Project Management Services: Step by Step
A certified licensed professional engineer in the United States and New Zealand, David is qualified, educated and has special knowledge of a number of construction-related fields, including building surveying and repair of damaged building envelope components. Add to that, a proven track record in project management- working for general contractors as well as owners- and you have a resourceful and knowledgeable project manager who knows how to get the most out of all participants. David also makes use of associate construction experts whose profiles you can view here.
What does a project manager do?
Good project managers see that each individual knows and executes his or her role, understands what others are doing and can trust that they will fulfil their responsibilities. Great project managers empower their workforce with timely information and the right support, so that the job is done well and within budget.
The specific responsibilities of the project manager may vary depending on company culture. However, Stewart Consulting understands that effective project management unites all of the following.
- Project plan development: Clear and thorough, Stewart Consulting’s project plans comprehensively map out the hows and whens of project objectives, illustrating all the major products, milestones, activities and resources along the way.
- People management: Clear communication between the owner, designers and contractors is key to a successful job. Stewart Consulting keeps everyone abreast of deadlines and requirements so the job runs smoothly and finishes on time.
- Risk management: Regularly retained as an expert witness in cases of troubled construction, Stewart Consulting has the expertise to identify risk and make sure participants are aware of potential problems.
- Project schedule management: CPM schedules are used to think through the project, to monitor progress, as a road map of how to arrive at the finished product, and to predict completion. Stewart Consulting works with project participants to ensure a comprehensive and reliable CPM schedule is developed and fully utilised.
- Project budget: Stewart Consulting keeps owners in financial control, so they pay a reasonable price for a job well done. Construction experts use earned value techniques to continually analyze the financial status of the project and lend our expertise to advise owners on reasonable cost of materials and labour, where investment is critical and where it’s safe to cut costs.
- Conflict management: By keeping an expert eye on all parties, Stewart Consulting facilitates open and transparent communication, nipping potential problems in the bud.
These are the basics, but excellence in project management demands a solid commitment to good construction by challenging the “creeping erosion of construction efficiency and productivity.” To this end, Stewart Consulting believes that:
- Decision-making should take into consideration the "life cycle" of costs and benefits from initial planning through beneficial occupancy.
- Optimizing performance at one stage may not be helpful if additional costs or delays occur elsewhere. For example, saving money on the design will be a false economy if it results in excessive construction costs.
- Separate decision making among various specialists may be necessary, but good communication and coordination among these participants is essential to accomplish the overall goals of the project.
- Architectural creativity, uniqueness and complexity are important and valuable. So, introducing new materials and innovative construction processes may be desirable as long as they are less expensive and are consistent with desired performance.
Stewart Consulting is dedicated to facilitating quality workmanship and timely communication, so that your project is completed on time, within budget and without expensive surprises.
Visit our contact page to get in touch.
