How can you avoid delays and cost overruns in facility projects?

1 Plan ahead

The first step to avoid delays and cost overruns is to plan your project carefully and realistically. Define the scope, objectives, and deliverables of your project, and identify the resources, roles, and responsibilities of your team. Establish a clear and detailed schedule, budget, and quality criteria, and communicate them to all the parties involved. Anticipate potential issues and risks, and develop contingency plans and mitigation strategies. Review and update your plan regularly, and monitor the progress and performance of your project.

3 Manage change

The third step to avoid delays and cost overruns is to manage change effectively. Change is inevitable in facility projects, as you may encounter unforeseen circumstances, new opportunities, or changing customer needs. However, change can also disrupt your schedule, budget, and quality, and cause confusion and frustration among your team. Therefore, you need to have a clear and formal change management process, and follow it rigorously. Evaluate the impact and feasibility of any change requests, and prioritize them according to their urgency and importance. Implement the approved changes in a timely and efficient manner, and communicate the results and implications to your team and stakeholders.

4 Control quality

The fourth step to avoid delays and cost overruns is to control quality throughout your project. Quality is not only about meeting the standards and specifications of your project, but also about satisfying the needs and expectations of your customer. Therefore, you need to ensure that your project deliverables are fit for purpose, functional, and reliable. To do so, you need to implement a quality management system, and conduct regular quality checks, inspections, and tests. Identify and correct any defects or errors, and prevent them from recurring. Document and record your quality activities and results, and use them to improve your processes and practices.

5 Mitigate risk

The fifth step to avoid delays and cost overruns is to mitigate risk proactively. Risk is any event or condition that can affect your project negatively, such as accidents, delays, errors, disputes, or legal issues. Therefore, you need to identify and assess the potential risks of your project, and determine their likelihood and impact. Then, you need to develop and implement risk response plans, and allocate adequate resources and time to deal with them. Monitor and control the risk exposure of your project, and adjust your plans and strategies accordingly. Report and escalate any significant risks or issues, and seek support and guidance from your management and stakeholders.