Craft a winning project execution strategy for construction

projects
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Projects are the complex process and collaborative work of turning an
idea into an actual profit making facility. From Concept to Feasibility to
Project Strategy then Design Basis to Basic Design to Detailed Design
then Construction and Finally Close-Out. Every phase is critical to
achieve a successful project and as they say A chain is only as strong
as its weakest link. Yet taking the Logical sequence of projects one
could realize that construction is the most critical part of a Project, it is
what could make or break a project. Despite its being one of the later
phases of a project, Construction will only be successful if you think
about it from the beginning (FEL and Design Basis). There are few
things to keep in mind to have successful Construction phase:
1. Put more weight on construction activities as opposed to
back office engineering activities in the Cost Breakdown
Structure. Most construction companies tend to put the most
weight of the contract value on engineering work since they link
it with material procurement, which happens during engineering
period. When negotiating the value of the contract, it is essential
to put more weight on actual construction work. Even if the
construction company refuse, which is something expected, then
Project Management can still manipulate the percentages in
material procurement progress to serve the construction work
portion. For instance, procurement progress consist of: issuing
P/O to supplier, Supplier confirming quantities and committing to
delivery dates, Receiving Material, Inspection at supplier
premises then arrival at site. So by putting more weight Arrival
at site (which is still part of construction work the team are
helping Construction activity in an indirect way).
2. Obtain the necessary approvals from Authorities.
Authorities require several forms that need to be submitted in
timely manner to ensure construction take place on time. Like an
Environmental Impact Report. Once that document is approved,
authorities will issue Environmental Consent to Construct (ECC)
allowing starting the construction work. Another document that
have to be submitted to the authorities is the site wide
Construction safety plan, which has to be submitted prior to start
effective construction. Other permits that have to submitted to
the authorities like: Permit for Waste Disposal, Allocation of Pipe
routing, Request for Water tie-in, Permit for sanitary Tie-In, Permit
for Fence Installation and many others more. Authorities are
serving many users and often they are under-staffed. Thats why
submitting those documents way ahead of time ensures they are
approved at the right time.

3. Good Selection of Subcontractors especially Civil. Civil will

live the whole cycle of the project site activity from the first
activities of land leveling to the final activity of road asphalt
paving. Civil subcontractor is a key element and could set the
rhythm for whole project. The cheapest subcontractor is not
always the best. Some subcontractors are short on Manpower
(Carpenter, Steel Fixer, Welder etc). other subcontractors are
short on equipment (Pilling, Dewatering, Concrete Mixers Mobile
Crane etc). careful selection of civil subcontractor could be one
of the project successes factors. it pays-off to consider other
projects the subcontractor handling simultaneously and which
phases are they.
4. Specialized Subcontractors for specialized Jobs. There are
several Subcontractors that have a proven record in doing
specific Jobs. Some are specialized by discipline like being a well
reputed Electrical or mechanical subcontractor. It pays to ask
people of experience in similar projects.
5. Early site preparation is Key in two ways: first, it gives the
project team a sense of urgency which will help push the
contractor during the engineering stage. Second, it will give a lot
of work front when the actual construction begin. There are some
tasks that dont require waiting for detailed design. Things like:
Digging obstacles in the construction area, Backfilling site with
soft sand, Leveling and Compacting process area based on
preliminary drawings, Pilling work which is one of the earliest
drawings to be produced by civil, Installing Security Fence,
Installing Temporary Gates, Site and Plant Roads. All those tasks
can be done in an early stage given their nature of requiring no
or minimum drawings and doing them in an early stage could
open lots of work fronts for other tasks to follow.
6. Preparation of Lay-down Area. Depending on the area of the
project, Logistics could be a nightmare. The Lay-Down Area
should be close enough to be able to move material easily to
construction site yet not too close to interfere with construction
site. In some previous projects and due to limited area parts of
the construction area was used as a lay-down area which
restricted accessibility to site causing delay in work progress.
7. Sequential arrival of material. Lay-down Area is a temporary
area to keep material that are ready to be installed. It is not to be
used as a permanent storage area for late needed material.
Optimum use of Lay-down area could help speed up the structure
and piping erection and reduce congestion on limited plot plans.
8. Use of New Construction Methods. For instance Modular
construction methods could save significant time. Shop built
structures could save time more than conventional site built.

9. Early Assembly of Site team. in the early days of site work

few people are needed. Mainly Civil Supervises, Construction
supervisors and Safety Supervisors. Mobilizing them early to
work site will push the construction contractor to establish their
site presence. The project management team could help the
construction team in logistics such as Custom Clearance, Duty
Exemption and others more.