There are numerous reasons why projects as a whole or certain contractors start off on the back foot, these include: -
- Late appointment of the contractor.
- The project team being busy on existing projects.
- Client design changes.
- Underestimating the work involved.
- General poor management decisions.
These are some of the key reasons for having problems at the beginning of a project, and we find that so many contractors and clients make the same mistake again and again. So what can be done to overcome these issues?
Late appointment of a contractor
The simple thing is not to appoint them late, but we know it happens, so then what can be done, because the project delivery dates do not change? Generally this issue becomes the contractors problem, they need to be ready to hit the ground running, and some can do this better than others. Do they have a pre-construction manager and do they have a team ready to progress the project? Considering that the contractor has been appointed late, what they need to do is actually increase the resource you originally had planned, because you need to catch up and ideally get ahead. Many contractors can be short sighted, they will try to run with the original team they had planned by working them harder. Or they may not have additional resource available to put on the project. Considering that the contractor has been appointed late, there may be an opportunity to request additional prelims from your client.
The project team being busy on existing projects.
It's not often you have your complete project team fully available at the beginning, generally because their existing / old projects overrun and keep drawing them back. So in this scenario at the beginning of the project there is no reason for you to be behind, and the client will not be interested that your existing projects have overrun, which are consuming your team.
The Solution
Compass MEP can provide highly skilled management and engineering resource to plug the gap during pre-construction, whether that is undertaking design management, tender enquiries or major procurement. We can kick start the project for you, get you back on track and then handover to your team.
Client Design Changes
If only there could be a project with no design change, the words 'design freeze' often get said however rarely get realised. However where there is change there is opportunity, providing you can deal with it correctly. Firstly assessing and advising the impact on time and cost, then incorporating the change into the design and procurement. Depending on the level of change you may require additional prelims to deal with it, whether that is an additional quantity surveyor, engineer or designer, make sure you have the right team. You can then ensure that you maximise the change, and ensure the opportunity does not become a risk. We have seen it too many times, when contractors do not increase their prelims to manage the change, they fall behind on pricing it, requesting additional time, miss it within the design and do not procure the materials. The change then ends up costing the contractor more money in the end.
The Solution
Manage your prelims to match the level of change. At Compass MEP we can provide you with full or part time engineers, surveyors or managers to help you maximise the opportunity provided from the change.
Underestimating the workload and general poor management
These two are related. Workload can be underestimated due to inexperience and not properly reviewing the infomration. This will cause you to make poor management decisions. Poor management decisions can include not having a process to follow, or not creating a plan, as simple as it can be, an excel spreadsheet programme can be a powerful tool. Write down your plan in the way that is best suited to your need, it makes it easier for your to visualise and share it with others. You can then demonstrate how your plan will work to achieve the targets. If you fail to make a plan, then you are planning to fail.
The Solution
Have a project delivery process map, flow chart, check sheet, whatever you would like to call it. You can then successfully navigate you and your team to complete the project, using standard or project specific forms. Compass MEP can work with you to create a process map for your business or improve your current processes. We can help you establish the best team for your project, procurement strategy, value engineering and prefabrication strategy.
Don't let your limitations hold you back, with Compass MEP by your side we bolster your weaknesses and turn them into strengths. Investing front end will pay off long term, by increasing profitability, reputation and securing more work.