Three Tips for Effective Crew Management
On any job, there are a number of things that can impact your profitability. Completing work on time and within budget is just the start, as failures quickly add labor costs. The most profitable jobs also have reliable equipment that doesn’t break down. After all, broken-down machinery brings the job to a screeching halt. You also need the proper permits and to ensure safety requirements are adhered to.
The bottom line? You need effective crew management and it all starts with your job supervisor. Here are three tips for effective crew management:
1. Don’t Skimp on the Budget
Part of effective crew management is making sure that labor and materials are appropriately estimated. Be sure to factor in all labor time to ensure that your estimate is as accurate as possible. Remember that it’s better to air on the side of caution with the budget, than to underbid a job Additionally, if you underestimate labor, you’re not only affecting the budget, but you’re likely throwing off the schedule, which can mean an unhappy client if you have a tight deadline. The worst thing that you can do to a client, and the fastest way to ruin your reputation, is to overpromise and underdeliver.
2. Keep Your Crew Organized!
At any given time, you’ll have a number of different crewmembers working on different parts of the project. Plan ahead so the crew won’t be held back by other parts of the job. Make sure that when your crew heads out to the jobsite that they have everything they need. Build in a slight buffer so that if part of a job runs over on time, the whole schedule won’t be thrown off. Adding in a buffer can also be beneficial because if everything runs according to plan, you’ll be ahead of schedule by the end of the project.
3. Stay Safe!
The reality is that construction sites are dangerous places, but they don’t have to be with proper personal safety equipment.Injuries on the job can result in you having to recoup lost wages, insurance benefits, and more. And these all affect your business’s bottom line.
Make sure your crew members are up to speed with the current safety codes and regulations and that they have all the safety equipment needed. Additionally, you’ll want to make sure that all of the equipment is in proper working order. This will help keep your job profitable, your crew happy, and your clients impressed.