Delay: A Potential Loss To Your Construction Productivity

"You may delay, but time will not." ~ Benjamin Franklin

Concerning the construction industry in UAE in particular and the world in general, a delay is an entity that uses additional time and goes beyond the regular schedule than the contract initially stated thus causing late delivering of the project. It is generally defined as the time overruns that affect the project delivery.

Why Is It Essential To Consider Project Delay?

Construction productivity can suffer a loss often from multiple delays, interferences or changes in the sequence of the construction process. In the risky and dynamic industry like construction, alterations are a part of the regular process. Acceleration, as well as suspension of performance, is not unusual in this industry as it survives by quick shifting priorities and fast-tracking scheduling to achieve project milestones.

Delays are an inherent part of almost all construction projects despite the specialised knowledge of project managers. It is important to consider that projects are driven for profit to the parent company and the nation (only in case of government projects). Thus the success of a project is defined in terms of cost it incurs and the time it takes.

Evaluating and resolving productivity losses associated with such delays can be costly as well as contentious for both project owners and project contractors.

The legal professionals in construction industry in Dubai have all the experience to efficiently and adequately help in the resolution of intricate productivity claims. Delay experts have specialised expertise on problems of project delays and quantum. Their opinion extends across numerous industries, domains and geography.

Evaluation of Delays is Critical to a Project’s Success:

Time-Related Delays:

Delays related claims and disputes include problems related to time management. The investigation and estimation of these construction project delays and time- related issues are crucial for the success of a claim for efficiency loss or productivity loss.

Schedule Related Delays:

Schedule Delay Analysis is an analytical process by which a professional uses Critical path method (CPM) techniques along with a forensic appraisal of plan’s documentation and other related data to evaluate the impact of delays on the planned project schedule.

The result of this analysis defines a fixed duration of time for which a contracting party may be allowed to get direct and significant losses. Comparison of planned versus actual program performance considers analytical methods as sequential delay, measured mile, total time and adjusted baseline.

The specialised scheduling or delay experts will determine which methodology of analysis is most appropriate based on the type of claim and the documentation available.

Why Construction Delays Usually Happen?

A construction delay usually happens when your project tasks do not go according to plan, and since construction projects are sequential, a delay in one activity will delay all subsequent operations. This will ultimately affect the project delivery which will not only incur cost overrun, but also raise the concerns of the owner as he wants the project delivery on time.

For instance, if you planned to pour concrete in two days but unfortunately it rained. Now the plan must be delayed for these days and contractors must reschedule the project.

Consequences Of Project Delays In Construction Projects

There can be numerous consequences of delays in a construction project. Your contractor may ask for additional costs because he is required to work for a more extended period and that creates a disturbance for the owner who wants project completion on time and within the schedule while the contractor has to tolerate overhead costs to meet the demands of increased labor wages.

In conclusion, there is always a risk of delay in construction projects all over the world. Dubai has a large construction industry. And every project in Dubai is distinctive in its features and has its challenges and opportunities. Identification and analysis of projects are crucial as they can ultimately affect profitability. To avoid project disruption, you must evaluate, monitor and control project delays for this; you must take assistance from delay experts who will help you in developing your project plan in a manner which is not only result oriented but also assists in adjusting project delay related disputes.

These experts are highly skilled and understand that in the present challenging business scenario, protecting your resources and preventing your project from disruption requires a unique approach. Thus, they are committed to providing creative solutions to manage your project delays.

"Better three hours too soon than a minute too late." ~ William Shakespeare