4 Ways To Reduce Rework In Construction

July 9, 2021
4 Reasons That Cause Construction Project Delays

What are the ways to reduce rework construction?

  1. Prioritize planning in the first place 
  2. Document processes digitally
  3. Ensure effective communication and collaboration between teams 
  4. Invest in continuous training

For construction project owners, reworks mean reduced productivity and profitability. No one wants to work on tasks only to find out they need more time and money for reworks and errors. In worst cases, severely missed deadlines and cost overruns from reworks have legal consequences. That being said, it would be beneficial to know the ways to reduce rework construction.

Potential reworks typically hide in all construction phases. If you have a large construction project, you likely understand that the complex environment wherein multiple stakeholders are involved has an increased risk for reworks. Suppliers, general contractors, and laborers work simultaneously to provide construction services in the Philippines. There are bound to be mistakes and reworks stemming from all construction phases. 

Some of the most common causes for reworks include poor design planning, scheduling problems, ineffective communication, project scope changes, material delivery issues, and lack of supervision. The good news is that there are several ways to reduce rework in construction. Continue reading to learn more about these. 

Prioritize Planning In The First Place 

Rework in construction and lack of planning go hand-in-hand. This is why every job that needs to be done for completing the construction project should be planned out thoroughly. 

Construction planning is a comprehensive and fundamental process that is essential not only for reducing reworks but also for executing the entire project. It starts with strategic planning wherein project managers, contractors, and the project owners plan for the project scope (i.g., material resources, budget estimates, schedules, tasks durations). Afterward, operational planning takes place. This is where policies and task allocation among labor forces are planned for. In addition to these technical aspects, it is also necessary to plan for the relationships between project stakeholders (i.e., project managers, shareholders, facilities managers, engineers, architects, designers, public administration, workforces, subcontractors, procurement managers, suppliers, insurance companies, and clients). For example, the extent to which subcontractor services will be used should be identified during construction planning.

Prioritizing planning will help reduce delays and reworks as every job and item needed to complete will be determined. This will also provide insight into potential errors and processes that are less productive.   

Document Processes Digitally
Document processes digitally (1)

Every construction project requires a standardized documentation process to provide work guidelines. This is a key preventive measure that reduces reworks and other errors in construction. By documenting each action taken at each construction phase, it serves as a guide on what needs to happen before moving forward. As quality and completeness are assessed, any reworks can be fixed sooner.  

Keep in mind that it is inefficient to stick to traditional processes when it comes to construction documentation. Conventional paper documentation systems are outdated and time-consuming. They make it extremely challenging to reflect construction changes in real-time and force project managers to document processes manually. Just imagine manually monitoring a site daily by hiking several stories of the building.   

The good news is, numerous digital tools can make construction monitoring easier. Any updates will be reflected in real-time and errors or double entries will be prevented. In the end, this reduces potential reworks in construction. 

Ensure Effective Communication and Collaboration Between Teams

From the project owners, design teams, general contractors, subcontractors, service providers, to building inspectors — there are numerous stakeholders involved in a construction project. As construction gets underway, a false sense of security leads to many project stakeholders believing they know what’s going on and what their respective roles are. However, this case also tends to be where construction rework stems from. 

To ensure your construction project runs smoothly and reduces rework, all of the stakeholders need to be aligned on how the project is progressing. Make sure you are communicating and collaborating with everyone in devising plans and accommodating changes. If any issue escalates, workers must have a robust reporting system. This two-way communication serves as the basis for proper project execution and reduces errors. Given that the tasks are well-defined and everyone is aligned, the potential for a chain of reworks is reduced. 

Invest In Continuous Training
Invest in continuous training

From the rise of automation, demand trends, to economic shifts — the construction industry is constantly going through changes as the market evolves. There is a growing need to invest in continuous training among construction teams. Undoubtedly, the skill level of the labor force directly affects the chances of reducing rework and enhancing the overall quality of the construction project. 

Workers should be thoroughly trained to follow standards and kept accountable for how jobs are completed. Doing so makes them more likely to do things right the first time and increases productivity. Hence, this reduces wide-scale reworks in construction.  

Key Takeaway

In this article are just some of the ways to reduce rework construction. Although reworks are commonly occurring in construction projects, especially in large-scale projects, you can avoid some of them by planning extensively for each construction phase and ensuring all stakeholders communicate effectively. 

As a leading company for construction services in the Philippines, Cross-Link can offer general contractor services that are aimed to reduce rework in your construction project. If you are interested to learn more about our services, click here