Organizing and managing construction is a complex job. It is a delicate balance getting the right materials, workers, and machines on-site at the right time.
Ensuring a project stays on time, under budget, and safe is an expansive undertaking, whether for construction, civil infrastructure, or other general jobs. General contractors and other site managers are responsible for managing all these aspects.
Part of that work is managing required paperwork like contracts, permits, and certifications. Whether you are new to the profession or are an experienced construction manager or general contractor, you have likely heard of a Stop Work Order.
No matter where you live, numerous building projects are likely happening at any given time, from high-rise buildings to roads and shopping centers throughout suburbs and satellite towns. Many jobs require the lifting and moving of heavy products and equipment.
When you are in charge of a construction project, you must become knowledgeable in everything. Whether it is lifting pieces many stories higher or moving multi-ton items from one part of the job site to another, you may need to rent crane equipment. And you will need to become well-versed in cranes and riggings.
Last year the construction market was estimated worldwide at 7.28 trillion USD, making it one of the largest individual industries in the world. And that number is only expected to grow and double by the end of the decade. Like all industries, construction has had to change and adapt to the modern world and global scale of industry and supply chains.
One area where construction has been lagging behind, however, despite its success and growth, has been productivity. Research has shown that while other industries like manufacturing have been able to nearly double the productive output per worker, construction has been stagnant for decades.
For small construction projects, a slight dip in productivity can have a significant impact on meeting client deadlines and budgets. Amplify that to larger commercial construction or megaprojects, tiny changes in productivity can have a substantial effect across an entire project and company. The more productive you are, the happier your clients are and the more profitable you can be.
There is a lot to do when preparing for a construction project. You have to draw up the plans, make sure they are approved and permitted by municipalities, and put the right people in place to execute each aspect of the design and development of the building, road, or green space.
At some point, you may find there are materials far too heavy to be moved by the machinery you have available. At that point, you know you're going to need to buy or rent a crane.