5 Ways to Increase Construction Jobsite Productivity

Profitability in a construction project depends on maintaining productivity at the jobsite. There are several areas where a few strategic changes can help managers bring inefficiency down and productivity up.

It starts before the first worker arrives at the site—at the planning stage.

1. Promote Jobsite Productivity by Planning Well

A thousand questions like these will confront a project manager. Thankfully, today’s technology offers some invaluable tools for smoothing out the planning process. 

Here are two of them:

Construction Management Software. Several programs are available that help construction teams manage their budgets, documents, and workflow, from initial drawings to final certificate of occupancy. It is especially helpful for stakeholders to have all the complex components of a construction job organized in a single system. Users can access the software from any location, making the communication process more efficient and transparent.  

Building Information Modeling. This is software that replicates every facet of a building in digital form—from the framing and wall cladding to the plumbing and electrical systems. Stakeholders can collaborate and make changes in the digital model, troubleshooting and gaming out various scenarios before the first groundbreaking.  

2. Maintain Good Communication

Many of the problems that arise in a commercial building project can be attributed to poor communication. There are so many players and stakeholders involved that bringing them all into harmony can seem like an impossible task. Maintaining lines of communication between project manager and subcontractors, suppliers, work crews, and government agencies is vital to keeping a project on track and on time. The aforementioned construction management software makes the challenge manageable.

3. Invest in the Workforce

To some contractors, paying for additional training for workers may seem like a waste of money. But good training will make those workers more productive and, therefore, more profitable to their employers. When a worker can progress from a manual laborer to a heavy equipment operator, or from a helper to a superintendent, that inspires confidence and loyalty. And maintaining long-term employees is always preferable to hiring new ones for every project.    

4. Make Jobsite Safety a Priority

When workers are rushed, safety can end up  taking a backseat. Working fast is meant to enhance productivity, but it can actually have the opposite effect, because accidents can bring work activity to a halt. When a worker is taken off the job because of injury, that person’s position will need to be filled, which takes time. The new worker may need to be trained, which also takes time. 

Fixing the hazards that led to an accident may halt job progress altogether, while injuries often result in lawsuits, which are expensive and time-consuming regardless of the outcome. Violations of OSHA rules can lead to stiff fines, and insurance premiums can be expected to rise when accidents are frequent. Add to all that the reputational cost of being an accident-prone company, and it becomes clear that making safety a priority isn’t just the decent thing to do; it also makes smart business sense. Proper planning and communication from the outset can help keep jobs on track, eliminate the dangers that come with rushing, and contribute to a safer jobsite.    

5. Foster a Positive Workplace Environment

It’s hard to quantify the impact of worker morale on a project, but it’s as real as the cost of concrete or steel. 

Workers that feel valued work harder. An atmosphere of cooperation among employees makes any project run smoother. 

By contrast, when workers feel oppressed or abused by management, they become resentful and less inclined to give their best. That can manifest in passive resistance, deliberate slowdowns, and subtle acts of sabotage.    

In a similar way, hostility between workers can undercut their productivity. They can end up devoting more energy to defeating their fellow workers than getting the job done. 

The remedy for these hazards must start at the top. Management can make it clear that the workers are valued as human beings as well as for the work they do. Personnel problems should be handled respectfully and humanely. That elusive quality called team spirit is as important on a jobsite as it is on a sports field. Smart managers work hard to maintain it.