In the construction industry, rework is a word nobody wants to hear. It usually means one must redo some portion of work to fix a problem, which can cause adverse schedule and cost impacts. According to research published by the Construction Industry Institute (CII) in 2011, rework costs can range from 2-to 20 percent of a typical project’s contract value. While this research is more than ten years old now, many of these principles still apply today, and construction firms continue searching for ways to it reduce it – here are five common causes with their possible remedies.
Scheduling Issues
Having schedule problems can lead to a lot of different problems on projects. One of the big ones is reworked, and according to CII’s research, it amounts to about 25% of all rework; this means more than one quarter! As projects fall behind schedule due to these issues, work may be rushed and not appropriately executed- leading to nonconforming work or other quality issues, eventually dragging the project even further behind its original deadline.
Inadequate coordination amongst multiple crews or subcontractors is often at the root of that work. Sequencing and coordination problems can also lead to rework. Performing work out of sequence can prevent subsequent parts from being completed correctly, leading to removing and reconstructing previously installed items.
Weather can be a scheduling and quality problem, as it is impacted by precipitation, wind, temperature fluctuations, and other factors. Current improved weather forecasting technology has helped contractors better plan for the weather event—though rework because of the effects on schedules following a bad day or week are still reasonably common.
Design Problems
Issues related to design-related rework are often errors and omissions in the original designs and agreed-upon changes that happen during construction. Errors and omissions may be beyond the control of construction contractors, but sometimes contractors can help identify these issues before bidding starts by reviewing plans. When designers work with constructors from the beginning through a design-build contract, it gives us more opportunities to find potential problems based on our knowledge of how your space will function in its final form before starting any other major site work. You may initiate Agreed-upon changes unrelated to design errors (the owner), designer, or contractor. These might occur because requirements change or new information is discovered about your project after construction has begun. Whether it’s due to scope adjustments or changed priorities after seeing actual progress onsite over time–design changes can lead directly to further reworking if they’re made later in the process when things are set up differently than initially planned. Out!
Improperly Constructed Work
Poorly constructed work can sometimes require reworking. This is due to many different factors: Inexperience or inadequate training – workers build something incorrectly because they lack experience or enough training. Insufficient supervision- experienced supervisors are not present to oversee the work being done, and there’s no one around if someone needs help right away with a task, etc. Lack of quality management – Quality control (QC), quality assurance (QA), and monitoring are not carried out sufficiently to identify issues before they create more problems that need fixing later on in the process, which leads back into the cycle of having errors needing repair and so on requiring additional resources such as time, money, workforce; this presents an issue in regard for budget constraints for companies that may have little funds left over after spending what was initially allocated towards other parts of their business venture. Other various factors also lead to construction errors. Still, these would depend largely on company policies and circumstances surrounding each case within any given situation/site(s).
Fabrication Issues
Pre-fabricated components could be more efficient than traditional onsite construction, but they can also lead to unforeseen delays if parts arrive damaged. Contractors are often at the mercy of fabricators in these situations and may ultimately need to foot the bill for rework-related time delays.
Avoiding Future Problems
One of the most common causes of rework is improper communication. Clear, ongoing communication between all involved parties can help avoid many potential problems. In particular, areas such as planning and scheduling require clear contract agreements to establish scope, schedule, and budget.
Design and fabrication errors can be mitigated when identified early, as soon as possible. Wise contractors identify these issues to the owner or designer at an early stage of the project. Impacts of construction errors are also reduced if they are identified and handled as soon after they happen as possible. Proper training is necessary to instill high-quality standards in workers- “measure twice, cut once” might seem like a cliche, but it still holds value today in this industry.
Many firms claim they have quality management systems in place, but they might struggle to pass a routine audit when put to the test. Firms with established quality systems are generally better equipped to avoid unnecessary rework and handle it more readily. Basic components such as checklists for QC and QA should be employed whenever possible.
Construction projects don’t have to mean rework, but they will happen occasionally. With ongoing awareness and attention on the job site, five common causes of problems can be minimized or managed, so they never become an issue.
