Quality is the cornerstone of any construction project. However, maintaining high-quality standards can be a daunting task due to various challenges such as miscommunication, scheduling conflicts, and compliance issues. Enter the game-changer: construction scheduling software. This blog explores how this digital tool can revolutionise quality management in construction.
What Does Quality Mean in Construction?
In construction, quality is a multi-faceted concept encompassing compliance with regulations, superior workmanship, and adherence to material standards. Robust scheduling and effective communication are pivotal in achieving these standards. However, errors or miscommunication about scheduling can lead to quality issues and project delays.
Enhancing Quality Management with Advanced Scheduling Features
Construction scheduling software offers key features beneficial for quality management: drag-and-drop scheduling, SMS communications, digital timesheets and payroll integration. These features streamline the planning, monitoring, and controlling aspects of quality management:
- Planning: Drag-and-drop calendar scheduling functionality allows for easy adjustments and optimisation of project schedules.
- Monitoring: SMS communications and in-app notifications ensure fieldworkers and supervisors are updated about the last-minute changes that impact their work.
- Controlling: Payroll integration ensures compliance with labour regulations (EBAs) and company awards, will provide big time savings in payroll processing.
Advanced Scheduling in Action
Subcontractors in carpentry, concrete, and steel fixing have successfully used advanced scheduling features to maintain high quality standards. The tangible benefits include reduced errors, improved compliance, and enhanced client satisfaction.
The Steel Fixing Group (TSG) NSW enjoys a reputation for technical excellence, safety, professionalism and quality project delivery. After truly outgrowing their business system, they implemented construction scheduling software, and have since seen a remarkable transformation.
The management team needed to be across an intricate level of detail including each worker’s assigned tasks, hours worked on-site, stages of each job, scheduling, safety, change orders, ITPs, invoicing, payroll and responding to contingencies including client program changes, weather impacts or supply chain delays.
“Every day we were experiencing frustrations with our operations,” Director, Spiros Mamary, explains. “Seeing so much running around and miscommunication, we knew there had to be a better way. We knew that you can’t live like this. You can’t work like this, it’s not normal to work around on a piece of paper. We knew we wanted and needed a more solid foundation for growth and just had to find a better way.”
What TSG needed was functionality that would deliver the visibility and communications to smooth out workforce management and improve accountability while also simplifying how they ran the operations. There needed to be real-time integration with payroll and timesheets, options for digital sign-on to eliminate doubts about worker whereabouts and hours worked on site, as well as functions that ensure efficient coordination of scheduling and task allocations.
Spiros heard about Neo Intelligence construction software from another subcontractor. He looked them up and booked a discovery call with the Neo team to explore his company’s challenges and whether Neo could provide solutions, he took the plunge.
“Since then, we have never looked back. Implementing Neo Intelligence was a game-changer for us. It’s like having an extra set of hands helping us manage everything from scheduling to payroll.”
Practical Applications of Scheduling Software in Quality Assurance
Digital scheduling features can be effectively applied by subcontractors. Users from different types of subcontracting businesses often highlight similar improvements in project outcomes due to effective scheduling and communication.
For TSG, there are a few features that stand out, such as the particularly game-changing ability to send bulk SMS messages and notifications to fieldworkers in the Neo fieldworker app about the next day’s schedule and receive replies straight away. “You can’t put a price on peace of mind. With Neo, I know which workers are going to be onsite and every minute is accounted for, and that’s invaluable in our line of work.”
Extracting time sheets is another win, and Neo’s Excel button has vastly improved TSG’s payroll system. Using Neo saves TSG hours in managing payroll. “Payroll used to take us between a whole day to a day and a half. With Neo, we’ve cut that time by 30%,” says Spiros.
Implementing Advanced Scheduling Software for Optimal Quality
Implementing construction management software successfully requires a few important steps:
- Consider your business needs: Review the whole workflow to identify the challenges your business faces, and note the impact of your current scheduling method contributes to it.
- Involve the team: Leverage the expertise of the people who know your business best – your team – to identify the problems and the ideal solutions to be provided by the new system.
- Hidden costs: Consider the amount of time it takes per day to schedule and reschedule work – and at what rate – to put a number on your current practices. How much does it impact the bottom line?
- Review the options of different scheduling tools: Look at different digital options particularly for the one that will integrate most easily into your current workflow.
- Fully onboard the new software: Train everyone fully on the team to use the new digital tools. Work with your provider to create a tailored training plan for your team, taking into consideration everyone’s digital literacy and information needs.
- Give it time: Schedule to do regular reviews of the new system, asking for input from the whole team – and be ready to adapt and change as you all settle into a new normal.
The Future of Construction Quality Management
Emerging trends and technologies, such as AI, could integrate with or enhance scheduling software. The future role of software in driving continuous quality improvements in construction is promising. As quality standards evolve, technology will play a crucial role in shaping them. Some future uses of technology in construction management include:
- AI-Driven Scheduling: Machine learning algorithms will optimise schedules based on past projects, enhancing efficiency and precision.
- Sustainability Integration: Quality management will increasingly focus on sustainable practices, from materials to energy-efficient construction.
- Continuous Improvement: Software will drive ongoing quality enhancements, making it an integral part of construction culture.
Advanced scheduling software isn’t just about timelines; it’s a cornerstone of quality management. As the industry evolves, embracing technology will be essential for delivering excellence in every project. Adopting subcontractor-specific scheduling software will offer a strategic advantage in safeguarding quality, and also keeping up with industry developments. The future of construction quality management is here, and it’s digital.
