Why Prioritizing Pre-Construction Boosts Profitability

As most architects, surveyors, and engineers know, infrastructure is a key component of effective building design. Still, its importance is understated. In 2018, the preconstruction process is as vital as project delivery—if not more.

Between proper design, operational demand and production demand, wrapping up a location’s pre-construction process requires the acknowledgment of many factors. Prioritizing pre-construction boosts profitability in several ways:

An Accelerated Delivery Schedule

The 2010 NCHRP Synthesis 402 shed light on several project delivery issues which exist in highway creation programs. Several advantages of pre-construction consulting stood out. Among these, an accelerated delivery schedule was given a high degree of focus.

A project’s delivery schedule can be redefined when innovative pre-construction techniques are applied. The new generation of preconstruction tools is here, and with it arrives several highlights.

Firstly, Beck’s DESTINI Estimator has streamlined the construction estimating process—reducing the factors involved in overall project planning. Secondly, JBKnowledge’s SmartBid management package has made project team communication much easier.

Encouraged Collaboration

When preconstruction is prioritized, the iterative process is completed a little more quickly. It’s also much more transparent. A higher degree of preconstruction focus results in the use of mobile construction apps. A Gartner study predicts that by 2019 the world’s 2.1 billion phones will be relied upon to achieve full enterprise capabilities.

In this realm of reasoning, the pertinent data currently available via mobile has made reporting much easier. Therefore, collaboration is much easier. Mobile reporting assures preconstruction teams are equipped with up-to-date, relevant information; they needn’t rely on month-old reports.

Prefabrication Options

Prefabricated construction, in the past, was a low-end option utilized for mass production. Today, prefabricated construction has become more common—as it has improved in quality.

Construction World has covered the benefits provided by prefabrication. Prefabrication increases budget flexibility, providing material supplier discount options. Factory-controlled environments are also much safer, and sub-assemblies are crafted from dry materials which resist moisture.

The preconstruction process can be entirely modular, speeding up the project delivery process. The reduction of environmental hazards, specifically, can result in a project being cleared quicker than others.

Athens Badminton Theater / Pre-construction. Image Credit: Athena_Theama via Wikipedia

Lower Risks

An Iowa State University study evaluating Construction Manager projects makes note of yet another preconstruction prioritization benefit: a higher degree of safety. More Construction Manager positions, now, encompass all phases of a project’s life. Meanwhile, the Construction-Manager-at-Risk (CM-at-Risk) position has become increasingly popular.

These leaders are agents of an Owner throughout the design process. They can, however, take the vendor’s role when a total cost guarantee exists. Emphasizing management solutions around the preconstruction phase, CMs-at-Risk are assisting the preconstruction phase in incredible ways.

While a project’s lifespan has a lot of factors, the preconstruction phase has been getting a lot of attention. It should, too, given its long-term profitability benefits.