The project manager on a construction project is critical to the project’s success. What makes project management so important in construction?

Project managers in construction perform a professional service that requires an inventory of specialized skills and techniques to effectively oversee the planning, design, and construction of the project. The project manager’s involvement in the construction process is holistic, in that it begins from the conception of the project to its execution, allowing them the comprehensive knowledge necessary to make agile and effective decisions throughout the entirety of the project.

Planning/Design

Planning is the first stage in any construction project. During this stage, the project manager’s communication style sets the stage to establish positive and productive relationships with the client to ensure their vision is being executed correctly.

Once the project manager has identified the client’s needs, they can begin to formulate plans and tasks. From those plans and strategies, they formulate a critical path timeline that further breaks down the project into stages, establishes checkpoints, and confirms budgets.

The planning and design work takes into account any building codes and specific regulations that may impact the project and proactively plan. This step allows for proactive planning, which works toward avoiding legal or other issues that could impact the efficient execution of the project.

These plans also allow the project manager and his site team to acquire and accurately allocate the proper resources for the project, sourcing materials such as lumber, specialized machinery, or specialized tradespeople. Should resources not be acquired at the appropriate times, costly delays or increased costs may be experienced on the project.

Project managers also account for issues that may arise during the construction process due to unavoidable circumstances - be it the weather or technical issues. The skill-set of project managers is especially critical in these moments, as unforeseen issues could completely derail and cause the project to go over budget. Seasoned project managers make each decision based on careful analysis and adjust their plans as necessary to ensure that the project remains on track and within budget.

The ability to effectively plan out the project before execution allows the project manager to plot each stage of the project more effectively - as they know what benchmarks are being met. This and consistent communication with trades and the client ensures that the project remains on track and budget.

Construction

During construction, project managers actively monitor and manage the project to ensure it is staying on track and budget. By closely managing the project, the project manager can anticipate and avoid delays by guiding the construction team and making adaptive decisions to counter any issues or delays.

Truly skilled project managers effectively manage a construction site by establishing effective communication and ensuring that all trades and authorities within the jurisdiction are aware of the project goals and their role in achieving them. The initial planning work that established the standards for communication with contractors, designers, and the client is critical to ensuring that everyone on the project has the information they need to set the stage for a results-focused experience.

Conclusion

Project managers are critical to the success of any construction project because they have the industry knowledge and skills to oversee every aspect of a project, from its conception to its execution. Effective project managers can and will complete your project on time and within budget.

Contact Southwest and Midwest Design & Construction to find out how our skilled project managers can lead your next construction project to success.