9 Construction Site Management Tips for New Managers
Did you know the construction industry continues to be in top demand as home buyers renovate their spaces? If you’re a new construction manager and need some tips on managing contractors, we can help.
In this guide, we’ll go over construction site management and how to keep your worksite safe.
Want to learn more? Keep reading.
Table of Contents
1. Streamline Admin Work
Project managers find admin overwhelming. They have to deal with so many phone calls and meetings.
Use construction-specific tools so you can connect with all the stakeholders.
Everybody should report in one data source. This way, they’ll have visibility over the tasks critical to them. You will be able to focus on different tasks.
2. You Need Construction-Specific Tools
The construction industry makes use of different communication tools like WhatsApp and Excel. When managing a project, you’ll need more tools.
Project managers won’t always have visibility of what’s occurring on the field. You should get an on-site live view of the project that’s shareable. You’ll be able to track the team’s progress.
3. Safety Needs to Remain a Priority
Safety should remain a construction manager’s primary concern. Your worker’s safety is critical.
Help manage stress, so construction workers remain happy and focused. Stressed-out workers will end up making mistakes.
If the project gets out of hand, your team will feel the stress. Prioritize the safety of your team members.
You can avoid severe accidents on site. Tasks will get completed faster, and your team will feel relieved.
4. Standardize Tasks
Standardization is helpful with the construction industry. Reduce delays and improve your efficiency and quality of the work.
If you need to construct the same structure, you should use repetitive processes. You will improve the overall strategy and have better control over the project.
5. Quality Planning
Project teams worldwide have to deal with different nonconformities at the end of a project before the handover.
This will end up causing a severe delay, and problems will get discovered at the last minute.
Project managers shouldn’t get put in this position. Resolve nonconformities as soon as they appear.
You should have short and long-term plans. Make sure you monitor what’s going on and work out any issues when they occur.
6. Improve Communication With Your Team
Communication is critical to each phase of your construction project. If you don’t communicate with your team or stakeholders, the project could fail.
Try to create a steady stream of communication with team members on the ground. You’ll also want to communicate with the suppliers and stakeholders.
The process will go smoother, and you’ll lower the number of phone calls and emails.
Use your collaboration software. You can sync photos, documents, calendars, and comments in one spot. You’ll have an easier time tracking budgets, updates, and new schedule changes.
The software will let you pass on the changes to the managers or accounting offices. You can spend more time on the construction site meeting with your contractors and figuring out the next steps.
7. Look to Always Improve the Construction Plan
Yet, construction managers should plan before the construction even starts. After, you will need to revise the plans until the end of the project.
The pre-construction, design, and procurement steps will need detailed planning, and each stage might have to be revised as the next phase begins.
On a construction site, random events can occur. If you end up dealing with an environmental problem, you might need to change the design during the pre-construction phase.
Slight changes will end up affecting the overall timeline and construction plan.
During the actual build, you will also deal with different issues. When working with experienced plumbers, engineers, and carpenters, you need to communicate constantly.
They will need direction on how to work together and deal with any changes.
8. Create a Budget
As a construction manager, you will need to track and monitor all the different costs related to your project. You will need to determine the wages, permits, materials, and equipment needed.
From the bidding process to the end, you will have to track the budget and make sure it relates to the initial budget.
A small construction project will still have many moving parts and costs. To remain effective, use software that will help you track the various costs. You will also remain organized as you move through the different stages of construction budgeting.
Look at construction project management software that lets you input the different costs and budget changes. This will help you stay on track with the project’s finances.
You also won’t have to coordinate with all the different participants. Use an e-signature feature to lower the amount of time spent collecting signatures for invoices.
9. Do You Have Proper Insurance?
As a construction manager, you will need to make sure you have the appropriate insurance. Make sure you get the right insurance for different steps of the project.
Do you need to complete an excavation? Look into Excavation Insurance.
Construction Site Management Tips
We hope this guide on construction site management was helpful. Consider how you can streamline specific construction processes. Prioritize the safety of your workers.
You should also look into getting a live stream of the construction site. This way, if you have to step out for a meeting, you can still monitor the team from afar.
Are you looking for more business tips? Learn how to manage your team, and improve the success of your project. Check out the helpful resources on our blog.