How to Build the Perfect Construction Logistics Plan
Date Posted: October 24, 2024
Posted In: Discussion,
From Construction Business Owner: So, you’ve done the research and constructed an airtight management plan for your next construction project. Now it’s time to put pencil to paper and start fleshing out the details. How will you move and deploy your workforce, equipment and materials to get the job done? Taking the time to think through your construction logistics plan will help you answer questions like these.
Where construction management plans deal with the larger picture, logistics plans zoom into the finer points of a project, ultimately allowing you to stay on schedule and avoid bottlenecks. We’ll tackle the basics of crafting construction logistics planning and how it can benefit your business.
What Should Your Construction Logistics Plan Include?
In construction logistics planning, the goal is to take the “what” behind a job and synthesize it into the “how.” For example, how are the trades going to move materials, and how will the work be done? It’s about taking all the small things that won’t necessarily make it into the master schedule and making sure they’re accounted for in a way that doesn’t require a full-time site manager, logistics manager or supply chain manager — and doesn’t depend on dedicated procurement or inventory management software.
Here’s an example: You’re about to work a job in the city that includes the replacement of a rooftop HVAC unit. The job will likely require a lane closure on a major road. You’ll not only need to choose a lane to close, but also figure out how long it will be closed and plan a new traffic pattern. Once you have the lane closure nailed down, you need to make sure the HVAC contractor has the access they need to get the rooftop unit delivered.