Understanding Construction Project Management:
It is the process of overseeing construction projects from start to finish. Unlike other types of projects, construction projects are mission-based. General project management involves managing resources throughout a project's life cycle. However, construction management goes further by considering specific constraints related to designing and building structures.
It includes different disciplines such as architecture, engineering, public works, and city planning. Due to the complexity of these projects, project management software is often used by experts. This software helps in effective planning, tracking, and successful project delivery.
A Short Overview: Types of Construction Projects:
Construction projects fall into different sectors. They are primarily divided into residential and commercial. The four main types of construction projects fall into these sectors include:
- Residential Home Building and Renovation
- Heavy Industrial Construction
- Commercial and Institutional Construction
- Engineering Construction
These diverse project types, like simple homes and large bridges, require proper construction management for successful execution. This is what a construction project manager does. They supervise the project from beginning to end. This is essential for the safe and successful construction of the structure.
Construction Project Management Team:
Construction projects are very complex. So assembling a diverse team of professionals is essential. The key people in a construction project contract team are:
- Project Owner: He/ She initiates and finances the project. Only an owner makes critical decisions such as selecting contractors and project delivery methods.
- Construction Project Manager: The manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and supervising the construction project. They can manage cost estimation and budget formulation.
- General Contractor: They will see the daily operations and provide equipment, materials, and labor for the project. They may hire subcontractors if required.
- Construction Estimator: Their most important work is the cost estimation of construction projects. They consider materials, labor, unit prices, and various other factors for cost estimation.
- Construction Subcontractors: They are hired by general contractors to carry out plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, and other such tasks.
Bidding Process of Construction Projects:
Generally, construction projects follow the “design-bid-build model”.
- The project owner receives designs from architects or engineers
- The general contractors present the bids. Bids can be open or closed
- The selection process includes low-bid, best-value, or qualifications-based selection methods.
Construction Management Contracts Categories:
Construction projects involve various contract types each of which specifies project scope and payment terms. Common contract types are:
- Lump Sum Contract: This defines a total price for project completion.
- Cost Plus Contract: This includes a fixed fee and additional costs.
- Guaranteed Maximum Price: Similar to Cost Plus, this contract has a defined maximum price.
- Time and Materials Contract: This construction contracts charges hourly rates for labor and materials.
- Unit Pricing Contract: Sets unit prices for materials.
Delivery Methods of Construction Project:
Delivery methods define the way of interaction of project stakeholders throughout a project. Common construction project delivery methods are:
- Design-Bid-Build: General contractor selected after design completion.
- Design-Build: A single entity manages both the design and build phases.
- CM at Risk: Here the construction manager acts as a consultant during design. He monitors the contractor during construction.
Phases of Construction Project Management:
The management of a construction project is completed in 5 phases:
- Design: Defines project needs, goals, and objectives. Develops conceptual, schematic, and detailed designs.
- Preconstruction: Assigns a project manager, determines personnel, and conducts site analysis.
- Procurement: Purchases materials and equipment as per project requirements.
- Construction: Implements the build phase, managing work orders, and also project progress is monitored.
- Post Construction: Completes final inspections, cleaning, training, and documentation.
Management Processes of Construction Projects:
It is done by following project management principles throughout the project lifecycle. The processes include:
- Project Initiation: Determines project feasibility through a feasibility study, business case, and project charter. Identifies potential issues and risks.
- Project Planning: Outlines tasks, milestones, resources, and budgets. Develops essential documents. It includes a risk management plan, project schedule, etc.
- Project Execution: Implements the project plan, dealing with changes and work management issues. Manages project teams, meetings, and reporting.
- Project Monitoring and Control: Tracks project progress using key performance indicators for cost control, time tracking, and quality control. Adapts to changes and ascertains flexibility and communication.
Construction Project Management Software:
This is a specialized kind of software used to make the planning and execution of construction projects much easier. It simplifies tasks like scheduling, managing resources, and creating reports.
- One of its main features is cloud-based collaboration. This allows team members to work together online. Gantt charts are visual timelines that help in planning and tracking project tasks. Team scheduling makes sure that everyone knows when they need to work on specific activities.
- The Dashboards provide a quick overview of project progress. Resource allocation helps in managing and assigning resources efficiently. Task lists keep track of all the work that needs to be done.
- The timesheets help in recording the time spent on each task. Online file storage allows easy access to project documents. The email alerts keep everyone informed about important updates. So, we can say that this type of software is like a virtual assistant. It makes construction projects more organized and manageable.
Conclusion:
Construction project management is the monitoring of construction projects from conception to completion. It requires precise coordination and a diverse team of professionals. The process includes various types of projects, a well-defined team, and bidding processes. You can connect with Ebullient Investments to provide insights into specialized project management software used to efficiently handle complex construction projects.