Blog Post

Construction Job Scheduling Software

07.02.2018 | 10 min read

The planning of a construction project rarely runs smoothly, even less talking about the following execution. A consistent and plausible schedule planning based on reference projects is a quite reliable guideline. However, as soon as a variable change in network planning, this has an adverse effect on the entire schedule. Such a variable can be caused by a structural defect, a performance deficit, a breach of contract or a number of other reasons over which you have no influence. However, you do have an influence on how to deal with such a delay.


Construction Project Scheduling

If you haven’t thought about integrating time buffers, or if the much too tight timeframe doesn’t allow it, you´ll have a problem at this point.

We´ll show you how to maintain control during the construction phases even if it comes to unavoidable delay. We´ll focus on:

  • The causes of a bad scheduling,
  • Costs you have to reckon with
  • How the PlanRadar building documentation app supports you,
  • Why resolving defects is time-consuming,
  • And how to recover elapsed time.

How to avoid stagnancy and follow-up costs

A temporal deviation in construction projects can be caused by a structural defect, a performance deficit, a breach of contract and many more reasons you aren´t able to affect. However, you do have an influence on how to interact in cases like this in order to get back to your schedule on the construction site. Scheduling a construction job isn´t free of snags and not easy.

Costs are incurred by each employee under contract on the construction site. The core of this statement is that it is not only a construction company that has to fulfill its tasks as a subcontractor. Each individual has to take responsibility and contribute something to his tasks to the smooth running of the project. A construction job scheduling software can help you to view and track all tasks on site.

What must be avoided unconditionally is a standstill on the construction site, because every standstill entails consequential costs. Good examples for consequences resulting from delay and inadequate management can be found in every daily newspaper: “Oculus Worl Trade Center Transportation Hub is $2 Billion Over Budget and Seven Years Late” (see artnet.com).

WTC Transportation HUB

Source: wordpress.com

Even the “World Trade Center Transportation Hub” is finished now, people had to deal with increasing costs from day to day and the overrun of all deadlines for years. These are the results of a bad scheduling and unorganized construction management. Just imagine for one second which possibilities these $2 billion dollars could have meant to other infrastructure projects in the public sector. That’s why we are working on software features which have the task to support all contractors and the whole team on the job-site. We know a tight schedule is often hard to manage and every construction project bears its own risks, but PlanRadar is a tool to make your life easier. Our easy to use features are part of an intuitively working software tool which is going to support you in your daily tasks.Source: wordpress.com

Even the “World Trade Center Transportation Hub” is finished now, people had to deal with increasing costs from day to day and the overrun of all deadlines for years. These are the results of a bad scheduling and unorganized construction management. Just imagine for one second which possibilities these $2 billion dollars could have meant to other infrastructure projects in the public sector. That’s why we are working on software features which have the task to support all contractors and the whole team on the job-site. We know a tight schedule is often hard to manage and every construction project bears its own risks, but PlanRadar is a tool to make your life easier. Our easy to use features are part of an intuitively working software tool which is going to support you in your daily tasks.

Where and how do costs arise?

Even for smaller construction projects, in case of a shutdown, the following applies: The running electricity costs are paid, and the construction site equipment must be maintained in order to ensure safety in spite of this, and above all in the long term. Uncompleted work runs the risk of not to withstand the weathering. Materials that are no longer used will become unusable due to poor storage and must be replaced. Thus, further defects in the project can arise from a standstill. The construction site fixed costs amount is up to 5-13% of the total construction costs and should not be underestimated. All tasks and orders on the construction site must run fluently to avoid extra payments.

With all the construction management apps out there, PlanRadar is the most reliable when it comes to maintaining control, even in the event of a construction delay. True to the motto: Trust is good, control is better! A direct allocation and simultaneous monitoring of the rectification of defects, independent of the local and personal construction supervision, as well as information on a percentage of completion status, make it possible. On the whole, an optimized defect management for improved scheduling and easy workflow planning. Try our demo version for 30 days free of charge now!

All this can be done by our app. We track and view all processes on site by connecting all project members. Your data is always available not only on your laptop but also on your smartphone, no matter if Apple or Android.

Construction Job Scheduling Software – How PlanRadar supports you!

PlanRadar is a multifunctional tool on the construction site. On our interface, you will upload your blueprints and note in the plan where a defect was found. By creating a ticket that contains all the relevant information, you assign the person responsible to rectify the defect via a mobile device and without losing time on a post office. Such a ticket can include voice messages, photos, deadlines, responsible persons and a detailed description of the required service in the construction area. The contractor who receives a notification directly on his smartphone can accept the order, document his work and keep it up to date via our platform. The completion status is noted in percentages and makes it easier for you to plan the further scheduling of ongoing construction work. Furthermore, it gives you a lever to adjust and manage time schedule and the tasks of all participating contractors.

All these processes and all communication between the parties involved are stored in our cloud in a way that is evidence-proof and chronological. This data can be downloaded from you at any time and be printed as a PDF or Excel sheet in the event of a legal dispute. Use our manifold integrated features like team statistics to get an overall view about work efficiency on the construction site and its benefit for your scheduling. Check our blog and learn more about the benefits offered by PlanRadar!

Attention! Delays add up!

A construction defect occurs if a work has not been produced correctly, is incomplete, deviates from the contractual agreement or is not functioning properly. The usual steps must be initiated. These include the documentation of a defect, a registered letter with reply advice regarding the claim and usually a period of two weeks granted to the contractor in order to correct his fault. A grace period will automatically be trailed because two weeks won´t be enough to establish what you´ve been asking for. At the end:

Everything was in vain! The payments withheld are now being spent to resolve the problem with another company. You need a new team to fulfill the task on the construction site.

On balance, we are faced with a one-month delay at this point in a small to a medium-sized construction project, which hampers the progress of construction work. Usually, however, you do not have to deal with only one defect which has to be repaired…

A good example of this is faulty soil surveys which have an effect on the foundation. Removing an inadequate foundation takes a lot of work and costs time. After all, it takes no less than a month for the concrete to cure and to solve the problem. This inevitably affects your scheduling and costs. The responsible person pays to liability issues, but if you have not had a soil survey carried out, the fault cannot simply be attributed to the expert. Legal disputes are the consequence. Again: More time & more costs! We are here to support you with our software features and to show you how to use a construction management tool to stay within your time schedules. Try our PlanRadar trial version 30 days free of charge and start to manage your contractors more efficiently. You can gain deeper insights into all these topics by following our online blog.

Defect costs increase

defect costs increase econimic reasons

Source: slidesharecdn.com 

The diagram above shows you why continuous inspection of the construction site and spotting defects as soon as possible is a matter of money:

“The average project spends 50-80% of its total effort correcting defects. How is that possible? Most projects wait until the red zone to detect and correct their defects. Better-run projects find most defects in the blue zone.”

The average costs to correct a defect rise with the progress of the project itself. The sooner you intervene, the better for your budget. With PlanRadar you´ll get the perfect tool to view and track the progress of defect management and support your contractors in fulfilling their task on the construction site. This will also help you in scheduling your construction job more consistently.

The way out of helplessness

Schedules are to be held… Do you even have the impression that the contractor takes measures to meet your requirements? Are they working? Is there any progress? With the PlanRadar software, which you can test now for 30 days free of charge, we give you a tool to keep control in such cases, coordinate corrections of defects, document them in evidence and always remain up to date with regard to the completion status. Use our free trial version to get familiar with the use of a management software.

Do not continue to remain in the unconscious waiting position but monitor and shorten the period of rework. We help you to manage your most valuable resource – Time! Let your scheduling become more consistent with our help.

Next generation planning!

If this is not enough for your long-term planning, you can also call up statistics on PlanRadar at any time, which we will compile for you on the basis of your input. A quick glance is all it takes to find out which of your subcontractors is performing their tasks on time and who is not fulfilling his responsibilities. You´ll be able to find out who is repeatedly causing delays in ongoing operations. Schedules aren’t made up for fun, they´re the key to a successful project. Scheduling has never been easier! Use PlanRadar free for the first month and start an active role in managing time, schedules, contractors and processes in a construction project.

This will help you in the medium and long-term to locate the needle in the haystack and take appropriate measures, at your discretion, to optimize work planning.

If you want to take productivity and progress to the next level on your construction site, PlanRadar is a simple solution! Check our construction management online blog for further input.

Get started in 4 easy steps.

1. Create an account

2. Upload plans

3. Invite team members

4. Download app