How Can Small Construction Firms Improve Their Operations?

Small building firms play a vital role in the wider construction industry. They often take on smaller-scale projects such as infrastructure maintenance and improvement works that help to modernize urban or residential areas whilst also taking on smaller building contracts.

A key way to ensure success in the construction industry is by ensuring that every aspect of the business’s operations is efficient, streamlined, and adds value to the organization. In 2023, wider consideration is being paid to the sustainability credentials of construction firms. Looking for inventive ways to change operations and building methodologies so that they represent the best sustainability practices can be a key way to improve.

In this article, three key ways in which smaller construction firms can improve their operations will be discussed in detail.

Manage tools across sites

Many building firms will operate across a range of different sites concurrently. For example, some of the workforce may be focusing on a residential construction project whilst another team may be working on a commercial site. It is of paramount importance that the firm keeps an accurate track of the various tools and equipment that are being used so that there are not any delays in projects due to equipment availability.

A key way to achieve this is by using a tool tracking platform, which is technology that allows construction managers to have an accurate understanding of the locations and utilization of all their essential tools and equipment. Tools can be scanned when they are moved from one location to another, and alerts can be set to remind managers when equipment needs to be serviced or re-ordered.

Put simply, this type of business platform can help construction firms to manage their inventory effectively, whilst ensuring that they always have the tools they need at specific locations.

Use sustainable building methods

It is now widely understood that the construction industry needs to adopt more sustainable practices. Many forms of construction cause damage to the environment or use materials that have a high carbon footprint. For example, the production of concrete for use in construction is one of the largest contributors to CO₂, accounting for 8% of global emissions.

Construction firms should investigate a range of sustainable building materials and adopt them in their projects wherever possible. For example, bamboo is a sustainable natural material and is effective in construction thanks to its strength and flexibility.

In addition, construction projects should incorporate sustainability in their designs. Buildings should be built with high levels of insulation to reduce the reliance on fossil fuel energy to heat them. In addition, energy-efficient designs should be promoted in construction incorporating equipment such as high-efficiency boilers and LED lighting.

Adopt robust workforce health and safety systems

As a final point, every construction firm can take steps to improve the health and safety of its workforce so that the risks of industrial accidents are minimized. Companies should introduce robust incident reporting methods (such as storing accidents and near-misses on a dedicated risk management database) and ensure that a “no blame” culture of reporting is maintained.

All staff should receive health and safety training when they join the company and have this refreshed as part of an annual mandatory training package. Streamlining this vital part of the business will ensure that safe construction methods adhere to health and safety best practices and that accidents remain at minimal levels.