Rapid construction is a term used to identify various strategies for successfully completing a construction project within a limited period of time. In order to manage this type of effort, attention to factors such as the minimization of waste and the streamlining of specific tasks involved with the planning and construction are normally included. While rapid construction is an accelerated effort, the process does also require that the finished product be in compliance with local building codes and regulations, ensuring the stability and safety of the construction.
When it comes to utilizing a rapid construction approach to a project, a great deal of attention is focused on waste elimination at every phase of the operation. This typically means making the most efficient use of building materials and equipment, but will also include the most efficient use of labor in the overall effort. The trick is often to schedule specific tasks within the life of the project so that there is a minimum of downtime incurred as one task is finished and the next in the sequence is initiated. Along the way, monitoring use of equipment and raw materials helps to keep costs to a minimum while also avoiding delays that could occur while waiting for more materials to arrive at the site.
The concept of rapid construction is often closely associated with the idea of lean manufacturing. This approach relies heavily on the systematic organization of resources to complete tasks with a minimum investment of time as well as waste. In order to maintain this type of momentum, contractors and site managers will pay close attention to the construction process flow, taking the time to anticipate how the events of the moment will either delay or accelerate the next phase or sequence of the project. This constant monitoring makes it possible to quickly adapt to changing circumstances and continue the forward movement even if something does not go strictly according to plan.
With rapid construction, there is typically little room for delays or errors to take place. For this reason, the importance of project management cannot be underestimated. By strict monitoring of the construction progress, adapting when and as necessary, and always staying within both local codes and the time frame set for completion, rapid construction results in the completion of the project on time, within budget, and within compliance with local codes. For the owner of the newly constructed building, the end result is the ability to begin making use of the structure according to the desired time frame, which in turn means that generation of revenue from the project commences sooner rather than later.
