Reducing Errors in Construction Management 

Mistakes on the construction site are costly, time-consuming, and frustrating for construction workers, construction managers, and most importantly, the customer. When a construction worker has to return to the job site to fix an error, it takes them away from other projects and potentially compromises the entire work schedule. 

In worst-case scenarios, mistakes can even lead to the cancellation of a construction project. With that in mind, we’ve put together a brief list of tips you can take to reduce common errors that occur in construction management. We’ve also answered a few commonly asked questions about error reduction in the construction industry. 

A solid quality control process can significantly reduce the number of reworks and result in higher profit margins for construction companies. When your construction crew delivers flawless craftsmanship on the first go around, the customer is happy, and you can move on to the next project. 

With that in mind, successful quality control in construction requires the following steps: 

  1. Define what it means to ‘complete’ the project and ensure the crew understands and gives input. 
  2. Implement a detailed inspection plan.
  3. Use and share checklists to ensure all crew members are on the same page. 
  4. Document problems, fix them, and notate corrections. 
  5. Learn from errors and adjust your quality control process as needed. 

Successful construction management requires buy-in and communication from the entire team, from the electricians to the concrete pourers, the roofers to the plumbers, and everyone in between. Everyone must be on the same page. With that in mind, communicate expectations, inform crewmembers of the quality control process, and allow them to provide feedback.

Lack of adequate training can result in catastrophic safety issues on the job site. The better a construction manager trains their staff, the more likely they will complete the job right the first time. Regular training helps ensure consistency and a uniform process. When everyone on the crew has the same expectations, they hold themselves accountable. 

The larger the construction project and the more crew members, the higher the chances of unavoidable mistakes. Fortunately, you can remove uncertainty and ensure accuracy in specific areas by implementing automated processes. 

GoCanvas Construction Apps help you streamline otherwise time-consuming processes like generating daily reports for work orders, change orders, time cards, job costs, etc. Further, our construction, repair, and improvement apps allow contractors, maintenance crews, and construction managers to have safety-related forms at their fingertips. 

This means less wasted time and real-time data sent where it needs to go at the push of a button–which increases productivity and reduces downtime. 

In addition to the tips listed above, there are countless other methods of reducing construction management errors. They include but are not limited to the following: 

  • Plan out work from beginning to end before you get started. 
  • Communicate project priorities and expected delivery dates. 
  • Use high-quality products and never sacrifice quality. 
  • Document mistakes (even one-offs) to identify and correct negative trends. 

Keeping track of every crew member’s hours using traditional time sheets is time consuming and likely to result in mistakes. Further, construction time tracking solutions like Excel worksheets, head counts, and honor systems are rarely adequate. In most cases, the best way to keep track of construction worker hours is to harness the power of mobile data collection apps for construction. Learn more below. 

There are many types of data collection apps for the construction industry. At GoCanvas, our mobile construction applications enable construction managers, contractors, and similar to: 

  • Create easy-to-deploy mobile forms that are customizable, simple to update, and compatible with all major mobile devices and platforms.
  • Improve the speed and accuracy of data collection efforts.
  • Quickly share information with project managers, supervisors, crew members, contractors, and similar.
  • Monitor construction sites and job hours in real-time.
  • Identify areas in need of improvement.
  • Reduce liability and risk.
  • Store your information in the secure GoCanvas cloud network.
  • And so much more.

Are you ready to improve the efficiency of your crew and get the job right– the first time? Try GoCanvas for free today – no credit card required. Roll out your first mobile forms in a matter of minutes.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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