By Scott Casabona, President, Signatory Wall and Ceiling Contractors Association (SWACCA)
It’s no surprise the construction industry is continuing to face unique challenges as we head toward 2022. Contractors and subcontractors across the country have encountered supply chain interruptions, material shortages and rising costs, all while struggling to find qualified workers and trying to protect current on-site staff from COVID-19.
According to AGC’s 2021 Construction Outlook Survey, more than half of construction companies report having trouble filling salaried and hourly craft positions. In addition, 64% of companies are seeing projects take longer than anticipated and 54% say the cost of materials is higher than usual.
Now, as the Delta variant accounts for the majority of new coronavirus cases and threatens another national shutdown, these challenges don’t look to be going away anytime soon. As a result, it’s crucial to adopt new strategies and solutions to maintain safe, high-quality projects despite the circumstances.
As president of the Signatory Wall and Ceiling Contractors Association (SWACCA), I’ve personally witnessed how our members are affected by these obstacles, and I want to share a few tips to help you navigate and prepare as we start thinking about next year…
- Use Technology to Your Advantage
It’s a great time to start integrating new technologies into your work. Advancements in tech can help overcome a variety of challenges and enhance efficiencies with your clients and projects moving forward. For example, construction drones and BIM software are two of the fastest growing trends in the industry. They provide clear visualization of a project from start to finish, including site measurements, renderings and more. Mobile software applications which can be accessed in the field via smartphones and tablets can help move projects along faster by eliminating paper and streamlining many daily tasks, so you can spend more time focusing on other areas. Customers can track the progress of a job in real time from any location, which helps increase communication and transparency between both parties. New technologies also address growing safety concerns, with wearable safety innovations and protective equipment that can spot potential dangers on-site before they’re an issue.
- Explore New Recruitment Strategies
If you have been struggling to find experienced workers to fill open positions, you are not alone. Thankfully, there are other avenues you can explore to enhance your recruitment search. Consider partnering with local colleges to offer internship or apprenticeship opportunities for students who show a strong aptitude for the construction industry. An internship program is a mutually beneficial solution that allows you to train future employees who are a good fit for your company, and enables schools to offer hands-on experience to their students, which increases the college’s employment rate. Other recruitment options include tapping into channels and tools you may not have considered before, like social media, job boards, industry-specific recruitment apps and employee referral programs.
- Offer Professional Development
One way to reduce accidents and improve project quality is by providing regular professional development opportunities to your employees. Through hands-on training and continued learning, you can ensure your workers are up-to-date on the latest industry trends, skills and safety standards. Offering professional development is also a great recruitment tool and competitive benefit that shows how much you value the growth and education of your staff. As baby boomers rapidly retire and employers struggle to find new hires prepared to fill empty positions, implementing a systemized training program will help close the skill gap and build relationships among all levels of your team.
- Consider Modular Building Methods
Modular construction is the process of assembling individual sections of a project simultaneously in an off-site facility, then assembling them later on-site like a puzzle. While traditional projects require work to be done on-site from the ground up, modular building is a great way to keep progress moving forward despite challenges such as a delay in materials, the site location not being functional or a variety of other factors. This method can also help reduce labor costs to improve your bottom line. According to Vanguard Modular Building Systems, modular construction saves 30-50% of scheduled building time without reducing the project quality.
- Diversify Your Materials and Your Supply Chain
One obvious way to reduce cost and speed up a lagging project is by using alternative materials. While it’s not always easy to swap out one material for another, especially when challenges arise mid-project, pre-planning for anticipated shortages can help. Consider options that are readily available and avoid high-demand materials that have skyrocketed in price when possible, like lumber, plywood, steel and concrete. Many of the alternative options are not only cost-effective, but also environmentally friendly and offer a modern look. For example, consider MDF (medium-density fiberboard) as a durable substitute for plywood, or bamboo flooring versus the traditional hardwood, depending on your client’s specific needs and what will work best for them. It’s also important to diversify your supply chain and look beyond your traditional suppliers for more affordable, faster service that delivers high-quality products on budget and on time. Maintaining an open, honest dialogue with the project owner is the key to a successful project no matter what obstacles may arise.
About the Author
Scott Casabona is President of the Signatory Wall and Ceiling Contractors Association (SWACCA), a national organization of signatory wall and ceiling contractors. SWACCA is committed to working in partnership with its workforce to provide the highest-quality, most efficient construction services possible to its customers. Casabona is also President and CEO of Sloan & Company, a leading provider of drywall, carpentry, acoustic ceilings and custom millwork based in Mountain Lakes, NJ.
