Avoiding costly mistakes on business construction projects is an essential aim of any construction project manager.
The pressure is always there. Constantly looming deadlines, tight budgets that never seem to be able to stretch far enough, and finally, machinery breaking down at the most inopportune moment…
We all have to live with these issues, but how we choose to deal with them can make all the difference.
Construction projects have one of the highest failure rates of any business sector. There are many reasons why, and all of them are fixable. From poor maintenance to poor equipment, the list of excuses and explanations for failure go on.
However, if you have the right approach to a construction project, you can turn it from a stressful game of chance into a predictable venture that ends with a successful result.
In this article, we’re going to go over some critical points to help you in your business construction project planning.
Table of Contents
- Why Equipment Planning Makes or Breaks Projects
- The Hidden Cost of Poor Maintenance
- Critical Planning Steps That Actually Work
- How to Avoid the Most Common Construction Failures
Why Equipment Planning Makes or Breaks Projects
If there’s one crucial aspect of construction machinery that can make or break a project, it’s the equipment used on site.
It’s as simple as that – no equipment = no business.
Heavy machinery like excavators, loaders, backhoes, and trucks all depend on thousands of tiny precision parts to work.
Fuel injection pumps are a perfect example.
Injection pumps control the flow of fuel to the engine, and when one goes wrong, that expensive piece of heavy equipment becomes very expensive paperwork.
It should come as no surprise then that any smart project manager will source the best quality rebuilt injection pumps they can find. Fuel injection pumps need to be reliable and maintained as part of their fuel injection system from day one of a construction project.
Proper fuel delivery to diesel engines ensures they run as efficiently as possible, minimising downtime and preventing the unexpected and budget busting emergency repairs.
There’s also another cost that most people don’t consider when equipment fails, and that is lost time.
Lost time leads to missed deadlines and delayed project completion. It also leads to significant dissatisfaction from clients. A single fuel injection pump failure on a critical piece of machinery could lead to delays of days, if not weeks.
The Hidden Cost of Poor Maintenance
Most construction companies are well aware of the vital role that maintenance plays. However, many just don’t put enough work into it.
Data from Construction Equipment Magazine shows that preventive maintenance can reduce equipment failure rates by as much as 25%. 25% lower equipment failure rate means 25% fewer unexpected breakdowns and expensive emergency repairs.
But it’s not just about preventing failures.
Regular maintenance increases the lifespan of equipment, improves fuel efficiency, and ensures your project runs on schedule. It also instils confidence in the equipment to be there for you when you need it most.
So, what should a proper maintenance plan include?
Daily inspections. These should be done to all equipment at the start and end of each shift, looking for obvious signs of wear and checking fluid levels, tire pressure and the like.
Scheduled servicing. Servicing all equipment according to the manufacturer’s recommendations is vital. Stick to the recommendations without compromise.
Component tracking. Components like fuel injection pumps have a finite lifespan. Keep an accurate log of component age and replace parts at or before recommended intervals.
Immediate repairs. Never let small problems fester. Repair issues as soon as they arise to avoid creating big problems.
Critical Planning Steps That Actually Work
Planning is one of the areas of a construction project where things can go south quickly. Mess it up, and no amount of hard work will make up for it.
Surveys show that over 61% of U.S. construction project owners have suffered at least one project failure in their lifetime.
And more importantly, those failures are down to bad planning, without exception.
So, what does good planning actually look like?
Budget Realistically
As hard as it is, over-estimating budgets is essential to not killing your business. Factor in the cost of everything:
- Material costs (including fluctuations in price)
- Labour expenses
- Equipment purchase/rental/maintenance
- Contingency costs to cover unforeseen issues
Realistic budgets also factor in a buffer. A contingency fund in case things go over the original budget. Industry standard for contingency funds is 10-15% above estimated costs.
Time With Flexibility
Rigid timelines are destined to fail. Delays are inevitable. Experienced project managers know that weather, supply chain delays, equipment problems, you name it, will all have an effect on your timeline.
Time your construction projects with built in flexibility. Build milestones that allow for leeway if a delay occurs without bringing the whole project to a standstill.
Equipment Strategy
The area where many projects fall flat. Equipment strategy refers to knowing:
- What machinery will be needed and when
- Scheduling maintenance during the construction project
- Backup plans for when machinery does break
- Reliable relationships with equipment parts suppliers
Having a reliable source for parts like fuel injection pumps can make the difference between a minor delay and total disaster.
How to Avoid the Most Common Construction Failures
Construction failures happen more than you might expect. The reasons why always tend to follow similar patterns. Knowing these patterns and understanding how they can be avoided is an excellent place to start.
Failure #1: Communication Breakdown
Communication is key. When information stops flowing between teams, errors and misunderstandings multiply.
Regular meetings. Clear and comprehensive documentation. All parties need to know their responsibilities and have access to all of the information that they need.
Failure #2: Ignoring Equipment Warning Signs
Machinery rarely fails out of the blue. Components like fuel injection pumps will give you warning signs that they are on their way to complete failure.
Strange noises. Reduced performance. Inefficient fuel consumption…
Whatever it might be, don’t ignore the warning signs. Take action on the minor issues before they lead to the significant breakdowns.
Failure #3: Skipping the Planning Phase
There is no such thing as ‘rushing into a project.’ Projects that begin without proper planning are always a lottery and usually lose.
Planning is about making future work easier. Proper site analysis, permits, material sourcing, and equipment scheduling and maintenance planning, not to mention comprehensive risk assessment, all need to be completed before any work starts.
Failure #4: Poor Supplier Relationships
When equipment breaks, time is critical. You need to be able to access replacement parts from a supplier fast.
Building supplier relationships before you need them is critical. Having a supplier who knows you and your business is a massive advantage.
It’s even more important with specialised components like fuel injection pumps, hydraulic systems, and engine parts. You need suppliers who understand the urgency and the requirements to deliver quality.
Building for Success
Business construction projects that finish on time and within budget all have a few things in common. Thorough planning is the foundation, but it doesn’t stop there.
Equipment maintenance is a given but needs to be a priority. Supplier relationships need to be robust, and communication has to be clear and consistent across the entire project.
The construction industry is ever expanding, but so is the competition to be in it.
The companies that are going to continue to not only survive but to succeed are the ones that view each project as an opportunity to learn and improve their processes.
Equipment reliability is at the heart of everything. When equipment is working, projects are completed. When equipment is not working, the whole business grinds to a halt.
Wrapping Things Up
Business construction projects shouldn’t be stressful gambles with a high chance of failure.
With the right planning and approach, reliable equipment and some pro-active maintenance can turn business construction projects from a game of chance into a predictable process with a guaranteed result.
Let’s recap:
- Plan before you start
- Maintenance is a priority
- Build strong relationships with suppliers
- Communicate with all teams
- Don’t ignore the warning signs
The success of any project boils down to preparation, and small things like the fuel injection pumps are only one small part of a very complex mechanism.
Build from the ground up with solid planning. Prioritise equipment maintenance from the first day. Build relationships with suppliers that last, and you’ll see your business construction projects change from stressful undertakings to routine predictable successes.
