The construction industry is no stranger to inconveniences, delays, and other operational challenges. From budget inaccuracies to legal agreements, a project can quickly go off course without the proper leadership and management in place. Many builders are opting to hire project managers to help the company gain control of how long a project takes to complete as well as how much money it costs.
We’ve summarized the responsibilities of a project manager and the many benefits of utilizing construction project management for a new building project. Keep reading to learn all about the importance of construction project management.
What Does a Construction Project Manager Do?
A project manager has a wide range of responsibilities. In a nutshell, their job is to keep a building project on budget and on time by planning and closely monitoring each step of the process. The following are common duties of construction project managers.
Planning and Organizing
Construction project managers, or CPMs, work with both clients and internal teams in the pre-construction phase of development on a project. They create detailed plans and sort out the logistics for the building sites. CPMs also provide clients with price estimates and budget requirements.
Contract Management
Project managers oftentimes decide which workers to assign to a job. They coordinate and negotiate contracts while also supervising the work done by subcontractors. They also oversee contracts with the clients.
Setting Deadlines
For builders, the longer a project lasts, the more it is going to cost. A project manager is responsible for project scheduling and identifying an accurate project timeline. They monitor progress, set deadlines, and ensure a project is on track during construction.
Troubleshooting
One of the greatest responsibilities of a CPM is anticipating problems in the project management process and dealing with them proactively. Project managers closely monitor the construction site’s progress to catch issues early and foresee delays. Ensuring the project is properly defined from the beginning can help prevent delay-causing changes down the line.
Managing Construction Budgets
One of the main duties of a CPM is managing a project’s budget, making cost efficiency a priority. Managers must deliver accurate costs to the client and actively track where money is going.
Improving Safety
On any construction worksite, safety must be taken seriously. Project managers ensure workers are taking the proper precautions to avoid unnecessary accidents. They actively identify and address potential problem areas, making sure everything complies with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines.
Complying with Legal Requirements
In conjunction with contract management, a CPM needs an understanding of applicable laws, permits, and contracts for proper planning. Only with legal requirements in mind can a builder begin work on-site.
Evaluating the Finished Job
Even after a project is complete, a construction project manager’s job is not done. Once finished, the CPM will evaluate both how efficiently the job was completed and what areas could use improvement on future worksites.
The Benefits of Having a Construction Project Manager
With the responsibilities of a construction project manager in mind, one can already see some of the benefits of working with one on a building project. In the same way that oil lubricates a machine, CPMs keep a building project running smoothly and increase the chances of completing a project successfully.
Construction as an industry can be complex—there are a lot of moving parts. Having a central person or team to manage the building process can influence a more effective project completion. The following are three of the top benefits of working with a construction project manager.
Save Costs
Did you know that nine out of every 10 construction projects will go over budget? Projects typically go over budget when plans are not created with accurate figures or when other unforeseen changes occur during the building process. Project management is a very important part of saving costs. This is especially true because small, uncaught errors in the building process can lead to major expenses.
Having a project manager can help by monitoring costs throughout the entire process, identifying where expenses can be reduced or eliminated. Keeping a close eye on budget information can mitigate unnecessary spending so builders can align efforts closely with estimated costs.
Improve Communication
With the help of a CPM, clients and internal team members can better communicate with each other, leaving less room for costly miscommunication mistakes. Project managers are the main point of contact for construction clients and often maintain the primary interactions with the client. One of the most important duties of a project manager is communicating project specs clearly with stakeholders and workers.
A project manager collects feedback from workers to further efforts towards efficiency. They lead the team, delegating and assigning workers to specific tasks. Great communication skills are a must for a project manager. They utilize these skills to keep construction teams on task and give stakeholders a transparent look at how the process is going as well as how much it will cost.
Stay on Schedule
A CPM must keep projects on schedule as best they can, despite some delays being unavoidable. Construction project delays can have several causes, including the following:
- Inaccurate budgets
- Scheduling conflicts with subcontractors
- Labor shortages
- Slow approvals
- Miscommunication
- Severe weather
- Supply chain disruptions or delays
- Legal hiccups
While project managers cannot control obstacles such as weather or raw material shortages, they can manage other common delay causes. By abiding by legalities and closely monitoring logistics, having proper project management and project scheduling will enhance productivity and keep teams on track.
Trust GALBRAITH and Butler Manufacturing with Your Next Construction Project
GALBRAITH measures the success of a project by customer satisfaction. We have expertise in numerous sectors ranging from food processing services to concrete construction. And with over 25 years of experience, we have the systems in place to complete projects within the confines of both your time frame and budget!
The GALBRAITH team also proudly partners with Butler Manufacturing to not only provide a holistic construction experience, but ensure the highest quality of materials is used. Using pre-engineered steel building systems from Butler allows us to provide the most efficient and effective construction method in the low-rise construction marketplace.
We’ve completed projects in fifteen different states and have familiarized ourselves with local regulations. Plus, we pride ourselves on adapting to your schedule. With GALBRAITH, your project can be completed around your working hours and at your convenience.
Request a free consultation for your next construction project and experience the Galbraith difference today!
Vice President/Owner,
Galbraith Pre-Design
As co-owner of Galbraith/Pre-Design, Inc., Mark Galbraith is responsible for the construction of commercial facilities in nine states. Continuing his family’s tradition of commercial and industrial construction in south central Pennsylvania and beyond, Mark’s experience includes site analysis and selection, pre-construction services, field engineering and project management.
