Tips For Managing Pipefitting Projects

Managing pipefitting projects can be challenging. You must monitor your team as they finish a series of tasks to complete the project on time and within budget.

Adapting to the current work environment ensures you have the knowledge and ability to reevaluate the project and keep it moving forward. These actions increase your odds of success.

Implement these tips for managing pipefitting projects

Plan Below Budget

Set your spending plan so the project can be completed below budget:

  • Maintain funds for price increases.
  • Leave adequate funding to resolve issues that come up.
  • Increase the likelihood of finishing the project within budget.

Practice Time Management

Understand how long each step of the pipefitting project requires. Then, schedule each step with adequate time for completion:

  • Let each pipefitter know which step to work on and when.
  • Include the allotted time to complete each step.
  • Help the pipefitters resolve any issues that come up.
  • Keep the project on schedule as much as possible.

Understand the Pipefitters’ Strengths

Know which tasks the pipefitters excel at and should complete:

  • Understand each pipefitter’s skills and abilities.
  • Assign the tasks according to ability.
  • Have each pipefitter efficiently and effectively contribute in their preferred ways.
  • Increase the odds of completing the project on time and within budget.

Clarify the Pipefitters’ Responsibilities

Ensure each pipefitter understands the tasks they are responsible for and the deadlines for completion. Hold the pipefitters accountable for their actions and results:

  • Setting expectations helps the pipefitters understand their duties.
  • Encourage the pipefitters to ask questions if they need more information.
  • Ensure the pipefitters complete their tasks according to the directions.

Prioritize Communication

Maintain ongoing communication with the project stakeholders:

  • Build relationships with the pipefitters and other stakeholders.
  • Maintain awareness of the risks that may impact the completion of the project on time and within budget.
  • Discuss and resolve issues as they arise.
  • Provide constructive feedback for the pipefitters.

Recognize the Pipefitters’ Accomplishments

Regularly express appreciation for each pipefitter’s contributions.

  • Be specific about what the pipefitter did and how it benefited the project.
  • Point out how well the project is progressing.
  • Share how the day’s activities helped keep the project on schedule.

Do You Need To Hire Pipefitters?

Work with Trade Management to hire the pipefitters you need to complete projects. Start the process today.

How AI Is Transforming Skilled Trades: Opportunities and Challenges

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming skilled trades in beneficial ways. Not only does AI create opportunities, but there are also challenges to overcome for ongoing success.

Understanding how AI is transforming the trades shows why the technology is helpful to the companies that adopt it. Knowing the challenges of implementing AI in the trades provides reasons why more companies do not use it.

Discover how AI is transforming skilled trades, including the opportunities and challenges of using the technology.

Supply Chain

AI is essential for inventory management:

  • Plumbing, janitorial, HVAC, and cleaning companies have invested in cloud-based inventory management systems.
  • The use of cloud-based technology supports efficient inventory analysis.
  • Knowing which parts come from overseas, which materials to source in the U.S., and the ongoing impact of the associated costs helps satisfy customers and bring in revenue.

Speed Of Completion

AI supports communication throughout every step of a work order:

  • Short message service (SMS) is used for pre-job communication.
  • Global positioning system (GPS) technology tracks a technician’s arrival.
  • Skilled tradespeople use video technology to access on-call experts to troubleshoot complex jobs, answer questions, and reduce the number of job site visits.
  • When a work order is complete, the technician can send photos and videos of the work for the owners or managers to view the results without being onsite.
  • Onsite tradespeople can accept payments through their phones.

Recruitment

AI helps with hiring tradespeople:

  • Social media influencers highlight opportunities to make a great living in skilled trades because of the low barrier to entry and affordable training.
  • Tile experts highlight their skills on Instagram.
  • Construction contractors promote their talents on TikTok.
  • Expert carpenters demonstrate their abilities on YouTube.
  • Television shows highlight how to flip homes that require new plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems.
  • Online reviews, organic search results, and paid digital advertising drive customer acquisitions.

Cost

Purchasing and implementing AI technology is expensive:

  • Robots for the construction industry can cost millions of dollars.
  • Software with machine learning and automation features can be prohibitively expensive.

Implementation  

The construction industry has been slow to implement AI:

  • Unless technology has a proven history of success, it is not likely to be widely used for risky, expensive projects.
  • The uniqueness of each project and site means the data collected from one project is unlikely to benefit another project.
  • A lack of explanations for predictions and decisions does not build trust with project stakeholders.
  • AI engineers with construction experience are difficult to find.

Cybersecurity

AI-powered systems are vulnerable to cyberattacks:

  • High project costs make contractors and project owners a target for phishing scams.
  • Hackers can manipulate project data for their benefit.
  • Data mistakes can result in expensive or dangerous project errors.
  • Project errors can impact the health and life of the construction workers and building occupants.

Do You Need To Hire Tradespeople?

Work with Trade Management to hire experienced tradespeople when you need them. Learn more today.