Taking on an industrial construction project requires efficiency from the start to ensure you’re meeting deadlines and keeping the budget on track. From manufacturing plants to distribution centers, you’ll rely on supply chain and logistics management to make sure you’ve got the equipment and supplies readily available. Setting your team up for success with proactive preparations will help overcome some construction challenges you may face.

Overcoming Common Industrial Construction Challenges

Supply Chain and Logistics Management

You may have crafted a perfectly obtainable schedule and budget for an industrial construction project, but things are still beyond your control in meeting those deadlines and maintaining that bottom line. You’ll likely have to rely on the supply chain and logistics to get the materials and equipment you need to complete the project. Staying ahead and optimizing procurement of those necessary materials can allow you to better plan for the inevitable delays. Managing the inventory you’ve already got access to is crucial in avoiding any over or under spending. 

You may have your favorite suppliers and vendors, but it never hurts to expand your network. This not only gives you options if something falls through, but it also highlights your preparedness and reliability to your client when they see your drive to bring the project to completion.  

Regulatory Compliance and Safety Standards

While there will always be regulations that need to be followed for all construction projects, industrial construction projects often require even more stringent regulations. Sometimes these require a higher level of expertise due to the environmental impact of the materials used. Working with a team, like Tonn and Blank, who’s experienced in all aspects of construction can help ensure you’re meeting safety standards and are in compliance with required regulations. 

From the start, implementing strict safety protocols will set the project up for success. Not all incidents can be avoided, but being proactive and conducting regular compliance audits can at least prevent a majority of them. 

Risk Management and Contingency Planning

As discussed above, not all incidents and mishaps are avoidable. When it comes to planning and preparing for a project, attention is always allocated to risk management and contingency planning. Those preparations ultimately contribute to an on-time and on-budget project. 

Identifying potential risks, like supply chain disruptions or compliance delays, will help you have a plan in place to effectively mitigate those risks proactively. There is a fine line between having enough materials versus too much for a project. Having a plan in place to order at a certain point based on progress, as opposed to ordering everything ahead of time, can help avoid the risk of over-ordering. Facing supply chain delays or supplier miscommunication is a risk that is a part of the process, but with an effective plan in place and a network of other options, these can make less of an impact. 

Strategic Approaches for Efficiency and Compliance

Comprehensive Pre-Construction Planning

How much do you already know about the site you’re going to begin your next industrial construction project on? When was the last time it was evaluated? What sorts of risk assessments have been completed and do you have access to those results? These are all important parts of preparing for an efficient and compliant construction project. Industrial projects could have higher government regulation, so following up with compliance for the site is essential to a successful project. 

Before breaking ground on the project, having a detailed schedule and budget forecast is going to set the project up for even more success. Knowing your deadlines far in advance allows you to plan for things like supply chain mishaps, supplier discrepancies, or things beyond your control like the weather. 

Leveraging Advanced Technology

Capitalize on efficiency and accuracy by utilizing advanced technologies like Building Information Modeling (BIM), drone surveys, and project management software. Building Information Modeling software can help the design and construction teams collaborate while collecting data to support operations and maintenance. Taking advantage of drone surveying cuts time and manpower down, allowing for more efficient surveys with a faster timeline. 

Project management software, regardless of the project type, is beneficial because owners and contractors are able to control the project process. Keep your office and on-site team connected with software that everyone has access to. Knowing you’ve got a place for all necessary information, budget details, and a way to track project movement keeps everyone on the project on the same page. 

Effective Supply Chain Management

Supply chain management is crucial to a successful industrial construction project. Not only will it help with keeping the project on schedule, it will also help with cutting costs, minimizing risk, and keeping all involved in the project connected. Manage your vendors easily with all information centralized. You’ll be able to utilize just-in-time delivery practices because you know your schedule and you’ve allotted for scheduling changes and updates. Putting together a contingency plan, and also budgeting reserves for any unexpected issues, is easier when you know what to expect from a supply chain perspective.

An Efficient and Compliant Indianapolis Industrial Construction Project: A Case Study

When our Tonn and Blank team completed the Injection Molding Addition for Subaru of Indiana, we had to focus on managing manpower across multiple offices. By preplanning, our team was able to allocate resources to meet the project timeline. We also faced supply chain delays for some critical components in the project. 

By working together and utilizing our resources effectively, our team was able to adapt and innovate along the way. While industrial construction projects are often complex, we were able to utilize strategic planning and efficiency to keep the project on track. 

Conclusion

Strategic planning before and during any industrial construction project will significantly impact both the timeline and the bottom line in a positive way. Take advantage of the technology integration options like BIM software and project management software to streamline the project even more while keeping everyone involved on the page. The industrial construction experts at Tonn and Blank in Indianapolis are available to offer guidance on efficiency and compliance for your next project.