You're managing a project with tight deadlines. How do you decide which material deliveries take precedence?

Another thing we check is availability later. Sure some things are available now, and they're not critical, what happens if they are not available later when we need to order them? I've found that the contractors will tell you more truth than any supplier will. Establishing a good relationship with them in the start of a project goes a long way over the life of it. Everyone wants to work on a successful project.

Critical paths move update to update. A good contractor will provide the owner a schedule with reasonable float and not hundreds of days for many paths. We had one contractor give us a schedule that had one critical path but it had dozens of paths near critical just below the surface. Why? Any issues we had as the owner would instantly demolish the completion date. Meanwhile the contractor - who owns the schedule - can make changes when there are issues on their side.

To decide which material deliveries take precedence under tight deadlines, prioritize materials essential for tasks on the critical path. The critical path represents the sequence of tasks that directly impacts the project's completion date. Focus on delivering materials needed for these tasks first, as any delay in them will delay the entire project. Assess the impact of material availability on the critical path and adjust delivery schedules to ensure these materials arrive on time. This approach helps keep the project on track and meets tight deadlines effectively.

Working on a project now that the designer checked with the steel supplier that certain sizes were available stateside. By the time the project was started and the contractor went to order them; the steel was no longer available domestically. Working on Federally funded work has 'Buy America' requirements that make foreign materials extremely difficult to substitute in. Suppliers are in a tough spot with the decline of manufacturing in America unfortunately.

Working in Philly on highway projects for most of my career has been interesting. Contractors are dealing with theft from the jobsites daily. On site storage is not easy. Some contractors actually build on site steel storage buildings to secure their things. Others will hire their own security companies to help. But honestly, most large project sites have so many people there - it's hard to tell who is supposed to be there. Folks wearing the proper vests and hard hats blend in. Looking confident and doing the job site wave or head nod works too. Experience and using local workers helps. The people from the area know what will walk and what needs to be done.

For a construction project with tight deadlines and especially during times when supply lines are stressed, prioritize materials critical to the project's immediate tasks, especially those on the critical path that could delay overall completion. Assess which supplies have the longest lead times and highest impact if delayed, and focus on securing these first. Communicate closely with suppliers to expedite essential deliveries and adjust the schedule to accommodate delays. Implement contingency plans, including alternative suppliers or materials, to keep the project moving despite supply chain disruptions.