The ultimate goal of construction project management is to avoid costly mistakes. A project manager must be bound to time frames and financial constraints. To keep the entire process on track, construction project management software helps you with effective planning and design, resource management, budget allocation, and more. In this article, we will discuss the different stages of construction project management, functions, and risk management in detail.
What is Construction Project Management?
It is a process in construction which involves organising and guiding the project work. It covers the planning and completion of the project. In today’s industrial era, construction project management boosts productivity and efficiency.
It also enhances the work to meet deadlines and budgets and organises the work that everyone has to do, thus increasing the productivity of the work. It keeps the entire construction process on track.
The Role of the Construction Project Manager
A construction project manager must manage a team of architects, engineers, and contractors in order to complete the project on time and within budget. A construction project manager must coordinate the project from start to finish. The primary roles of a construction project manager are as follows:
- Planning and organisation for construction processes
- Managing budgets
- Legal and regulatory compliance
- Allocating and managing the resources.
- Risk management
- Overseeing the process.
- Regular communication with all the team members.
5 Stages of Construction Project Management
A construction project manager must know the 5 key project stages to ensure a great result.
1. Development and planning of the project
Planning is essential for every project. Also deciding when to start the construction work is very important. You must know the resources and budget at the initial stage of the project if you want to cut down cost overrun and avoid unplanned execution of the project. A project manager must know if the plan will yield a good ROI and have manageable risk.
2. Designing process
If you have decided to do a project, it’s time to start the design process. Designing helps to bring life to your project and gives a clear picture of it. You can alter or refine things in this stage. It includes the project’s sketching process, from the start to the end. The blueprint of your project is also prepared during this stage. Once you approve the design, you must proceed to the next step.
3. Preconstruction – a way to the construction process
The preconstruction process requires detailed plans and execution. It must follow the timeline and budget for everyone in the project. A project manager must assign the roles of contractors, engineers, architects, and stakeholders, coordinate with them and oversee their operations.
4. Buying resources and materials
Procurement is a critical task that needs perfect preconstruction planning. You must know whether to buy materials from the local market or outside. Sourcing includes transportation costs. You must be very clear on the budget.
5. The Construction Process
Now everything is on the line. The process of constructing a building has started. Everyone knows their unique roles and responsibilities in the process. If you need any changes or adjustments in your plan, analyse it thoroughly and take informed decisions.
Selection Process of Contractor
The contractor may work under the construction project manager. They are generally selected with an auction or bidding process. The three most used methods for selecting contractors are low-price, best-price, and qualification-based selection.
- Low-bid selection: Construction companies offer their lowest priced proposals, with the only consideration being price. The lowest offer is subsequently selected by the project owner.
- Best value selection: This method takes cost and qualifications into account. The proposal that provides the best value in terms of both price and quality is chosen by the owner.
- Qualifications-based selection: This approach selects a construction management business only based on qualifications. By using a request for qualifications (RFQ), the owner can learn more about the skills and experience of the contractor.
The project owner has the right to select the type of contractor he needs. After the selection process, the assigned contractor may oversee day-to-day job site operations, providing quality resources and safety measures.
Functions of Project Management Process
Construction project management includes some tedious functions to provide excellent outcomes. It can be derived as follows:
- The preconstruction, design, and construction processes are helpful. They will achieve the project’s goal. According to the goal set, everything has to be planned and executed.
- Strong communication can improve workflow and boost productivity in construction.
- A construction manager must have all legal documents to support the work. Any missing document may slow down the construction process and lead to project delays.
Risk Management
Construction project management has its own set of challenges that can be faced by workers and employers in day-to-day operations. Some of them are mentioned below:
- Effective Communication and Document Management: Streamlining the construction process is a decisive task. Efficient communication with all stakeholders and teams may help find ways to identify potential issues easily. The culture and language of the workers must be understood to create a stable environment and ensure a smooth workflow.
The general contractor must maintain a healthy relationship with the stakeholders and contractors to collect the necessary documents on time. A common platform with easy access at any time, anywhere may make the process more efficient.
- Estimating
In construction, precise cost, resource, and schedule estimation is essential. Project losses can result from even minor mistakes, particularly in light of the narrow industry margins. A high sunk cost could emerge from a major estimation error that stops progress on large projects, such as building a power station. Forecasting methods are available to help account for these variables and enhance accuracy, even if estimation is difficult because of factors like price variations, currency swings, and supply shortages.
- Siloed Data
Projects frequently wander off track and miscommunication arises when data is dispersed and difficult to access. Timeliness, risk management, and cost control can all be impacted by data silos. You run the risk of delays and errors if a contractor waits for information or moves on without it.
Use a data management solution that integrates all of your systems and centralises information to prevent this and make data easily accessible to your team from wherever.
- Lack of Real-time Data for Risk Assessment and Change Orders
If your data is out of date, sharing it with your team is pointless. You need real-time data to handle new developments and address issues as they arise since building projects are continuous. This can be aided by the appropriate software, which provides simple access to current dashboards and reports along with tools to visualise workflows and comprehend the consequences of your choices.
Conclusion
While overseeing a construction project involves many complex steps, effective construction management software offers a streamlined and efficient solution. It provides tools for scheduling, tracking, communication, document management, and more. In short, a construction project management team is essential for your dream project. They know all the ins and outs of the building process in the construction industry. Their vast knowledge and experience can reduce costs and delays in the work and ensure an efficient construction project.
FAQ’s
Construction projects are complex processes that involve heavy budgets and a lot of risks. Managing it correctly will reduce the loss of money and safety risks associated with the structure. It boosts productivity and increases the workflow.
A construction project manager has the skill and courage to manage the resources and people effectively. The responsibilities include planning and developing construction ideas, cost control, budgeting, risk management, effective communication, monitoring project workflow, and checking closeouts.