Construction Resource Management: Tips and Tools for Success

What is Construction Resource Management? Construction resource management is the practice of planning and managing the use of construction resources, to ensure that projects are delivered on time and within budget. Typically done by construction managers or project managers, construction resource management involves many tasks, including the following. Monitoring the amount of resources available — everything from time and workforce to equipment, materials, and facilities.Allocating and reallocating resources based on project needs and timelines.Tracking and optimizing the use of resources.The goal of construction resource management is to maximize the utilization of resources and reduce waste, ultimately meeting the project’s objectives in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible. Types of Construction Resources Construction resources come in many forms. Some of the most common resources include: MaterialsLaborMachinery & toolsEquipmentFacilitiesMoneyTimeWhy Workforce Planning is Essential Workforce planning — which is a key component of construction resource management — involves monitoring and allocating team members across projects. Effective workforce planning entails monitoring schedules, team bandwidth, and jobsite capacities. Managers need to balance all these components to ensure that each project is well-staffed and that team members aren't over- or under-allocated. It also involves reviewing the company's workforce resources and forecasting workforce needs, so the firm can recruit accordingly. Workforce planning is critical, particularly amidst issues like labor shortages. When you have limited workforce available, it’s even more important to keep a tight handle on your workforce. Benefits of Construction Resource Management Now that you know the fundamentals of construction resource management, let’s discuss the benefits that you’ll gain from the practice. Lower Construction Costs When you don’t have a handle on how much resources you need for your projects, you may end up allocating either too much or little to certain activities. This leads to double-work, wasted time, and delays — all of which add more costs to the project. For instance, the mismanagement of equipment or materials can result in excess spend that can be better used elsewhere. Proper construction resource management can prevent such issues from happening. When you’re closely tracking the use of resources and reallocating them based on the project’s needs, you can ensure that time and money are always well-spent. Higher Productivity By implementing construction resource management, you can see to it that team members are assigned to the right place and they have what they need (i.e., equipment, materials, and supplies) to do their jobs well. As such, teams are able to be more productive. There’s less downtime or waiting around, plus they can do their best work because they have the necessary resources at the right time. Increased Visibility into Your Resources Construction resource management gives you better visibility into your resources. The practice involves closely monitoring resource utilization, so you always know what you have at any given time. This, in turn, helps you make well-informed decisions on how to use and allocate construction resources. Ability to Be More Agile and Adaptable It’s not uncommon for projects to run into sudden changes. If you’re not prepared, you may end up with inadequate resources to cover unexpected needs. You can avoid these situations by implementing proper construction resource management. When you constantly stay on top of how your budget, workforce, equipment, and materials are used, it’s much easier to re-evaluate and reallocate resources to cope with unforeseen project changes. Creating a Resource Management Plan One of the first steps to effective construction resource management is mapping out a plan for how resources will be allocated and used. While the specifics of this process will vary depending on your teams and projects, here are the steps to create your construction resource management plan. 1. Determine the project timeline and all activities associated with it. Iron out all the necessary details involved in the project. Itemize the tasks and activities that need to be completed and specify the deadlines for each milestone. 2. Determine the resources you need and the right allocations. Use the information from the previous step to figure out the right resource allocations for the project. At this stage, you’ll need to calculate the amount of resources required, assign them to the appropriate activities and project phases, and indicate when you’ll need them. One thing you could do at this stage is to tap into your experience as well industry standards and previous project data to figure out the best allocations. 3. Secure the necessary approvals. The next step is to get approval for the resources that you're planning to use. Coordinate with the necessary parties and decision makers and ensure that you have the authorization to use the resources at the appropriate time. Be sure to complete this step before the project kicks off. 4. Optimize and retool your plan when necessary. Your construction resource plan shouldn’t be set in stone. Keep an eye on it, even when the project is underway and don’t be afraid to pivot or launch a plan B if unforeseen issues arise. Top Innovations for Construction Resource Planning Construction resource management shouldn’t be done manually. Equip yourself and your team with construction technologies that streamline the process of planning and allocating resources. Consider the following. Forma Build (overall construction asset tracking) Forma Build (formerly named Autodesk Build) offers robust capabilities for all your project management needs. Track project progress, accelerate commissioning, and improve turnover with robust asset tracking capabilities.