There are many reasons a construction project may be considered a ‘success’. Coming in on budget is obviously important, but another factor is on-time completion, undoubtedly one of the most important attributes for any construction project. The quality of the build and meeting pre-set safety and health targets may also be important factors in determining the success of construction work.

However, few workplaces are as inherently complex and varied as a construction site. One thing is sure: no two construction sites are the same. Therefore, it’s not surprising bottlenecks are too often an issue for construction projects. These issues can result in stoppages or delays that can be costly and even threaten the viability of a construction project, regardless of size or scale.

Every effort should be made to stop ‘unavoidable’ delays in construction – which is completely doable. This article will explore four ways to prevent typical bottlenecks in construction project workflows.

Solid Risk Management

Potential bottleneck: Lack of comprehensive risk management can have grave consequences on a construction site, resulting in a heightened risk profile and, in turn, a higher risk of incidents that may cause bottlenecks.

Solution: Set up a solid risk management program that is risk-appropriate and specific to a given construction project/workflow.

A 2021 Taiwanese construction industry study found that risk factors affect the expected achievement rates of three main performance goals, namely cost/budget, schedule/time, and quality. The study concluded that a comprehensive risk management program was always required in order to mitigate risks. Failure to do so raises the risk of delays and other factors that adversely impact a project.

Any such risk program requires three crucial stages: risk confirmation, risk analysis, and the treatment of risk based on an assessed risk profile; a thorough risk analysis should be considered the core stage. Risk management is central to good planning and sound project management in construction. The upside is that a construction project is 2.5 times more likely to succeed if there is a risk-based project management system in place.