Any construction project is not an easy task. There are so many moving parts that it requires someone to be involved and keep track of everything. In this short blog, we will touch lightly on a few key areas you need to focus on to help your project have a chance of being more successful.

 

Step 1: Establish your goals.
What is it you are trying to accomplish? What are the reasons for the construction project? Certainly, you have a decent understanding of what the issues are at your current facility that requires modifications. Or if this is a new facility, you have reasons or business needs for why it is necessary. You need to fully understand what your goals are before you reach out to anyone about your project. As part of this, you need to develop your preliminary proforma, which will identify your budget for the project that will be necessary for the next step.

Step 2: Bring in a facility expert to help design the concept.
Find the right person for you to work with to help you develop the concept to achieve your goals. This could be a design firm, a design/build firm, or a consultant. Interview several options and select the one that you feel is the best fit for your company. You should use the criteria of how well they know and understand your business based on where it is today, and where you want to take it.

The expert will analyze your current situation, develop concepts plans and work with you to come up with a solution to meet your needs. You must be open and honest with the expert you bring in. They need to know everything to help you develop a conceptual design that is right for you. This includes sharing your budget. If the company you engage in doesn’t know the budget, it’s hard for them to help you develop the solution that is right for you.

Step 3: Identity all the project team members required.
Based on the type of project you are taking on; you will need various types of project team members. These could be financing resources, designers, equipment suppliers, permit expeditors, construction management firms, general contractors, consultants, stockholders, and local team members. Once the entire list is developed start to identify those that are of interest to you for each need and begin to get them interested in the project. Develop an evaluation criterion for how you will make your selection and identify who you want on your side of the table during the interview and selection process to help you make the right decisions.

Step 4: Select your project team.
If you didn’t engage your design/build partner in phase 2, now is the time to do it. Take the conceptual design and go through the process of finding the right design/build partner for your project. Sometimes the party you engaged in step 2 will assist with this process. The best way to find the right partner is to figure out their level of knowledge of your type of business. The more they know and understand your business the better they will be as a partner on your project. They will be able to help you fully vet your concept design, ask good questions and work with you to fine-tune it so that it is the best short and long-term fit for you and that it will fit within your schedule and budget.

Jeff Eriks – President