Whether it’s a new home or commercial development project, construction professionals bring the project to life.
They have achieved certain educational and training qualifications that enable them to carry out their roles effectively. For professional help, visit https://concretecontractorcoloradosprings.com/.
Most have a code of ethics and may be members of professional bodies. They often have insurance and undertake continuing professional development.
The complexities of construction projects require the involvement of many different individuals and entities. Project management is the way to manage these multiple, diverse facets and make them all work together efficiently and effectively. This may be done by the contractor, who works directly for the client, or by a project management team hired from outside the company. The key is to have a dedicated project manager who understands the process and can oversee it in order to meet the client’s expectations.
This professional is responsible for creating a plan and managing the project from start to finish. They need to coordinate with all parties involved, including the project architect and designers, to make sure everyone has what they need and when they need it. They are also responsible for establishing plans and procedures for safety, security, and risk assessment. In addition, they need to be able to use complex planning techniques, such as the critical path method and establishing workflow processes.
Before construction can begin, a thorough preconstruction process must take place. This involves building a schedule that sets out what needs to be done, when it should be completed, and how much it will cost. It is essential to avoid delays, which can be costly and cause the entire project to go off course.
Although a construction project manager can anticipate many potential roadblocks, there are some that simply cannot be predicted. This includes environmental issues like soil conditions, endangered species, and cultural artifacts, as well as regulatory challenges such as licensing and permitting. A project manager must be able to quickly respond, find creative ways around these obstacles, and keep the project moving forward.
Design
Design in the construction industry is the preparation of drawings, specifications, bills of quantities, and other design calculations. It involves the generation of concepts for a facility that meet market demands and owner needs. Innovative concepts in design are highly valued not for their own sake but because they contribute to cost reductions or to the improvement of aesthetics, comfort, and convenience as embodied in a well-designed facility. Such innovations, however, require that designers and constructors fully understand the technological complexities, which are often not readily apparent in a conceptual design.
In the past, a project’s design and construction processes operated in separate silos. The resulting adversarial relationships, mistrust, and grudging communication where necessary—if it occurred at all—led to high costs and project delays.
The design-build (DB) process addresses these issues by bringing all of the project’s players together under one contract. Instead of an owner managing two separate contracts with a design company and contractor, the DB process provides one single entity that wears both the “design hat” and the “construction hat.” This leads to streamlined project management, reduced costs, shortened project duration, and superior quality.
The DB process also promotes an environment of collaboration rather than a culture of blame-shifting. In the past, design professionals and construction contractors were reluctant to jointly take on responsibilities such as preparing shop drawings for erecting structural components. Such resistance stemmed from the assumption that these tasks were not part of a professional engineer’s scope of work and that their review was only advisory. This justification was ruled unacceptable by a court in connection with a walkway failure in 1985. The ASCE’s Manual of Professional Practice now recommends a shared responsibility for the preparation and review of shop drawings.
Estimating
Construction estimators are skilled at reviewing project documents, assessing material and labor requirements, and developing cost estimates. They often specialize in estimating costs for particular types of projects, such as civil engineering, architectural, structural, or electrical. As part of their estimating process, they review construction plans and drawings and make allowances in their estimate for possible errors, weather conditions, and other factors that could affect the final cost of a project.
A construction estimator’s first step is to validate the project’s scope of work, which lays out all the tasks that need to be completed to construct a building or infrastructure project. The scope document, along with the building plans and specifications, gives an estimator a starting point to compile a list of all the different materials needed to build the structure, known as a quantity takeoff.
An estimator’s job also involves adjusting standard material pricing data to account for local market conditions. For example, the price of labor to construct a building will vary by region based on local demand, skill levels, and current economic and market conditions. Additionally, the use of certain equipment impacts many other parts of the construction process, which must be accounted for in an estimate.
Estimators may also need to assess the availability of specific materials and determine whether the construction methods required are feasible based on availability, labor skills, and safety considerations. They may also need to consult with a variety of professionals, such as a cost engineer, to ensure that the estimate includes all necessary costs. The resulting estimate is then used by general contractors to include in their bid, which binds them to complete the work for the agreed-upon price.
Contract Management
Construction projects are typically complex and require a wide range of expertise to be completed on time, within budget, and with the desired quality. Effective contract management ensures that everyone involved understands their responsibilities and obligations, mitigates risks, helps prevent disputes, and improves project outcomes.
Efficient contract management requires attention to detail during the contract creation and administration stages, as well as an understanding of different types of contracts and the best ways to implement them. Construction professionals must also be able to negotiate effectively with vendors or clients to avoid potential problems that could impact the project timeline or cost.
Procurement is a crucial component of contract management that includes purchasing (or renting) all the materials and equipment needed for a construction project, from labor to building materials to trucks and tools. Keeping track of these expenses is critical for project profitability. Construction platforms that enable teams to collaborate easily and create a clear overview of costs are invaluable for this stage of the process.
The final step of contract management is ensuring that all parties comply with the terms of their contracts, which may include adhering to schedules and specifications or meeting certain quality standards. Failing to do so can lead to delays, disputes, and even legal action.
The aforementioned roles are not comprehensive, as many construction managers oversee multiple aspects of a single project and often serve as the liaison between clients and architects, engineers, and contractors. Other duties of a construction manager might include reviewing proposals, estimating timelines and milestones, setting project protocols, determining resourcing needs, and ensuring that all contractors are aware of budget and timeline requirements. In addition, a construction manager might need to review and approve change orders or invoices from vendors.
Administration
Construction administration is an essential part of a project that helps ensure that a contractor follows the design specifications in order to meet a client’s needs. Whether it’s a commercial or residential job, construction administrators help keep the building process running smoothly and efficiently. They review submittals, monitor progress, observe contractor work, and provide as-built documentation.
They often have to provide clarifications, so it’s important that they have strong communication skills. They also have to be able to quickly resolve issues and communicate the impact of changes on a budget or timeline. It’s common for building materials to be discontinued mid-project, so it’s important for construction administrators to be able to find appropriate replacements that fit within the project budget.
One of their primary responsibilities is reviewing submittal packages, which are a collection of material samples and shop drawings for each system in the building. They must review these packages to ensure that the contractor is executing the design specifications as outlined in the construction drawings and contracts. They also monitor the progress of the construction to make sure it’s on schedule and within budget. When the building is completed, they put together project closeout packages, including warranties, equipment information, contractor contracts, and maintenance agreements.
