One of the common problems experienced at residential construction projects in Kenya is unexpected delays, construction project delays seem to happen more often than not, and meeting the deadlines is a big challenge. In construction, delays are defined as the extra time required or incurred beyond the estimated completion date to complete a construction project. With proper management, technical knowledge, and techniques these delays can be reduced to the minimum. In this quick guide, we will be giving you expert tips on how to avoid and overcome construction project delays in Kenya from happening.
Common Causes of residential construction project delays in Kenya
-
Change in the construction project scope and design
When the construction project deliverables expected at the end of the project are revised it could to a delay in the project. faulty or design variations also contribute to project delays attempts to correct these faulty designs will result in time delays.
-
Construction budget inaccuracies
Getting the budget estimation wrong could be massively detrimental, the funds will be depleted in a short time leading to a lack of money for materials and paying wages which leads to project delays.
-
Labor shortages
One of the leading causes of project delays in kenya is labor shortages. The inefficiency of skilled workers means that the project tasks will be performed slower than initially planned, thus leading to delays.
-
Environmental issues
Environmental issues like extreme weather conditions are things that cannot be controlled, knowing this will allow you to be prepared which can make a huge difference for example providing the team with waterproof gear when wet weather hits.
-
Insufficient materials and equipment
Shortage or insufficient supply of materials and equipment play a pivotal role in causing project delays and additional costs.
-
Inadequate planning
Improper planning means that there is no proper allocation of resources and tasks accordingly. It also means that there are no time frames for tasks, which automatically leads to project delays.
-
Project complexity
Mega construction projects in kenya tend to take lengthy execution periods compared to smaller construction projects. Complex projects also require complex plan schedules and estimations.
How to avoid and overcome residential construction project delays in Kenya.
While you can’t prevent every delay, you can keep your project on track and minimize the delays. Below are tips on how to avoid project delays in Kenya.
-
Gather the right resources
We can not emphasize more the importance of gathering the right resources .ensure you have the materials, human, financial, and time resources readily available for the project.
-
Schedule and plan carefully
A project schedule outlines the timelines and organizational resources required to complete each task. It is, therefore, important to carefully plan and provide a project schedule which should be readily available to every member of the project team.
-
Set realistic goals for your construction project
This factor determines whether on not you will complete your project on time. Therefore ensure you set realistic and achievable goals for the project.
-
Track and measure the progress
Track and measure the process of the project towards the realistic goals that you set. This is very crucial to the project’s success by checking regularly to see if the project team is on target in terms of task completion, quality, and budget.
Conclusion
Although time delays are very common among construction projects in Kenya, your construction project doesn’t have to experience delays. With proper planning and attention to detail your construction project can be completed efficiently and on time .delays can also be minimized or eliminated by adopting proper performance monitoring mechanisms and control systems.
