Exposed: The hidden factors causing delays in your construction

Delays in construction projects are frustrating and often costly, but many of the reasons for these delays can be traced back to specific hidden factors. In this blog post, we’ll explore the common causes of project delays and provide you with insights into how to avoid them. Let’s dive in!

Major Reasons Why Projects Get Delayed

When a project starts to fall behind schedule, it’s typically due to a combination of factors. Here are four key contributors to extended schedules that you need to watch out for:

1. Managing the Supply Chain: One of the most significant reasons projects get delayed is a failure to manage the supply chain effectively. You must ensure that you have a buffer in place before production starts. This means coordinating your material delivery, fabrication, and design processes to avoid bottlenecks. Often, we overlook the necessary lead times and fail to manage deliveries properly, which can severely impact your schedule.
2. Work Preparation: Another common issue is not preparing the work adequately. This involves getting the pull plan done three months in advance, conducting quality pre-construction meetings, and proactively identifying and removing roadblocks. When work isn’t properly prepared, it leads to inefficiencies that cause delays.
3. Creating a Rhythm in Schedules: Typically, construction schedules lack the rhythm needed for a smooth workflow. Instead of relying solely on Gantt charts or traditional Critical Path Method (CPM) schedules, we need to establish a rhythm that allows work packages to flow seamlessly from one zone to another. Without this rhythm, projects can quickly fall behind.
4. Lack of Proper Planning, Systems, and Training: Finally, without the right planning, systems, and trained personnel, projects are destined to fail. It’s crucial to have a solid plan and the right tools in place to execute it effectively.

The System and Effects of Not Having a Rhythm

To build projects efficiently, we need to plan, fabricate, and deliver materials on a rhythm that aligns with our work packages. This involves ensuring that the construction team can build by planning ahead and completing tasks as they go. When we lack rhythm in our schedules, we often create a situation where we exceed our capacity, leading to delays.

What Happens If You Bring Out Too Much Resources or People

Bringing in too many workers to compensate for a delayed schedule can backfire. This leads to:

• Batching and Context Switching: When teams become too large, communication becomes complex, leading to context switching. This not only reduces productivity but can also cause miscommunication and errors.
• Inefficient Onboarding: A larger workforce often means more onboarding, which can take time and reduce overall efficiency.
• Increased Fatigue: Excessive overtime can lead to worker fatigue, resulting in mistakes and further delays.

What Happens If You Have Too Much Work In Process

Too much work in process (WIP) can lead to extended cycle times. When utilization is too high, it can create bottlenecks in the system. The result is that your project won’t finish on time, as the excess work creates delays that accumulate over time.

What Happens If You Bring Out Too Many Materials

Rushing to bring in materials can lead to overproduction and excess inventory. This can create multiple issues, including:

• Excess Motion: More materials mean more movement, leading to wasted time and effort.
• Defects: Transporting materials improperly can lead to defects, which require further processing and additional waiting time.
• Inefficiencies in Flow: The lack of proper flow can exacerbate the problems caused by excess materials.

What Happens If You Have Too Much Push and Panic

Pushing and panicking can significantly disrupt productivity. When workers feel rushed, the quality of their work diminishes, resulting in poor decision-making, communication breakdowns, and increased stress levels. All of these factors can damage team morale and erode trust, which ultimately impacts the project’s overall culture.

The Hidden Factors That Cause Delays on Your Construction Project

In summary, delays on construction projects often stem from hidden factors such as inadequate supply chain management, lack of proper preparation, absence of rhythm in schedules, and failure to plan effectively. By addressing these issues, you can avoid delays and ensure smoother project execution.

If you’re experiencing delays or productivity losses on your project, reach out to us at Lean Takt. We can perform a flow analysis to identify any work in process issues and help you implement effective strategies to keep your project on track. Together, we can tackle these hidden causes and ensure your construction project is a success!