Specific Roles And Duties Of A Building Contractor

Specific Roles And Duties Of A Building Contractor

In any construction project, there are three main parties involved; an owner or client, the management team, and a building contractor. The building contractor is responsible for planning and executing all your construction tasks and completing the project within the given time and budget.

It is the responsibility of your building contractor to figure out the best methods to complete your project on time and within budget. The following blog post elaborates some of the specific roles and responsibilities you can expect a building contractor to perform.

General Responsibilities Of A Building Contractor

In general, a building contractor is responsible for planning, executing, leading, supervising, and inspecting a building construction project. A building contractor remains an important part right from the beginning to the end of your project, regardless of its scope.

Your contractor is responsible for planning and executing all your project tasks in compliance with the local or federal building construction codes and regulations. A contractor may hire subcontractors for specific tasks such as electrical connections or HVAC installations.

Specific Roles And Responsibilities Of A Building Contractor

Project Planning

The first duty of a building contractor is to create a practical project plan and get it approved by the concerned authorities, mainly the owner of the project. Some of the responsibilities of project planning include;

  • To plan all crucial project implementation and development details.
  • Determine the materials required, equipment needed, and plan their best-suited procurement.
  • Meet any legal or regulatory requirements and authorities.
  • Foresee all possible risks and come up with effective risk mitigation strategies.
  • Establish an effective communication strategy among all project participants.

The building contractor is responsible to provide accurately and closely predicted project budget and devising strategies to follow it as closely as possible.

Project Management

The main task is the timely completion of your construction project. And for this, your construction contractor will need to manage and coordinate several construction activities simultaneously. Some of these activities include:

  • Ensuring the availability of funds for the smooth running of the project.
  • Decide and purchase or rent the construction equipment required for your project.
  • Calling for bids and releasing tenders to hire quality subcontractors.
  • Interviewing and hiring the subcontractors for specific tasks.
  • Preparing and maintaining project reports to get intermediate payment clearance.
  • Purchasing materials (material management) with effective anticipation for them to reach the site when needed.

Moreover, building contractors are also responsible for their personnel. They are required to make sure they have the right number of people with the right skills. Sometimes, contractors may also manage the payroll for their employees and payments to the subcontractors.

Project Tracking

Project tracking at various levels is fundamental to make sure that your project is progressed according to the contract schedules and specifications. In addition to progress tracking, contractors are required to avoid and block any project distractions and disruptions. This involves several overlapping and contemporary activities, such as;

  • Quality control
  • Implementing cost-effective construction methods
  • Choosing the best materials and equipment within budget.
  • Ensuring the optimum level of on-site inventory by scheduling and purchasing in advance.
  • Ensuring the observation of all safety measures, to avoid any worksite accidents and insurance claims.

During the whole construction project, building contractors are required to track and manage project progress. Of course, they are required to keep the scope, location, budget, and time in mind while making decisions.

Legal And Regulatory Issues

Contractors have a significant size of legal and regulatory duties. They are responsible for attaining all the permits and licenses before starting construction while covering all the necessary fees and applied taxes. Your building contractor is also required to make sure that the construction process follows all the local building codes and regulations throughout the project’s lifetime.

About Us

Taurus projects has a proven track record of delivering above par construction projects whether they are a major industrial project or a water or sewer repair in one of the great Canadian cities. Our office and ground staff have got what it takes to complete a construction project on schedule and within budget.

Contact us now and get your construction project done by our reliable and skilled managers and field staff.

How Can You Increase Productivity In Construction Work?

How Can You Increase Productivity In Construction Work?

According to statistics, the construction industry grew to a spending value of close to 12 trillion U.S. dollars before the coronavirus pandemic and is expected to grow by three percent per annum. Due to its ever-growing nature, many people are always on the lookout for new investment opportunities in the industry.

Construction work is often carried out by construction contractors who are experts in their work and know how to do the job efficiently. However, there are times when contractors are not as productive as they should be and the final results are lacking.

Such situations demand that a few steps are taken to whip the construction business into shape. Moreover, any change related to construction, be it economical, climatic, or social, can greatly impact the construction work.

Therefore, knowing the required tips and steps to avoid such inefficiencies in any construction project becomes necessary. This blog post highlights the top ways with which you can increase efficiency in your construction work.

Focus On Your Planning

Construction planning is the foremost step for any construction project. Many construction companies make mistakes in this basic planning step, leading to inefficiencies in the rest of the steps.

For example, you might make the mistake of how much concrete you will need in a certain construction project. But halfway through the project, you may realize that you need far more than the amount decided in the planning stage. This can directly affect your budget and affect the schedule of the project.

Therefore, to increase productivity in your construction work, it is better to invest your time and ideas in the planning stage. Once the planning is done carefully, and ideas are well-thought, there will be fewer discrepancies later on.

Hire Experienced Construction Contractors

Many people don’t realize the importance of hiring an experienced construction company until they find their project in hot waters. Hiring a professional and well-experienced construction company can solve more than half of your construction-related issues. They help you in the better management of your project and also make sure that everything goes according to your expectations.

A professional construction contractor is familiar with the latest technologies for construction and leverages them for the benefit of your construction project. Taurus Projects is a well-renowned construction contractor in Edmonton that makes every construction project a success.

Leverage Latest Technology

A survey shows that only 29 percent of construction managers report consistently using software and applications at their disposal. Therefore, more than half of project contractors rely on paper-based field report creation. It is an inefficient way of analyzing and creating reports on construction work.

Construction-related software is commonly available in the market that can handle almost every aspect of construction work. Through using project management software, companies can track their work in a much better way. It can also help reduce the time wasted for documenting things in various locations as such software allows access to everyone.

Communication

Communication is key to the success of any kind of project. If there is no communication in the construction project, there will be assumptions. And, based on these assumptions, the work done will not be what the owner wants.

Therefore, it is necessary to keep your communication channels strong. Workers and project owners should be equally given importance when it comes to completing a certain construction project.

You should also invest in training your supervisors and helping them learn communication techniques. This can reduce inefficiencies in a construction project as everyone is kept on the same page.

Final Words

There are lots of other ways you can increase the efficiency of your construction site. Apart from the tips mentioned above, you can invest in safety, organization, and modular construction.

About Taurus Projects

Taurus has been a major part of the Alberta and Western Canadian business landscape since 2006. With our team of competent and well-experienced crews, we can manage a range of construction projects. Contact us today for more information.

7 Tips To Prevent Erosion On Construction Projects

7 Tips To Prevent Erosion On Construction Projects

Erosion is one of the most crucial factors that engineers have to consider for most construction projects. Multiple factors can cause erosion and every problem calls for a specific solution based on the site and severity of the problem.

Controlling erosion is important not only to prevent the constructed infrastructure and ensure a safe work environment but also to minimize the impact of the construction project on the environment of the area.

Erosion control can add to a project’s budget significantly, contractors are adding innovative products and actions to minimize the financial and environmental impact of erosion. Some products used for erosion control are:

  • Articulated concrete blocks
  • MSE walls
  • Turbidity barriers
  • Geotextiles
  • French tiles
  • Soil nails
  • Riprap
  • Dust control methods

Tips For Preventing Erosion

Erosion can be caused by various reasons and every reason needs specific solutions. However, there are some generalized tips you can follow to prevent all types of erosion. Some of them are explained in the blog below.

Observe The Site

Along with other important factors to consider before starting your construction project, it is imperative to observe the slope of the site for any potential erosion problems. Also, inspect any surrounding sites and mutual impacts that the site can have on your project. It is best to inspect the site in a wet or rainy environment to plan for the worst possible scenario.

Divert The Water

Water and wind are the main culprits when it comes to erosion. Before starting your construction project make sure to devise a plan to divert the flow of water on your site. Controlling the runoff effectively will reduce problems of erosion and sedimentation on your construction site significantly.

Don’t Disturb

Try to disturb the area as little as possible. To avoid the risk of remediation try to excavate little portions at a time. Even though this activity will take a little more time, the potential costs of erosion will take a significant toll on your project’s budget, costing you more in the long run.

Ground Covers

As soon as the excavation is done, it is essential to create ground cover to minimize the chances of erosion. The faster you can get your ground cover growing, the less chances of erosion. Work with a landscaper to know about any specified form. If seeding is not a viable option then plastic sheeting is helpful in shielding the soil from rain and wind. Although, plastic sheets can provide good ground cover know that they are extremely damaging for the environment.

Sediment Control

Sediment is the soil that is displaced by water flow. Once the sediment is in flow it becomes difficult to prevent and further exasperate erosion. Straw wattles, filter socks, and silt fencing are commonly used to control and catch sediment. However, these controls are not designed to catch and deal with high water pressure, so do not install them across waterways, ditches, or other areas of concentrated water flow.

Inflatable Dams

More and more contractors are turning to inflatable water dams for erosion control and dewatering needs. They are cost-effective and cheaper than the traditional methods of earthen dams and sandbags. They are easy to install for both moving and still water and conform easily to the boundary of any site, providing a reliable seal that prevents the flow of water to your worksite.

Mobile Grinders And Chippers

If you are removing some trees from a construction site, bring a mobile chipper or grinder to make mulch. These ground-up materials work wonders in controlling erosion. The grinders and chippers can also be used for temporary road and ground covers. You can use this mulch to stabilize the soil of your construction site and save it from landscaping.

About Us

Taurus Projects provides quality erosion control services by applying all the necessary safety measures and expert knowledge. Our management and employees take pride in delivering the best services to our clients. We craft our erosion control strategy based on the nature of the project, site situation, environment, and surrounding infrastructure.

Starting a new construction project? Want to get expert site service, material management, erosion, and sediment control? Contact us now and get the job done right by our professionals.

Challenges Faced By Electrical Contractors In Industrial Projects

Challenges Faced By Electrical Contractors In Industrial Projects

Industrial projects are complex and can be physically demanding. There is no room for error in any department, especially when it comes to electrical wiring and plumbing. From power plants to machines, rubber plants, and plastic facilities, each type of equipment demands special care and the supply of electricity. This is important for workflow continuity and for the growth of that particular industry or project.

Doing an industrial electrical project can be quite demanding as it involves the complex processes of maintaining the electrical system of machines. An industrial electrical contractor has to consider many things and take necessary precautions to avoid any damage on the industrial site.

However, a professional electrical contractor, such as Taurus Projects, can overcome any issues and deliver the best services possible. Considering this, it is important to understand which types of challenges an electrical contractor can encounter during an industrial electrical project. This blog post mentions some of the challenges faced by industrial electrical contractors during their job.

Staying On Schedule

Almost all construction projects involve delays, unexpected additions, and changes, plus other scheduling issues and conflicts. All these factors collectively affect the industrial electrical processes of an electrical contractor.

This affects their performance and their working schedules, and whether they will be able to complete the tasks on time. The plan they would have made with specific construction milestones might not apply after the new additions are made.

Therefore, an industrial electrical contractor has to be flexible enough to overcome such hurdles. They can also use software to plan the electrical tasks with the construction plan to avoid oversights later on.

Extreme Environments

Industrial electrical projects are entirely different from residential ones. Working on construction sites involves extreme working environments such as fixing wirings 40 feet or more up in the air or installing cables and wirings of a complex industrial machine. Such extreme working environments pose a serious threat to the lives of electrical workers.

However, a professional industrial electrical contractor gives the proper training to its employees. They equip them with the necessary PPE to keep themselves safe on the site.

Executing Requirements Without Complete Drawings

Large-scale industrial projects demand careful planning and electrical drawings ready in advance to avoid any hurdles in the process later on. Drawings can be helpful in this case, but the process of disconnecting, reconnecting, and merging using updated controls can be quite tedious.

It can be quite a huge challenge for them to work without a well-engineered drawing. Therefore, it requires a lot of experience and capability to keep the project up even without any electrical drawings.

Completion Of The Project Within Its Timeframe And Budget

Time and budget are the two common and most important constraints in all construction projects. Enormous projects involve enormous budgets and more electrical requirements to be completed within a specific time frame. When a big project company has hired you, they expect you to complete the electrical tasks on time. Any delays can cause a huge financial loss to them.

So, it can be quite challenging for electrical contractors to perform the job within the timeframe and also deliver the best quality services. Therefore, contractors must be given enough time and budget for electrical requirements, especially if the project involved is a big one. Moreover, the electrical contractor you hired must have the ability to adhere to strict time constraints.

Hire Industrial Electrical Experts

These are just a few of the many challenges faced by industrial electrical contractors on site. There are tons of others in terms of their safety, work complexity, and budget. Residential and commercial electrical projects are a bit simpler than industrial ones. Industrial electrical contractors demand more training and skills to complete complex electrical structures.

Taurus Projects is an experienced industrial electrical contractor. We are one of the most reliable industrial electrical contractors, providing services in Saskatchewan and surrounding areas. We have been a part of big industrial projects and completed their electrical requirements.

Our qualified electrical workers make every project a success by completing it on time and within budget. If you are looking to hire a contractor for your complex industrial electrical project, you can contact us. If you would like to learn more about us, click here.

Risks Of Unreliable Construction Site Services

Risks Of Unreliable Construction Site Services

A construction site demands constant observation and for safety protocols to be followed to ensure that everything runs smoothly. The construction industry faces several risks every day, and in the absence of reliable site service providers, it can lag. While many construction contractors promise to deliver you quality services and complete your projects on time, you might come across some contractors who will only claim this and not deliver.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has reported that one in ten construction site workers are injured every year. The OSHA also reports that fall hazards are the leading cause of injury at construction sites. All this happens as a result of irresponsible site services.

Therefore, knowing the risks of an unreliable construction site service and understanding the importance of hiring the right one becomes even more necessary. Furthermore, there are also obstacles one may not expect, like being forced to shut down during a global pandemic. As such, a company should know what to do in such cases so as not to affect the project in the long term.

This blog post highlights the risks involved as a result of unreliable construction site services.

Fire

Fire hazards are common and commonly occur due to the negligence of workers and staff. Since construction operations require heat, open flames, and combustible products, things catching on fire becomes possible in construction site areas.

Further causes included everything from careless work by the builder to careless smoking by workers. To help prevent fires, construction sites services providers must follow several steps, ranging from no-smoking policies to hot work management programs to waste and debris removal. Moreover, everyone on the construction site should be alert enough to detect any danger in the early stages in order to take the necessary steps.

Injuries

Injuries and falls are also common on construction sites and usually happen due to safety measures not being properly followed during work. Most construction site injuries involve construction workers’ backs, spines, and trunks. This is often due to poor PPE supplies and other safety equipment that workers might need. As a result, they can’t find everything they need to keep them off the ground while falling and thus break their back or legs.

Moreover, falling objects are another hazard on construction sites and must be prevented at all costs. You and your site service provider must ensure that objects from your site do not fall outside the boundary. For example, install netting or use toe-boards on scaffolds for catching falling objects. These nets must be strong enough to hold the weight of the objects.

Breaking Down Of Equipment

Another risk that an unreliable site service provider brings is the breakdown of mechanical and electrical equipment on the construction site. Equipment breakdown could interrupt business operations and result in costly repairs or replacements that would impact your overall budget and make the project unbearable for the project owner.

Lack Of Communication

This one is a common issue and has been reported on many construction sites. Poor communication lets people assume on their own. They don’t ask questions for clarification of the confusions they might have in their mind. Having clear communication is essential for worker safety, efficiency, and productivity on the job site.

Site service providers must communicate everything clearly, be it the tasks for the day, the safety protocols to be followed, the schedule, or anything else. Moreover, the workers must be encouraged to communicate their concerns to the relevant authorities. Establishing a formal chain of communication and documentation can help you mitigate risks and potentially avoid costly claims.

Theft

If your site service company is unable to provide the proper security for your construction site, theft and intrusion may become common in that area. There are heavy equipment and tools that are used on the construction site that are easy to steal, easy to sell, and have a low recovery rate.

Moreover, they are often shipped out of the province or country within hours, so no one can trace them easily or quickly. Lack of reliable site services will cause thefts and loss of goods. Therefore, you must think about investing your money in a reliable and experienced company which can offer you professional services in this regard.

About Taurus Projects

Taurus Projects is one of the reliable construction contractors and site service providers in Edmonton. Our Staff, from head office to the field, ensure that the jobs you give us are completed on time and on schedule. Contact us for further information about our services.

What Types Of Equipment Are Used In Civil Construction?

What Types Of Equipment Are Used In Civil Construction?

The job of a civil engineer is all-encompassing. They have to initiate, plan, manage, and timely complete projects like building bridges, highways, and waterways. To get the job done, they use specialized equipment, tools, and instruments that help them throughout the process.

Civil engineers rely on heavy machinery, survey equipment, earth moving equipment, and other tools to make their job easy and comfortable. Without proper equipment, it becomes difficult for engineers to follow the design build and construction plan efficiently.

Civil engineers also use geographic information systems and various drafting techniques to plot and map out specific locations. In addition to this, they use software that helps them build virtual structures and come up with feasible designs.

In addition to these, civil construction also involves the use of various survey equipment to measure land and water areas. This usually involves the use of sophisticated GPS devices designed especially for these applications.

This blog discusses some of the most commonly used heavy machinery in civil construction.

Excavator

Excavators are essential for civil construction. Along with performing the excavation job, excavators also help in heavy lifting, demolition, tree cutting, and river dredging.

Excavators contain a digging bucket attached to a long arm. The operator operates and regulates the heavy machine from the cab of the excavator. The cabin of the excavator can be rotated 360 degrees, allowing the operator to work on multiple areas of the site from one place.

Excavators are available for both wheeled and tracked forms of a vehicle.

Backhoe

This is another widely used earth-moving equipment used to perform multiple functions in construction.

The digging arrangements are at the backside of the equipment while the loading bucket is at the front.

Backhoe loaders are one of the most versatile pieces of equipment used in civil construction. They have a wide span of uses across the construction industry. They can be used as

  • Digging holes
  • Excavation
  • Earthmoving equipment
  • Landscaping
  • Small demolitions at the construction site
  • Breaking up of concrete and asphalt
  • Loading and unloading materials
  • Digging trenches

The front bucket can also be replaced with other equipment like an auger, hammer, or grappler.

Bulldozer

Bulldozers are another widely used type of equipment in the construction industry. Due to its wide track, bulldozers can deal with difficult terrain no matter the construction site. The track helps to disperse the bulldozer’s weight across the wide footprint. This special track allows bulldozers to work on sites that are muddy and slippery for other equipment or vehicles to work on.

It is primarily used as earth moving equipment, the blade in front of the bulldozer is used to remove soil, debris, and sand on the construction site. The blade plate is lowered and pressed by hydraulic pistons.

The bulldozer can also have an attachment at the back called a ripper. The ripper is used to cut surfaces like pavement, asphalt, surface rock, or concrete.

Grader

Motor graders or simply graders are types of heavy equipment used in the construction of roads. They are mainly used to level the soil or wet concrete surface.

Graders have a blade between the front and rear wheels. This blade is lowered to the ground while working. The operating cabin is on the top of the rear arrangement of the machine. Motor graders are earth-moving equipment and are also used to remove snow from the roads, unnecessary soil from the surface, and level the surface before laying asphalt.

While the bulldozers are used for rough grading at the construction site, graders are used to finishing grading. Thanks to the adjustable blade of the grader they can be adjusted to achieve a high level of precision.

Some of the other heavy equipment used in the civil construction projects are

  • Trencher
  • Wheel tractor scraper
  • Loader
  • Tower crane and more

Final thoughts

Like any other industry, the construction industry can produce excellent, strong, and successful projects only when they have the necessary equipment and tools. So, if you are planning to invest in any construction project may it be of any scale from civil construction to residential construction, knowing the required tools and equipment is a plus point. This knowledge will help you determine the expected efficiency from a construction contractor.

About Us

Taurus provides high-quality, professional, cost-effective construction services to clients in Alberta and western Canada. We take safety at the worksite very seriously and design our work in a way that does not have any negative impact on our workers, public, and environment. Contact us now to get our exceptional commercial and industrial site services.

What Are The Services Included In Civil Earthworks Services?

What Are The Services Included In Civil Earthworks Services?

Civil earthworks are one of the oldest jobs in the world. It is the construction of the infrastructure involving water, earth, and transport. Expert civil engineers are required for this field to carry out the important maintenance, design, and construction of environments including roads, railways, buildings, water reservoirs, subdivisions, airports, bridges, sewer systems, tunnels, and dams. Any country’s civil earthworks are a multi-billion-dollar industry that requires land preparation and improvement experience of the contractor doing the project. Taurus Projects can offer you civil earthwork services as a civil contractor or subcontractor.

Companies providing services for civil earthworks also provide management and maintenance solutions to industrial and commercial sectors to government and private projects. Many people are quite confused about the services provided by civil earthworks. Therefore, this blog highlights the services provided by civil earthwork contractors.

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Conducting Pre-Construction Services

Civil earthwork contractors provide pre-construction services. They are responsible for the collaboration between all parties involved in any construction project. This helps them construct the project efficiently and economically and generates cost savings for the project owner.

Civil earthworks also include several types of construction services, such as civil construction and structural services that usually include concrete construction, earthwork, fabricating formwork, and prefabricated concrete for various kinds of construction work.

Installing Underground Utilities And Pipelines

Another important aspect of civil earthwork is the installation of underground utilities and pipelines. Such services might include pipe laying and sewage construction, foundation works, concrete footing, erection of walls, excavation work and columns, backfill, grouting, slabs and roofing, underwater construction, and much more. Having the necessary equipment is important to speed up the process and install the utilities much faster. Civil earthwork providers think about the structure and how the construction of the project will affect its surroundings.

It also includes treatment facilities, water reservoirs, and water tanks with associated piping for various public work projects, including telemetry. Taurus Projects is an experienced civil earthworks provider. Our heavy industrial, commercial, and infrastructure programs managed by our Civil Earthworks division have completed various projects from oil and gas sites and pipeline work to municipal water and sewer installations.

Implementing The Design-Build Process

The design-build process is also a part of civil earthworks. They provide design and construction services. Design-build successfully delivers superior results in office buildings, schools, stadiums, transportation, and water infrastructure projects. It is a sort of design-bid-build process. Civil earthwork providers are responsible for designing the project as well as constructing and building it.

Building Public Infrastructure

A civil earthwork service provider must have extensive experience in public works and roadway construction. The complicated nature of civil work demands a high level of technical expertise and professionalism. Building public infrastructure means building facilities, systems, and structures that are developed, owned and operated by the government.

Working with construction contractors in Edmonton, such as Taurus Projects, you will be assured quality public infrastructure services through expertise.

Doing Maintenance Services

A civil earthworks company also provides various kinds of maintenance services along with repairing and construction. Such maintenance services for civil construction include services like Office cleaning London, painting, carpentry, plumbing, cleaning and restoration, refurbishment, electric works, and much more. However, every project demands different kinds of maintenance services which can be tailored according to the requirements.

Not only this, but civil earthworks also involve repairing services such as repair services for bridges, wharves, subdivisions and apartments, plants and factories, industrial facilities and other kinds of sites as well that require high scale construction work. Repair work can also include tank repair and steel structures.

About Taurus Projects

If you are looking for a reliable civil earthwork contractor in Edmonton, Taurus Projects is your go-to choice. With our team of competent and well-experienced crews, Taurus is able to manage a range of civil construction projects. We adhere to the guidelines created by the government, local bodies, and clients when planning, creating, and maintaining infrastructure. If you are planning for any civil earthworks-related project, contact us here.

Simple Ways To Reduce Your Fleet Expenses

Simple Ways To Reduce Your Fleet Expenses

Managing and operating an efficient fleet of vehicles, assets, and staff is not an easy task. Fleet managers are responsible for several tasks all at one time. Their work spans from purchasing to maintaining equipment and vehicles, from OHS to compliance. Moreover, they are also responsible for controlling fleet expenses – reducing the costs wherever possible.

However, juggling and keeping up with daily tasks can leave you with no time to ponder upon the areas where you could be more cost-effective. It may be difficult but not impossible to reduce and cut your fleet expenses. Managing and optimizing the use of materials, fleet, time, and other resources help you cut cost-waste – usually saving on hidden business costs.

This blog highlights some of the ways you can save on your fleet expenses.

Understand How Your Assets Are Being Used

Get a hand on your asset utilization data and see in real-time where exactly your assets are being used. When you know about the real-time presence of your assets, you can confidently adjust your fleet’s makeup according to the better demands of the business. The changed decision can involve evaluating your underperforming assets or even buying new ones to optimize the efficiency of the job done.

Reduce Staff Churn

Staff is undoubtedly the most important part of the business. Hiring the wrong person or losing one is a costly mistake. Maintaining staff records and managing their data manually can be a tedious and time-consuming task. It is better to utilize fleet management software to automate administrative tasks. Reassure your employees that their workplace and any materials or equipment they work with are safe.

Establish a proactive maintenance program and set service reminders for the fleet under regular use.

Reduce Asset Downtime

Becoming stuck on the job due to the absence of a required asset or improper equipment can majorly affect your business. Having an established fleet management program that is informed by data – like engine hours and tire and service reviews – can help you avoid sudden breakdowns and unwanted downtime.

Setting service and maintenance schedules can help you increase the lifespan of your assets. As no missed maintenance or service activity translates into better performance and a healthy fleet.

Optimize Your Route And Job Scheduling

Project delays and downtimes are costly. You can avoid missed deadlines and unwanted downtimes by making sure that the right assets and fleet vehicles are present at the right place at the right time. This little effort in managing and scheduling jobs can help you keep your projects on schedule and within the assigned budget.

GPS tracking provides you information about the current location of your fleet and helps you better schedule your jobs and utilize your fleet efficiently. The use of technology provides real-time fleet visibility making it easy to inform others about task allocation and route planning. All this careful planning reduces unnecessary travel time, minimizes idling, and ensures that your drivers spend more time on the job instead of being en route.

Improve Your Billing Accuracy

The times of timesheet discrepancies are long gone. GPS data shows exactly where your assets or vehicles are and what your drivers are doing during work hours. They remove human error and digitalize your time recording system. This eradicates any chance of rounding up the worked time, making sure you pay for only the time your employees actually worked. You can use geofencing and alerts to signal you and allow you to monitor any unauthorized assets use and bill the clients accordingly. The information system will also help you back your billing claims with authentic data to avoid any conflicts.

Enhance Driver Education

Try to foster safe driving practices that focus on the safety of the staff, public, and your assets and ultimately increase the productivity of your business. Two of the driving practices that significantly impact your bottom line are safety and efficiency.

Safe drivers meet with fewer accidents and mean less insurance payouts, less time off work due to repairs, decreased asset downtime, and liability. Efficient drivers handle vehicles in a better way reducing asset wear and tear and less fuel consumption.

Managing and coaching positive driving practices not only help in decreasing fleet cost but also ensure the safety of your staff and assets.

About Us

Taurus projects have proudly been serving their clients in Alberta and western Canada since 2006. We take pride in our top-notch services with special attention to the safety of our workers, the general public, and the environment. Contact Us now to get a hold of trustworthy engineering services.

Why Should You Focus On Material Management When Planning Your Construction Projects?

Why Should You Focus On Material Management When Planning Your Construction Projects

Construction projects are not akin to small tasks that you can hand over to anyone. Rather, they demand careful planning and in-depth knowledge of construction to avoid any inconveniences during the projects’ timeframe. Construction planning is an important and integral part of this process, followed by material management.

It is imperative to come up with a viable and fail proof material management plan. If you don’t follow the right process and fail to create a proper management plan for the construction materials, you might end up losing a chunk of your investment to accidents or theft. To make any construction project a success, it is necessary to devise a plan for effective material management.

This blog details why you should focus on having material management in your construction project.

What You Need To Know About The Material Management Process

The materials management process includes ensuring the availability of materials on the construction site, managing inventory, and making materials available at an affordable rate in the required amount. Such a checklist is necessary to ensure the smooth flow of any construction project. Your commercial contractor and construction partner is usually responsible for devising a material management plan suitable for your construction project. Timely planning of material management before construction is necessary to avoid your project from detracting.

Construction material management includes:

  • Material selection
  • Material Requirements Planning (MRP)
  • Purchasing
  • Inventory Planning and Control
  • Ascertaining and Maintaining the Supply of Materials
  • Quality Control of Materials Materials management on the construction site
  • Scheduling and transportation of materials to the construction site
  • Receiving materials on the construction site
  • Waste management

The Positive Impact Of Material Management On A Construction Project

Material management brings about great benefits to your construction project. That’s why focusing on this part of your construction plan should be your top priority.

Focusing on material management can be beneficial for you in terms of:

Increased Employee Productivity

Effective material management plays a main role in maximizing productivity. Material management increases employee productivity on the job site when the materials are available in the required amount with no hindrance in the process. The construction crew will have the right materials available at the right time to carry on with their construction process, and thus, there will be less delays.

Reduced Material Waste

With an effective material management process, you can stock the required amount of materials on the construction site. This prevents you from under or over-stocking, and the required amount of material is available all time. It also prevents the workers from wasting or over-using your material.

Wasting materials can be damaging to the budget of your construction project. Over usage of materials will mean that you will need to stock more materials next time, and thus, increase the cost of your project. Moreover, a material management plan helps in identifying exactly which items you need. Hence, you can keep a track of what you have left in your inventory and order more materials on time.

Minimizes Theft

Another important aspect of material management is that it minimizes theft on the construction site. Materials are prone to intruders, and anyone can steal them if proper security measures are not taken. Keeping your materials secured on the site is a part of an effective material management plan and must be considered at all costs. Material management minimizes the chances of theft on the construction site, thereby reducing the damage in terms of cost.

Apart from the reasons mentioned above, eliminating the duplication of materials, better material control, and inventory management are just some of the reasons why you should focus on the material management services of your construction project.

About Taurus Projects

Taurus Projects is a commercial site services provider in Alberta and Western Canada. We provide exceptional site services such as material management on construction sites to ensure smooth business operations for our clients. For more information and personalized care, contact us today.

4 Roles And Responsibilities Of A Fleet Manager In Construction

4 Roles And Responsibilities Of A Fleet Manager In Construction

Companies both inside and outside of the construction industry use vehicle fleets and workforces. Construction companies specifically use fleets for various purposes. However, overuse and misuse of fleets are often overlooked and can have a debilitating impact on the budget and finances of the construction project or the company overall.

To save themselves from this inconvenience, companies utilize professional fleet management services. This blog explains the roles and responsibilities of a fleet manager in a construction project.

What Is Fleet Management?

Construction fleet management is an effective way of managing professional construction vehicles to ensure maximum efficiency and timely maintenance. Fleet managers regulate the use of vehicles like loaders, excavators, forklifts, dump trucks, pick-up trucks, bulldozers, and pavers.

A fleet manager is expected to hire appropriate vehicles for specific tasks, register and license them, and keep them up to date with proper maintenance. They are required to make sure that the vehicles are in good working condition and being used efficiently and effectively.

The following soft skills are a must-have for professional fleet managers:

  • Great communication skills
  • Good leadership and analytical skills
  • Ability to multitask and prioritize
  • Proactivity
  • Efficiency and constant delivery
  • Time management

Roles And Responsibilities Of Fleet Managers

Below are some of the most important roles and responsibilities fleet managers have in a construction project.

Vehicle Acquisitions

A construction fleet manager is required to make a well-researched decision about the type of vehicle to acquire at a particular time, based on demand and needs. In the case of large and bulky vehicles, fleet managers open bids, meet with sellers, negotiate and collate on prices and find the best option. Sometimes, fleet managers also need to decide between buying or leasing construction vehicles for better financial efficiency.

Construction fleet managers should base their decisions in the best interest of their company’s needs and demands because fleet finances depend solely on their choices.

Selling And Disposal Of Used Vehicles

Construction vehicles eventually reach their usage limit and need to be replaced by newer and more efficient vehicles. It is the responsibility of the fleet managers to make sure that the older and used vehicles are auctioned at the best possible price.

A fleet manager is expected to monitor and manage the transactions and negotiations, to minimize loss for the company and get a worthy amount for the vehicle.

Analysis Of Fleet Performance And Expense Reports

For a fleet manager, performance reports are crucial to keep abreast of the fleet’s condition. It assists them in identifying any pitfalls or any downward spirals in finances or fleet performance. For example, fuel costs amount to about 30% of the fleets’ costs, so it is better to keep a daily check on the excesses that can pile up into great losses in the long run.

Managers can minimize their problems by trusting their fleet management to professional and credible fleet management companies like Taurus projects.

Hiring And Managing Qualified Drivers

Another important responsibility of a fleet manager is to hire qualified and motivated drivers into the company’s fleet. The manager trains them and ensures quality and timely service with the correct utilization of the required vehicles. Fleet managers also devise efficient duty schedules to achieve maximum efficiency for the drivers, for even better profit.

The fleet manager must have a clear, logical, and well-thought fleet strategy and policy. The policy must aim to fulfill the needs of the fleet and company. A well-communicated policy brings coordination to the fleet, every related member is well informed about the dos and don’ts of the company, when and how to handle the vehicles, and are aware of their responsibilities as a team as well as individuals.

Many times the fleet manager will have to ensure that the drivers are sticking to the assigned tasks and are complying with the stated policy, along with fulfilling their maximum working hour limits.

About Taurus

As a fleet manager in a construction company, you want to make sure your fleet receives quality maintenance, fueling, roadside assistance, and other services. Taurus Projects has got you covered with exception fleet management services, for more information contact us.