Management Problem Encountered at Site During Construction

Construction Project Management

BEC 404

Semester June 2014

Group Members :Lee Yong Ka 131010251

Ler Mei Hui 123009642

Yvonne Ng Yee Ling 123009658

Lecturer : Pn Farah

Content

1.1 Definition of Time Management

1.2 The Aims of Time Management on Site

1.3 Articles

1.4 Causes of failure in time management in construction

1.5 Effects of improper time management in construction

1.6 Solutions of improper time management in construction

1.7 References

1.1 Definition of Time Management

The process of planning and exercising conscious control over the amount of

time spent on specific activities, especially to increase effectiveness,

efficiency or productivity.

In Fact, it is more commonly to be known as Project Planning and Project

Scheduling when time management is being applied on construction site.

1.2 The aims of Time Management on site

- Schedule time of progress working on site effectively.

- Estimate cost or budget accurately based on time scheduling.

1.3 Articles

Articles 1

Articles 2

Articles 3

1.4 Causes of failure in time management in construction

1) Poor site management and supervision

In construction industry, some of the delay projects are facing a problem during

construction period. But at the same time contractor could not solved the problem

immediately due to no experience. During the contractor finding method to solve the

problem, some of the works totally stop because of that problem. After the issue was solved,

those work keeping proceed with yet run out from the timetable. Finally, the whole project

will be delayed. Some of the project team lack of management and supervision due team

member without any experience and skill such as hire person who are fresh graduate. Once

they facing problem but do not know how to solve it. Besides that, some of the supervisor did

not cooperation with their team member due to lack of communicated. Finally, because of

cannot solve the problem immediately the whole project influence delay.

2) Lack of adequate information from consultants

In construction industry, they are many consultants carry out their work without experience.

Other than that, there are numerous reason for an adviser without experience which include

different site conditions, mismanagement and maladministration, site access restrictions,

defective plan and/or specification. For examples, some of the architects only concentrated in

certain part of building and do not have any experience in other type. Once architect design

on that particular type of building without experiences, he will facing a lot of mistake and no

ideas during design and because of this architect will delay issue the drawing. At long last,

the works can't process and it will influence the entire venture delay.

3.Poor design and delay in design

Design is very essential to any project, without good the entire undertaking will impact

delay. It is because in a project if facing poor design that will facing demolish and rebuilt

again. This problem happens because of the designer lack of experience. For example, an

architect designs a column in the middle of bedroom. Once the contractor without any

experience and construct the work exactly shown in the drawing. Incomplete drawing and

detail design that contribute to causes of delays in construction project. During construction,

the contractor is carrying out the work but because of drawing is unclear and none very detail

shown in the drawing. The work with problem could not be continued, so the works have to

stop immediately until get more detail of that particular drawing from consultant responds.

Because of without detail drawing the work could not be progress, so it will affect the tat

particular work delay and it will also influence the whole project delay.

4. Mistakes during construction

One of the mistakes during the construction is shortage of construction materials. In

construction have a lot type of material and the three main courses are cement, formwork and

steel bar. Besides that, material is one of the main sources in construction industry. It is

because without material project cannot construct. If a project having the material shortage

problem will be delay. For example, a project having shortage ceramic tiles even though the

labours ready for tiling. In this situation, the project will facing delay project.

5. Weather condition

During the construction period, weather is a factor to influence the whole project delay. It

because weather condition that interfere with planned activities. Some activities can process

but other cannot. For examples, the workers cannot cast the ground floor slab when it is

raining so that the work has to be delayed.

6.Labour supply

Generally, labour are categories into two groups such as skilled workers and unskilled

workers. In construction industry without labour project could not run. For examples, during

construction, materials are ready to but no worker carrying out the work. During the same

time because of no worker to progress of work, the project will confront project delay. There

are many factors that influence on the labour productivity. One of the factors is workers

experience, labour with high experience and high skills in field leads to high performance at

workplace. Besides that, attitude also will affect productivity of labour. For example, a

worker can lay two meter square per hour but because of lazy. Finally he use three hours to

finish laid the brick wall. Because of this factor, the progress work delay and it will also

influence the whole project delay.

1.5 Effects of improper time management in construction

1) Increases cost or exceed the budget of construction

Workers on site are often paid by the hour, if the construction project is delayed, workers

need to be paid extra salary in order to speed up the project and follow up the progress, so an

improper time management will increase the budget and cost.

2) Having work delayed or behind schedule can hinder the overall project

Improper time management directly hinders the whole construction project. This problem

becomes significant especially when one group or company have to wait for another

company to finish a certain type of work before they can begin next step in the project. It is

really wasting of time and also increasing unnecessary cost in order to solve the work delayed

problem.

3) Workers on site do not have clear targets and motivation to finish their works

Having effective time management in construction projects includes giving the workers

reasonable goals, workable timeframes and the resources to do their jobs. This helps a lot in

expecting the workers to complete their responsibilities in a timely manner. Without proper

time management and working schedule, it will eventually leads to less effectively work

progress on site. The less efficiently, accurately and effectively that workers complete their

tasks, the higher the overall cost of construction will be.

4) Bad reputation for construction company

A reason for workers and supervisors to have an effective system of time management in

construction projects is that completing projects in a timely manner helps the reputation of

the company performing the work.

Companies that construct are often contracted, sometimes through bids and sometimes

without bids, to complete projects. They are often asked to complete a project, in part, based

on their reputation of getting past projects finished accurately and in a timely manner.

Utilizing effective time management skills helps a construction company maintain a positive

reputation, which can lead to more work in the future.

5) Safety problems increase on site

As the works delayed because of poor time management, the workers have to be going fast

and rushing on their works so that they can catch up the progress planned.

This rushing attitudes might cause the workers neglect the safety rules and precautions on

site. They might working day and night without getting enough rest and in the end causing

unwanted accidents that might lead to delaying of work again and also sorts of problems

might happen.

6) Quality of construction projects is not secured

Due to the fact that they are running out of time, the construction company cannot wait for

the construction materials that are qualified. Therefore they are forced to use the materials

which are cheaper and easier to get.

They are having no time to check on the materials and this careless mistakes will causes

safety problem to the future users of the buildings.

1.6 Solutions of improper ti me management in construction

1) Create the Critical Path Before the Construction Start

Critical path analysis is a valuable business method. It takes a great deal of guesswork out of

project planning and project management. Businesses that are engaged in the development of

new products often rely heavily on this method. So do software developers, and those who

are in charge of managing large facilities where multiple interdependent operations are

carried out. Critical path management was originally a manual process, and as such was

rather cumbersome to use. It has since been extensively automated, and the incorporation of

various bells and whistles have made critical path analysis even faster and more effective.

2) Proving and Defending a Delay

When a specific delay occurs, or is claimed by the contractor, it requires the early attention

and timely action of the owner or its representative. The owner needs to quickly identify the

party responsible for the delay and develop and promptly implement a corrective action plan.

 The owner needs to require that its representative institute the basic principles of delay

analysis using a sound methodology, like Time Impact Analysis (TIA) procedures. The

owner or its representative also requires a basic working knowledge and understanding of

related legal precedence for schedule and delay, as well as addressing any issues with the

project completion date. Further, field procedures should be initiated, requiring the

identification, isolation and recording of factual data related to the delay and impact costs.

3) Establishing the Necessary Controls and Procedures

Establish contract provisions and project procedures setting forth a clear understanding of the

requirements for planning, implementing and controlling the project. Be familiar with the

strengths and weaknesses of the project delivery system being used, and the obligations, roles

and responsibilities assumed or avoided by the parties involved. Develop an awareness of the

key contract provisions that will potentially generate disputes, scheduling delays and cost

overruns. Develop and maintain a contemporaneous summary entitlement analysis.

4) Managing and Administering the Time Factor

Scheduling techniques have made it possible to demonstrate, with reasonable certainty, the

delay impact which can occur as a result of issues and unplanned project events. Delays can

be identified, isolated, quantified, and concurrent delays accurately segregated. This

capability has contributed significantly to the legal importance of the project schedule. While

scheduling techniques do not necessarily constitute proof in and of themselves, their

application can be of evidential value to demonstrate liability and causation. In addition, they

can provide a legitimate and supportable basis for allocating or apportioning damages, a

means preferable to using guess work or the like.

5) Be Proactive (Use Time Impact Procedures)

Plans, estimates, and schedules are bound to change as a result of errors and omissions,

owner changes, unforeseen subsurface conditions, strikes, and actual performance variations.

These are just a few of the many factors that create the need to change the schedule. Such

conditions require that the schedule be kept up to date and revised on a regular basis to reflect

actual performance and the contractor’s best, current plans and intentions.

6) Having Meeting Frequently

Poor project communication will make the project end unsuccessfully, but when you having

meeting frequently you can avoid many bad situations to happen. This is because you will

know your construction progress really well. So whenever there were some things happen,

you will know it on the very first time. Timing is really important for the construction project

as time equals money. So when you lose time you will lose your money.

1.7 References

http://www.constructionadvisoryreport.com/home/blog/2013/09/11/managing-

the-time-factor

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-importance-of-time-management-in-

construction.htm

http://www.ukessays.com/dissertations/project-management/avoiding-project-

failure.php

http://www.ukessays.com/dissertations/project-management/avoiding-project-

failure.php

http://www.interface-consulting.com/articles/time-equals-money-maximize-

efforts-to-resolve-project-changes/

http://www.constructionadvisoryreport.com/home/blog/2013/09/11/managing-

the-time-factor/