On a construction site, it’s crucial that work gets done correctly and on time so you can meet deadlines and stay within your budget.
With so many moving parts at a job site, it can be challenging to improve efficiency, but even small changes you make today can make a big difference down the road.
Here are some ways you can make your job site more efficient.
MAKE A PLAN AND SCHEDULE
Efficiency begins with planning. If you want your building project to go smoothly, start by creating a schedule that can be updated as needed. Figure out what needs to get done and determine a realistic timeline. Consider what’s slowed you down on similar projects in the past so you can be proactive in improving job site productivity.
STAY ORGANIZED
Organization and efficiency go hand in hand. Once you’ve made a plan and schedule, figure out a way to keep track of everything. Project management software may be helpful. Use what works best for you.
HOLD REGULAR MEETINGS AND CHECK-INS
Regular check-ins let you know what’s really going on day in and day out on the job site. Meetings are a time for you to review the schedule and share expectations with contractors. Check-ins will help you keep track of what your crew needs.
SUPERVISE THE SITE
Having project supervisors is a great way to make sure contractors are staying on task. Supervisors can help coordinate the project and make sure your crew is productive and following safety guidelines.
ESTABLISH TRUST AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Trust and accountability need to be core values of your job site. When they are, your contractors will know to come to you if something goes wrong so it can be addressed.
COMMUNICATE
Making sure everyone is on the same page ensures you’ll have a well-functioning job site. Communication needs to be ongoing and organized so all stakeholders can be kept up to date on the project’s progress. Communicate often with your contractors to see what roadblocks they’re facing that you can remove to help them be more productive.
ENFORCE SAFETY GUIDELINES
Safety is key to the productivity of contractors on any job site. Nothing slows down a project quite like a safety mishap or an injury. Cutting corners is also bad for worker morale — no one wants to work hard at a job site that doesn’t value their safety. You can learn about laws and regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
HIRE HIGH-QUALITY, WELL-TRAINED CONTRACTORS
Having experienced, high-quality, well-trained contractors as part of your team allows you to know the job will be done correctly and in a timely manner. Contractors with experience can also serve as mentors to help out other, newer members of the crew. That being said, don’t necessarily rule out newer, ambitious contractors who come highly recommended. New contractors may work meticulously since they’re working to build up a good reputation for themselves.
APPRECIATE YOUR CREW
Hard work going unnoticed makes it difficult to stay motivated. Offer words of encouragement to your contractors, tell people you appreciate them individually, and find ways to reward their work. A simple thank you can go a long way, but you can also treat your crew to lunch, offer bonuses, or find ways to help your contractors advance their careers, such as by recommending them to other people.
TAKE INVENTORY OFTEN
Know what materials you’ll need, when you’ll need them, and how you’ll get them to your job site. Once materials are on site, your crew should be able to easily find what they need so they can work efficiently.
DEBRIEF AFTER
Another way to increase efficiency is to learn from the past. At the end of a project, gather your crew together to learn what they think would’ve helped them do their jobs more efficiently. By following up at the end of projects, you can continually improve workflow. Plus, when the contractors you hired feel that their concerns were listened to, they’ll be more likely to work with you again in the future.
ORDER YOUR MATERIALS TODAY
When you work with us at Miller’s Building Supply, we can help you find what you’re looking for and can deliver materials right to your job site.
Check out our products online or visit us at 1819 East Monroe in Goshen.