It’s not a secret that a construction project can cost a lot. However, rework on construction projects can mean more expenses for the construction firm in terms of labor and material. It means that instead of making profits, the company is incurring more expenses. Rework can happen due to several reasons such as using incorrect construction tools such as lifts or hoist equipment, inconsistencies in the process, low-quality materials, etc.
What Does a Rework Mean for Your Construction Project?
Although you are bound to encounter some delays or issues in the duration of the project, it helps to know how to handle them to avoid reworks.
Keep in mind that reworks will not only affect your schedule but will also affect your budget, stocks on material, etc. On top of that, every delay in a construction project can result in several claims or costly penalties depending on the type of project and agreements in place. You will also need to handle a sea of admin work to keep the records organized during a rework situation.
Reworks can make your projects more expensive for your construction company. Not only that, but it can also hurt your company’s reputation and profitability.
Ways to Reduce Rework on Your Construction Project
Here are some ways to manage rework or how to prevent it all together:
Set high-quality standards.
Everything needs to be high-quality from the bigger things like the plans, the materials, hoist equipment to the smallest details like the tools and paperwork.
Setting a high standard for each step of the project will minimize issues that may require rework. You need to be in full control over the project in the sense that everything is top-notch. Keeping each aspect of the project at the highest possible quality helps resolve non-conformities much faster.
Use the right construction tools (e.g. do not use the lift, crane, and hoist equipment interchangeably).
Each type of construction equipment is designed with a purpose in mind. To keep your workers and project safe from accidents, you need to make sure that each tool is utilized based on its intended use.
For instance, some people may think that the lift, crane, and hoist equipment can be used interchangeably– but this is not the case at all. For instance, a hoist is used as a pulley system to raise objects upward, a crane is used for moving loads in various directions, while a lift is often used to help construction workers reach high elevations on site.
Using a piece of construction equipment to do something that it is not designed to do can lead to accidents, injuries, and damages to the construction project. Not only will you have to worry about your injured worker(s), but you will have to deal with reworking the damaged parts of the project.
You will have less manpower, incomplete materials, and more work to do. So use your equipment the right way.
Establish a single source of truth.
Different people may be handling different aspects of the project. People may also be working in shifts. There are many reasons why having a single source of truth is vital when working on a construction project.
First, you want to have a clear idea of your progress in the project– this is especially important when one phase can’t start without the other. Second, you want to be able to update your client with full confidence. Last but not the least, in case of the need to rework– a single source of truth will help you pinpoint where things went wrong and what is affected.
Understanding these things will help you resolve the issue faster and avoid further delays.
Standardizing the process.
Standardizing the process reduces the chances of mistakes and inconsistencies which means fewer chances of any rework. It will help you and your team minimize errors and reduce the time needed to complete a project.
Bottomline
Keep in mind that accidents and other unexpected circumstances are unavoidable in ANY construction project in ANY industry. You are bound to experience a delay or some reworks here and there. You may not be able to foresee the future weather or guarantee that your suppliers will be able to deliver your materials on time, but you CAN do something about the way you handle these situations.