Rework the dreaded term that nobody wants to hear on a construction project.
It usually means that some portion of the completed work has to be redone to fix a problem, often resulting in schedule delays and cost impacts. According to the study “Cost Management in Construction Projects: Rework and Its Effects,” published in the Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 30% of construction work is actually rework.
Here are three common causes of rework and how to avoid them.
Scheduling Problems
Scheduling and planning issues can lead to various problems on construction projects, especially rework. As projects are delayed, work can become rushed, resulting in quality issues, pushing the project even more behind schedule.
Similarly, work performed out of order may cause the removal or reconstruction of previously completed and installed items. Miscommunication and issues in coordination with multiple teams or team members often cause out-of-order construction work. On the other hand, uncontrollable aspects such as weather changes can impact scheduling and quality problems.
Design Errors or Changes
Design errors are often out of our control as construction contractors, but sometimes working with the designers upfront can identify any issues or errors in the bidding and planning stages of the project. Identifying errors in the beginning of the project will allow the design team to make adjustments before the actual construction begins. Regardless of the reason for the changes, design changes can lead to rework, especially if the construction process has already begun.
Site Miscommunication
According to the 2018 study conducted by FMI Corporation and PlanGrid, miscommunication and poor project data accounts for 48% of all rework on construction jobsites in the United States. Unresponsive team members, incorrect project data, and difficulty accessing project or task information ultimately lead to delayed or misinterpreted information between project contacts.
Solutions to Avoid Rework
While some rework in construction may not be avoidable, others it can be avoided /managed with the proper tools. Proper communication is key in avoiding rework, especially in the planning and scheduling areas that require ongoing, clear communication.
To reduce the likelihood of rework, proper training, communication, and supervision of project progress is key! Many contractors are implementing, and relying on software tools to help identify issues, prevent conflicts, and encourage communication among team members. Some project management tools such as Pantera’s Scheduling feature were designed directly to help monitor schedules and related items throughout the timeline of your construction project. Other helpful Pantera tools available to you are Document Management to ensure everyone is working off the latest set of plans, RFI, Submittals, and an Integrated Bidding and Plan Room. Daily Report functionality will identify problems early as well.
To learn more about how Pantera Tools can help you reduce rework, schedule a free demo.
