Member Article

Resource Planning For Efficient Completion of Construction Projects

Construction resource planning can help firms become more efficient and meet the current challenges posed by labour shortages.

Success in the construction industry comes with its own challenges. As the UK pulls out of recession, more and more sites are becoming financially viable for development. But shockingly, many firms are struggling to take advantage of the new opportunities presented by the upturn. In February, the Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors (RICS) found that two in five construction firms are turning down new business due to a shortage of workers.

Skills shortages are more acute than ever before.Construction Skills, the training body, has estimated that the industry needs 35,000 new entrants just to stand still – a number set to rise as the economy improves further. And of course, the issue means building firms are also being hit by inflated pay for the limited pool of workers who have the skills necessary to complete projects.

With labour in short supply and wages so high, construction resource planning is more important than ever. If a contractor is sent to do a job without the correct information to complete it successfully the first time, a repeat visit is going to be necessary – adding extra cost. If they have clear visibility of the issue they need to resolve, the likely time it will take and the resources they need, the chances of a successful first time outcome increases significantly.

Construction resource planning can help businesses use their available resources more effectively. And in the 21st century companies can stay ahead of the game by using technology to assist with such planning: Allowing employees to access data on the tools they need to complete a job whilst on the move; improving efficiency through easy-to-access data; and improving management processes by pushing data to the right employee at the right time.

Construction is by necessity a dispersed activity – workers are likely to be based across a variety of different locations. And on the biggest sites, staff can even be spread a long way from those within the same team. Accessing real time data on the progress of jobs becomes much easier when companies adopt smartphone and tablet technology that is easily accessed from even the most remote locations. And that helps reduce delays and keep jobs moving.

The same technology also allows the effective scheduling of tasks. Circumstances can change during the course of a job and reallocating resources in the paper-based world is often a time-consuming and laborious task, preventing the efficient shifting of employees to meet a new priority. Real time communication ensures construction resource planning is carried out with the minimum of fuss.

At the other end of the chain, office-based staff can now use technology to get a much better idea of what is happening on the ground. Real time data allows the ordering of parts and equipment in good time, avoiding delays on-site. In addition, updates on any unexpected project changes as they happen allow a much quicker response. And crucially, project managers become immediately aware of developing risks that could impact on delivery times or costs, allowing mitigation measures to be introduced quickly.

Boosting your management processes through modern methods of construction resource planning is no longer a luxury. Removing delays, using real time data to allocate resources more effectively and ensuring the job is done right first time could make or break a project.

TAKEAWAYS:

• Save time and money by getting a better view of financial information relating to your project through proper construction resource planning
• Learn how new technology can help to implement effective construction resource planning and save costs
• Ensure jobs are completed first time and save money by carrying out proper construction resource planning
• Keep more effective control over your staff on site by implementing construction resource planning technology
• Respond quicker to project changes by implementing technology to enable effective construction resource planning

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Wes Simmons .