02 May
Complete guide: Learn all about process optimization in construction
Process optimization in construction is a constant need for management and leadership teams. This is because optimized processes can significantly increase the productivity of work teams.
However, there are more ways to improve the productivity rate of companies in the construction sector. It is essential to monitor all phases of the construction site to ensure that procedures are carried out as planned.
The construction industry has an absolutely frenetic pace, especially in the construction phase. Situations in which the engineer in charge has to make momentary decisions, often hasty decisions, recur. Hasty decisions, in the construction phase, may be the beginning of a conflict that will cause waste, delays in execution, loss of productivity and consequently loss of profit for the company. Monitoring the processes will reduce these consequences on site.
When processes are optimized and are under the full control of the site manager, it is very likely that planning will be adhered to. This planning can be constantly assessed and optimized. Let’s imagine that the professional responsible for the construction site identifies a point in the planning that could cause a critical situation in a next phase of the construction, at this point he still has time to structure and plan the best solution (with the planning team) by adjusting the initial planning.
Optimization goes beyond standardized activities. This technique is also responsible for measuring, quantifying and monitoring the construction cycle. Because it creates value for the company by increasing efficiency, earnings and productivity.
5 Ways to improve processes in the construction industry
In the construction sector, two of the main needs are: to prevent or avoid waste and to reduce spending on unnecessary goods. Especially relevant in scenarios of uncertainty and economic instability such as we are currently experiencing. To this end, strategic planning must be developed.
1. Create workflow templates for each role
A workflow is a sequence of steps, necessary to make work processes methodical and automatic, allowing them to be transmitted from one person to another.
The creation of workflow templates aims to adapt the individual capacity of each team member to their roles, extracting the maximum potential from each professional.
In addition to this, as these flows are shared the moment there is a casualty in the team, there will be someone to replace them immediately without wasting time in adapting and learning the tasks to be performed.
Construction is a very dynamic area, which means that various activities (which depend on each other) are developed simultaneously, hence the importance of constant control of the execution processes.
2. Constant analysis of the team processes
It is through analysis that it is possible to keep processes active and optimized. These processes must be constantly evaluated in order to understand if they give 100% profitability to the business, or if it is necessary to reformulate some point of the performance strategy.
The absence of analysis, especially after the conclusion of each stage, can compromise the efficiency of the execution of a task at a later stage. Besides this, analysis is essential to evaluate performance indicators and check whether the services are executed on time and in the planned manner.
3. Registering and organizing documents by construction stage
When we talk about construction, we are talking about dozens of processes taking place simultaneously, so it is important that all the information on the construction site is duly recorded. These data and indicators feed the management and planning teams with pertinent data to monitor performance, productivity and the evolution of the construction work in relation to the initial planning, maintaining a real and updated scenario.
4. Report writing
In BIMWorkplace we say that, among other skills, “a good professional is one who has the ability to master the project, based on the latest version of the planning”. From here, it is important to retain two techniques that are essential to the success of a responsible construction site professional:
- Following and mastering the planning
- Record and identify all versions of the planning
- Planning should be made available to all professionals involved in the activity.
Reports are also a great source of contact between teams, as they facilitate the communication process between professionals. They are also, a good professional practice. By having dated reports of all construction phases, professionals keep a reliable record of all construction details, which allows the professional to answer with confidence and assertiveness any questions about the state of the work at any given moment.
5. Controlling all the activities involved in the construction work
We explored above that the construction industry is one of the most dynamic industries in the market. We have also explored that productivity is one of the most important factors for the management and leadership departments of companies. Having said that, the question that arises is: how do these departments manage to have an overview of each construction phase, without having to meet with those responsible on site whenever they need some information? The answer is simpler than you might think: Through the use of BIM (Building Information Modelling) methodology.
Using the most diverse BIM technologies, these departments will be able to foresee possible unforeseen events and create solutions in advance, following the initial financial planning accordingly.
When we talk about controlling all the activities that involve the construction work, external audits become one of the biggest concerns of the financial, environmental and occupational health and safety departments. It is certain that construction sites are audited frequently and unexpectedly, and keeping the processes controlled will ensure that there are no critical analysis situations or unexpected fines.
BIM management software can contain specific analysis modules that provide a global vision of the project, as well as document management, extraction of quantities and budgeting, among many others. This is definitely a winning technique in the construction sector. BIM is already the present and inevitably the future!
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