Construction projects involve numerous areas of expertise. Likewise, they go through several phases. Consequently, many project managers will eventually bring in construction consultants to fill knowledge gaps or provide support.
You might wonder if construction project consulting would help your current efforts. Operations often bring in consultants for these four reasons.
Assessing Feasibility
In the early stages of a construction project, the best value often comes from knowing what is or isn't feasible. A consultant can assess the engineering requirements of the project. They also can review regulatory issues.
Combining this information with the project's goals and budget, they can assess whether the idea is feasible. If feasibility proves to be an issue, they also can propose alternative solutions. For example, the construction project consultants could recommend trimming the plans down to fit the circumstances. In extreme cases of infeasibility, they might recommend that a client choose another location or abandon the project.
Optimizing Costs
Some construction projects are especially stubborn in terms of cost control. Working with a construction project consulting team, you can explore alternatives that might bring costs down. For example, you might wonder if a lower-cost material can meet the engineering specifications. The construction project consultants can work with the engineers to determine which materials may be suitable. Similarly, the consultants can help you explore alternative construction methods to try to bring costs in line.
Settling Arguments
Not everyone involved with a construction project is going to agree on the best way to proceed. Construction project consultants can serve as quasi-arbitrators. If the engineering team disagrees with several of the key stakeholders, for example, the consultants can review the two sides' concerns. Depending on the circumstances, the consultants might say that one side is right and the other is wrong. In some cases, the consultants could synthesize the arguments into a solution that satisfies everybody.
Independent Quality Control
The folks who are tightly involved with a project may need an independent perspective to guarantee quality control. Bringing in a construction project consulting firm provides a fresh set of eyes on a project. Especially if you've been hashing things out for years, an independent consultant can ensure that the current version of the project is delivering quality that's consistent with the original plans. Consultants can pour over the specifications, blueprints, contracts, industry norms, and regulations to verify that the current quality meets all of the standards. They also can monitor the project as it unfolds to ensure quality.
