Projects, especially industrial projects, are costly affairs. Delays in industrial infrastructure projects bring a proportionate increase in the cost. Industrial Architects and engineers play a significant role in completing the project on time.
As industrial projects are activities with multiple stakeholders, the efforts of all of the stakeholders are essential to make it a successful project. The entire team needs to have a joint brainstorming session at the start of the project. As a result, all the stakeholders are on the same page.
What are the reasons for delays in industrial infrastructure projects?
Despite all these collaborative brainstorming sessions, there may be reasons for the delay. Some of them are:
- Timelines are unreasonable: In case, the timeline is unrealistic, the chances of delay is high.
- Improper project estimates: The schedule goes beserk when the project estimates are incorrect.
- Design deliverables: Design deliverables like drawings, tenders etc., have to be given on time.
- Change in scope: Change in scope of the consultant, architect or contractor could put the project timeline in jeopardy.
- Project goals are not known to the implementing team. The project architect can share the project goals during a kick-off meeting.
- Project progress is not being appropriately tracked: The project has to be tracked, and contractors and vendors must match the schedule. There are softwares in the market that help in project progress tracking.
- Miscommunication: If the stakeholders are not on the same page, it hampers the project schedule. Essentially, the communication between stakeholders should be clear. Additionally, regular meetings for project progress is a necessity.
- Differences between members of the project team: The success of a project lies in the united effort of the team. Any differences between team members will put back the project schedule.
- Other factors: There are situations when a third party is involved and do not deliver on time.
- Natural Calamities: Rains, floods, earthquakes are also reasons for delays in the project.
How to avoid delays during the design stage
It is common for a project to go off-schedule. Industrial Architects and engineers ensure effective utilisation of the project’s design phase. The following steps make the design phase productive:
- The project design brief must be the reference document.
- Conducting Design Charette
- Industrial architects and engineers must document change requests.
- The industrial architects and engineers must issue all drawings related to a single discipline together.
- There should be minimal changes after GFC (Good For Construction) drawings issue.
How to avoid delays during the tendering stage
- The industrial architects and engineers must discuss the tender packages for the project with the client.
- The tender must have all the necessary information to understand the project for the vendor/contractor.
- The document should provide information about the safety steps and resources needed at the site.
- The tender should provide the key milestones.
How to avoid delays during the implementation stage
- It is always beneficial to have a PMC team if the client doesn’t have sufficient resources.
- After vendor finalisation, a kick-off meeting helps the vendor understand the project expectations.
- Adequate project progress tracking
- Regular project meetings
- Project snag-list at the fag end of the project
- Project completion certificate.
To conclude all the stakeholders i.e. the clients, industrial architects and engineers, project management consultants, contractors play an important role in finishing the project successfully.
