CHAPTER 1- MODULE 1- Introduction to Construction Methods and Project Managemen

This module provides a discussion on the concepts of Construction Methods and Project Management and its governing aspects

Construction Methods

are the procedures and techniques that are used during the building process

Project Management

involves the planning and organization of a company's resources to move a specific task, event, or duty towards completion

Construction Project Management

could be defined as the overall planning, coordination, and control of a project from beginning to completion. The goal of construction project management is the full satisfaction of the client’s demands for a viable project both in terms of functionality and budget. The management of construction projects requires knowledge of modern management principles as well as an understanding of the design and construction process.

Construction Project Management

is both an art and a science, and is something that is usually quite hard to do. It is hard because one has to look at a broad range of variables, and try and guess what effect each variable will have on a construction project.

construction manager in the middle of a project will have to take into account the following

• the weather

• the availability of construction workers who may be sick or may not feel like showing up for work

• the fact that some materials are out of stock just when they are needed

• the availability or non-availability of key equipment like cranes

• changes made to the existing design by architects and clients the previous evening • juggling the work of 20 or more different trades at the same time

• surprise discoveries of electrical cables below the ground that no-one knew about

• inspections and permitting delays by government authorities

PROGRAM MANAGER

PRIMARILY AT HEADQUARTERS; VISIT SITES

MULTIPLE PROJECTS;MULTIPLE SITES

OVERACHING POLICY BUDGET

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER

BASED AT JOB SITE

ONE PROJECT;ONE SITE

LEADERS ON PROJECT,CENTRAL POINT OF COMMUNICATION,OVERSEEING QUALITY,COST AND SCHEDULE

PROJECT MANAGER

BASED AT HEADQUARTERS OR JOB SITE

TYPICALLY ONE PROJECT

CRADLE TO GRAVE,DESIGN PROCESS, BID/AWARD,CONSTRUCTION CLOSEOUT

The main aspects of construction management ar

1. Construction Scheduling 2. Quality Control 3. Contract Management 4. Procurement Management 5. Construction Finance Management

Construction scheduling

is done at two different times. First, it is done after the plans are ready, but before the work starts at the site, in order to work out a timeline and calculate construction costs for the project.

Secondly, it is done during the execution of the project, when the actual schedule may differ from the planned schedule due to delays, weather, or any number of reasons. In this case it can also be called project monitoring.

Quality control

is the most difficult part of construction management. Construction is done in difficult weather, in restricted workspaces like shafts, and on precarious construction scaffolding by workers that are tired, hungry, cold or hot, and with limited bathroom access. It is easy for them to take shortcuts to finish off a job. A quality control supervisor must know how to check for quality for a vast array of completely different work items, from excavation in the ground to concrete or steel fabrication to finishing materials like marble or paint to services like electrical and plumbing. Quality control demands technical knowledge, and is best done either by engineers, or people who have years of training in construction quality supervision.

She or he will have to know the answer to questions such as: what is the correct proportion of water to add to a concrete mix, how to check whether wooden formwork is correctly laid and is perfectly level, how to ensure that the geometry of the building is not being distorted during construction, and how to provide adequate fire protection to vertical shafts.

Contract Management

is dealing with the standard issues that crop up during a project. These include checking contractor's bills and paying them regularly, and dealing with the numerous issues that could occur, such as: the contractor demands additional payment for the steel he is providing, because though his contract was signed in 2015, he is forced to buy steel in 2017 at a much higher rate due to global changes in the price of steel. The contractor demands additional payment for dumping of debris because a municipal dumping ground has been shut, and the debris now has to be taken to a new site much further away. The contractor demands an extension of 4 months because the architects and client made changes to the design while the project was underway

Procurement

is a huge component in building construction. Think of the vast array of materials that are present in buildings: light fittings, windows, doors, locks, toilet fittings, wire, switches, air-conditioning ducts, waterproofing, electrical transformers, pumps, plants, sound systems: the list is endless.

Construction Finance Management

A large construction project can eat up tens of millions of money a month. Planning the finances for a project is a key activity for both owners and contractors. This planning demands a detailed knowledge of the project schedule. Once the project schedule is understood properly, calculations can be made of how much money will be required every week in order to keep the project running on time. Contingency planning also must be done for things that could go wrong.