When it comes to keeping construction on schedule, there are few things more frustrating than unexpected delays. No matter how well prepared your project is, things are bound to go wrong from time to time. In fact, studies show that about 45 percent of all construction projects encounter some sort of unplanned delay.However, that doesn’t mean that you should be expecting delays to come up on every project. In fact, there are several things you can do to minimize the risk and make sure that your project avoids these types of issues whenever possible. These tips will help keep construction moving along smoothly and quickly so that you can get your project completed as soon as possible and on budget.Avoiding unplanned delays is one of the biggest challenges facing the construction industry today. Some projects get so behind schedule because of unexpected issues like bad weather or natural disasters, while others struggle because of ineffective communication between project managers and their subcontractors. There are plenty of ways to reduce your risk of encountering an unplanned delay and slowing down your project. These 17 tips will help you avoid or minimize any potential issues and keep things moving along smoothly and quickly from start to finish.

Communicate effectively and often.

One of the biggest causes of unplanned delays is poor communication. As the person in charge of the construction project, it’s your job to make sure that all of your stakeholders, including your clients, vendors, and subcontractors, are kept informed at all times. This includes not only keeping them informed about project goals and timelines, but also about potential risks and problems that may arise. You should also be holding regular meetings and keeping everyone informed about progress and potential issues. You can even set up a website or blog to keep everyone updated with frequent progress updates and photos.

Ensure a clear scope of work and detailed design documentation.

Once you’ve gotten the green light on your construction project, the next thing you need to do is make sure that you have a clear scope of work and detailed design documentation. This is important because it will help you and your team remain on schedule by giving you a clear idea of what’s supposed to be done and when. It will also help you avoid costly change orders later on in the project. The more information you have, the easier it will be to stay on track and avoid unexpected delays.

Ensure a strong, well-managed team of contractors and subcontractors.

Next, you need to make sure that you have a strong, well-managed team of contractors and subcontractors. This will help you avoid having to deal with change orders and missed timelines on your project. It will also make it easier to hire new team members as you need them. You might even want to consider bringing in a construction manager to act as a liaison between you and the contractors and help smooth out any issues that may arise.

Track your construction progress regularly.

One of the best ways to avoid unplanned delays is to track your construction progress regularly. This will help you identify potential problems as they’re happening, and it will also make it much easier to communicate with your stakeholders and keep them updated.

Keep tabs on your budget and timeline.

Another thing to keep tabs on during the construction process is your budget and timeline. You might have an idea of how much money you want to spend on your project and when you want to finish it, but it’s important to regularly review both. This will give you the opportunity to adjust your plans if necessary and make sure that you stay on track and don’t encounter any unplanned delays.

Use a project management software system.

Finally, one of the best ways to make sure that your project stays on schedule and doesn’t encounter any unplanned delays is to use a project management software system. These systems are designed specifically for the construction industry and are designed to help you stay on track, stay organized, and avoid unplanned delays due to communication issues. They’ll also allow you to track your budget, timeline, and other elements of your project so that you can make adjustments as needed.

Conclusion

Unplanned delays can happen to anyone, even experienced construction managers. However, they can be avoided or at least significantly reduced by following these 17 tips during the construction process. Make sure to communicate effectively and often, avoid a clear scope of work and detailed design documentation, ensure a strong, well-managed team of contractors and subcontractors, track your construction progress regularly, keep tabs on your budget and timeline, and use a project management software system.