juggle contractors, overseas supply chain issues, continuous waste management, and on or off-site storage of materials and construction equipment.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many weaknesses in the worldwide supply chain and construction industry logistics were exposed. Industry experts have analyzed what went right and what didn’t work during that unprecedented event, with an eye toward anticipating disruptions in the future. These could come from another pandemic, financial disruptions, climate change impacts, or even cyberattacks.
It was thought that supply chain issues would resolve once the pandemic came under control. However, what the pandemic really did was expose many weak points that still need to be resolved. In a recent survey conducted by SAP, over 50% of project managers said that they expected supply chain issues to continue through the end of the year at least. Almost 60% said that these delays have caused a significant decrease in revenue, which they have addressed through job cuts and price increases.
According to a survey conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC),
“Most contractors have experienced project delays or cancellations.”
To address these delays, project managers are resorting to paying more to fast-track supply deliveries, substituting materials for those more readily available, and utilizing new technologies such as enhanced tracking of shipped materials and better team communication tools.
Construction delays are frustrating for everyone, from the client to the project manager to the on-site workers. By understanding what can cause these delays, you can develop strategies to address these causes quickly to minimize the effect they have on your project’s timeline.
A skilled project manager starts with a great plan. This includes a comprehensive project scope description, an accurate budget, and a plan for both labor and equipment needs.
Good planning involves all of the partners of a project, including architects, engineers, managers, suppliers, labor representatives, financial team members, and of course, the client. There are also likely consults with government officials and planners.
Without these steps in place, a project could be doomed to experience higher construction costs, timeline slippages, permitting delays or even denials. This leads to dissatisfaction for both the owner/client and the whole project team.
Incorrect budget estimates can spell disaster for a large construction project. Since the majority of these types of projects are bid out, a project manager must pin down an accurate budget as much as possible. A too-low bid means the project itself is in jeopardy, as you will struggle to find the funds for supplies and to pay workers. A renegotiation of the budget may not be possible, but it is certain that budgeting issues will lead to slippage of the project timeline.
During the planning phase, any site challenges should be identified and addressed. This includes conducting any necessary environmental impact studies, tricky issues with permitting or traffic modifications, and code regulations.
During construction, issues may also arise that can delay the project. Examples include unexpected soil conditions, utility easement or placement issues, or site safety issues such as the increased protocols needed for the COVID-19 pandemic.
The scope of a construction project is essentially the blueprint for all the work to be done. This includes estimates of schedule timing, budget, procurement, and labor and equipment usage. When a particular specification of the project changes, each of these components will be affected. The more the project plans change, the greater the impact.
While change is inevitable on larger projects, keeping scope creep in line should be a primary goal of a project manager. A good plan from the outset is essential, but a strong rein on changes to the project is necessary to avoid excessive delays or cost-overruns.
Not having the supplies, construction equipment, or labor you need at a construction site when you need it can cause significant delays. These types of delays can have a ripple effect, leading to continuing delays further down the project timeline.
In many areas of the country, labor shortages are having significant impacts on the construction industry. The number of construction workers declined 8% over the past decade. It can be challenging to find workers to fill this gap, as many require specialized skill sets that are not quick to train up.
Project managers also struggle to maintain a reliable supply of materials and equipment. Supply chain bottlenecks are erratic and often unpredictable. This makes it hard to have supplies on-hand and will lead to delays in a project’s completion.
Severe or prolonged weather conditions will inevitably affect any construction project’s timeline. Obviously, no one can control the weather. Yet, a good project manager can take a proactive approach to dealing with weather conditions.
Outdoor work should be planned for months of milder weather. If there are stretches of wet or cold weather, you can arrange for shelters, gear, and equipment that can help workers continue to work. There should also be a time cushion worked into the original timeline to account for potential weather delays. This is especially important if there are penalties for late completion in the project contract.
Construction logistics managers excel when are creative thinkers and flexible problem-solvers. Good project planning goes a long way toward keeping a construction project on track. However, there are some things that will always be a surprise and can be quite disruptive.
One of the key qualities in a great logistics manager is being able to proactively respond to project challenges. In addition, clear and frequent communication can make dealing with delays easier and better for all involved. This includes honest communication with subcontractors, employees, the financial team, and the client. You should also offer workers and subcontractors the opportunity to brainstorm ideas and solutions when a delay occurs.
The best advice for project success is to simply build resilience into your project management approach. MIT supply chain resilience researcher Jim Rice explains,
“Resilience is not mitigation. It is creating the capability to recreate lost capacity.” He says, “Involving your customers and your suppliers in planning is critical.”
This helps the entire project team stay flexible and responsive to changes and delays.
At Discount Dumpster, we’ve worked on all types of jobs, from small remodeling projects to massive construction jobs. We are responsive to changes in your needs and will get you support you need to get the job done.
Call us today to talk over your project and secure a construction dumpster. We’ll support you throughout your project with expert advice, continuous waste disposal services, and affordable pricing for any disposal situation. You can count on us to keep your project on schedule and provide a clean and safe worksite!
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