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Are These 3 Risks Hurting Your Steel Project’s Management?

As a project manager, your main job is to put out fires. There are countless aspects, large and small, that need to go together for steel fabrication projects to be completed successfully. This also means that there are many turns at which a project can go wrong. You may have encountered these three main pitfalls, which should be avoided when you are trying to ensure the optimal outcome of your project management.

1. Inefficient workflows within and between your teams

The most important thing in your project is a smooth and optimized workflow, scheduled realistically. If you’re constantly having to look for information or make calls or inquiries between the shop, actual job site and other parties involved in the project, it slows down the entire workflow.

The additional time and effort spent on work that doesn’t advance the project can result in delays and even shockingly high accumulated costs. After all, making sure that the process is clear for everyone and that the right parts are processed, shipped and delivered within the project schedule is what your job is all about.

2. Inefficient drawing management

Working with external or in-house detailers needs to be friction-free, but it seldom is. For project success, it is essential to know what has been released for production, especially when there are changes in the project. In addition, responding to RFIs needs to be done before they are due. When you’re juggling multiple projects at the same time, some of them long term, you need to make sure that nothing is missing and that changes are handled when they happen. 

3.  Information doesn’t travel

To ensure the two points above, information needs to flow in real time without disruption. It’s not only about you personally being on top of things, but the entire team having access to information when needed. What has been issued to production? What has been shipped? What’s next?

Not only do you need to have clear communication throughout to prevent any arising problems, you need to be able to alert the entire project should any unexpected issues occur. Additionally, you need to be able to maintain good relations with the job site, clients and external stakeholders. Otherwise, you’re putting potential future collaboration at risk.

Don’t jeopardize your project’s profitability with poor management

All of the problems that you can encounter as a part of your project management ultimately come down to unnecessary time, effort and money being spent. If things don’t run smoothly throughout, you run the risk of failing schedules, invoicing late and accumulating costs that could have been avoided. In the end, it’s your responsibility to ensure the project is completed profitably and on schedule, so you need to make sure that your management isn’t falling short on any front. 

Better project management with real-time information at McCombs Steel