Given today’s tight profit margins, ongoing worker shortages, and high labor costs, boosting efficiency is an increasingly important mission for construction contractors. Saving time on projects means saving money, and it may lead to faster project completion.
Project managers have a variety of ways to “bake in” increased efficiency during project planning. Some of the simplest and least-expensive methods are also the most effective. Configuring the job site for the smooth flow of people and equipment, storing tools and materials near the work taking place, and using technology to track equipment are a few of the tried-and-true methods for deriving maximum value from people and resources.
Keeping certain considerations in mind when planning for basic project and site infrastructure needs can make a significant difference in day-to-day operations. The following tips may result in reduced non-productive labor time and more time spent performing work that matters.
A well-organized job site is a more efficient job site, as well as a safer one. Temporary site infrastructure and facilities can help managers control the chaos of dynamic environments and facilitate efficient workflows.
Fence Panels and Barriers
When renting temporary fences for the job site perimeter, managers can also consider renting panels and barricades to organize the site and manage traffic flow.
| Your local Astec dealer |
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| Closner Equipment Co Inc |
Creating distinct entry and exit points, one-way travel routes for vehicles, and clearly marked pedestrian routes with minimal vehicle crossings optimizes traffic flow so vehicles and people move around the site efficiently and safely. Routing traffic away from active work zones and hazardous areas can prevent interference with ongoing operations. Visibly defining loading and unloading areas, equipment staging areas, and work zones reduces congestion and confusion.
Smart Turnstiles
The faster employees and contractors can move through security checkpoints, the sooner they can get to work. Smart turnstiles that automatically authenticate entrants add efficiency to large job sites and potentially reduce the need for security personnel at entrances.
These modular units integrate with perimeter fencing. When a worker or visitor swipes their ID card, a reader in the unit verifies the credential. The turnstiles are compatible with a variety of identity and access management software solutions. Many units come with guard offices. Security cameras and facial recognition software can be added.
Office Trailers
Job site trailers are a must on most sites. When renting mobile office trailers, choosing a larger trailer may yield surprising benefits.
| Your local Volvo Construction Equipment dealer |
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| ASCO Equipment |
| Sierra Machinery |
| Romco Equipment Co |
A trailer with a conference area in addition to a private office provides a convenient space for managers and supervisors to gather and review materials and data without making a trip back to the office. If the trailer is one of the few areas onsite with heating or air conditioning, the conference space can serve as an onsite break area for workers to help them stay energized and productive. Trailers that feature a restroom add convenience and flexibility, provided the site has water and sewage lines.
Restrooms
Tailoring the number of restrooms to the number of workers increases efficiency while ensuring compliance with OSHA portable toilet regulations. Larger job sites can benefit from portable restroom trailers, placed near the busiest work areas for maximum convenience. Restroom trailers streamline maintenance compared to porta potties spread across the job site. Adding porta potties to more remote areas of the job site minimizes travel time for workers in those areas.
Trekking from the field to a tool crib, storage yard, or parking lot for tools or materials wastes minutes that add up to hours and days. Storing required resources near work zones for fast, convenient access is a simple way to increase efficiency.
Storage Containers
Renting a storage container with a built-in locking system and placing it near the work area is an affordable means of putting tools and materials closer to workers. It can eliminate trips back to the truck as well as the need to load and unload the truck each day.
| Your local Yanmar dealer |
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| WPI |
| CLM Equipment Co |
Containers can be customized by the rental provider to fit the needs of the job site. For instance, cargo doors can be added so small equipment such as a skid steer can be driven in and stored securely. Added pipe racks and shelving allow for better organization and help crews find what they need quickly.
Custom-Stocked Toolboxes
Placing custom-stocked gang boxes in strategic areas of the job site ensures that craft workers have the tools they need for the tasks at hand. A rental tool provider that offers tool solutions can plan, stock, and track the tool inventory, alleviating the burden for project managers.
Renting tools also frees companies from the need for warehousing and the responsibility of tool maintenance and repair. The vendor supplies backup tools, which eliminates urgent trips to the hardware store.
Tool tracking keeps eyes on must-have tools and reduces tool loss and the associated expenses. Tracking solutions from tool rental vendors include managed tool trailers and high-tech storage units that automatically register Bluetooth-tagged tools as they are checked in and out of the access-controlled unit.
| Your local Wirtgen America dealer |
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| Nueces Power Equipment |
| Kirby Smith Machinery |
Having the right equipment is essential to getting work done on time. Knowing where the equipment is and making sure it’s fueled and ready to operate is just as critical. Telematics is the increasingly vital technology that provides necessary insights into equipment location, fuel status, and maintenance status.
Before the start of a project, managers who want to track their fleets need to activate the telematics devices on their owned equipment, or add third-party telematics devices, and choose a fleet management system for the devices to communicate with.
Tracking both owned and rented equipment using the same software platform allows companies to manage both fleets in the same place, and to see across fleets to understand total equipment utilization. A full-service rental equipment provider can supply telematics-enabled rental equipment, activate telematics devices on owned equipment or add third-party devices, and provide a cloud-based fleet management platform to customers for free. The most effective platforms allow users to customize alerts from a menu of options such as low fuel or battery charge, low DEF level, high coolant temperature, and low utilization.
Efficient job sites don’t happen by accident. Careful planning lays the foundation for smoother operations.
| Your local JCB North America dealer |
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| BOSS JCB |
| ASCO Equipment |
| Monk JCB |
| South Star JCB/Meinecke |
When lines at the entrance gate are eliminated, when vehicles and pedestrians have clearly defined paths from point A to point B, when crews have the tools and materials they need close at hand, and when managers have ready visibility into the location and status of equipment, projects unfold with fewer complications and delays.
Victoria Grandal is a Content Marketing Specialist for United Rentals, focusing on rental industry solutions. She collaborates closely with United Rentals’ solutions teams and customers to showcase their stories and insights.
