Construction management
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Construction Management refers either to the study and practice of the managerial and technological aspects of the construction industry (including construction, construction science, construction management, and construction technology), or to a business model where one party to a construction contract serves as a construction consultant, providing both design and construction advice.
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[edit] Study and practice
Construction management education comes in a variety of formats: formal degree programs (two-year associate degree; four-year baccalaureate degree, graduate degree, etc); on-job-training; and continuing education / professional development. For information on degree programs, reference ACCE, the American Council for Construction Education, or ASC, the Associated Schools of Construction.
The recognized institute for construction management in Great Britain is The Chartered Institute of Building in Ascot.
According to the American Council for Construction Education (the academic accrediting body of construction management educational programs in the U.S.), the academic field of construction management encompasses a wide range of topics. These range from general management skills, to management skills specifically related to construction, to technical knowledge of construction methods and practices. There are many schools offering Construction Management programs, including some that offer a Masters degree. A comprehensive list can be found at http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/tools/search.php#
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[edit] Business model
Typically, the construction industry includes three parties: an owner, a designer (called the architect/engineer), and the builder (called the contractor). Traditionally, there are two contracts between these three parties as they work together to plan, design, and construct the project. The first contract is the owner-designer contract, which involves planning, design, and possibly, some aspects of construction. The second contract is the owner-contractor contract, which involves construction. An indirect, third-party relationship exist between the designer and the contractor due to these two contracts.
An alternate contract or business model replaces the two traditional contracts with three contracts: owner-designer, owner-construction manager, and owner-builder. The construction management company becomes an additional party engaged in the project to act as an advisor to all three parties. The construction manager's role is to provide construction advice to the designer, design advice to the constructor, and both construction and design services, such as materials and subcontracts as necessary, to the owner.
[edit] Agency CM
"Agency" CM is a fee-based service in which the construction manager is responsible exclusively to the owner and acts in the owner's interests at every stage of the project. The construction manager offers advice, uncolored by any conflicting interest, on matters such as:
- Optimum use of available funds;
- Control of the scope of the work;
- Project scheduling;
- Optimum use of design and construction firms' skills and talents;
- Avoidance of delays, changes and disputes;
- Enhancing project design and construction quality;
- Optimum flexibility in contracting and procurement.
Comprehensive management of every stage of the project, beginning with the original concept and project definition, yields the greatest possible benefit to owners from Construction Management.
CM At Risk G B Lewis 12:29, 13 January 2007 (UTC)===At-Risk CM=== "At-Risk" CM is a delivery method which entails a commitment by the construction manager to deliver the project within a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP), in most cases. The construction manager acts as consultant to the owner in the development and design phases, (often referred to as "Preconstruction Servies"), but as the equivalent of a general contractor during the construction phase. When a construction manager is bound to a GMP, the most fundamental character of the relationship is changed. In addition to acting in the owner's interest, the construction manager must manage and control construction costs to not exceed the GMP, which is a financial hit the CM company.
CM "At Risk" is a global term referring to a business relationship of Construction contractor, Owner and Architect / Designer. Typically, a CM At Risk arrangement eliminates a "Low Bid" construction project. A GMP agreement is a typical part of the CM and Owner agreement somewhat comparable to a "Low Bid" contract, but with a number of adjustments in responsibilities required by the CM. Aspects of GMP agreements will be elaborated below. The following are some primary aspects of the most potential benefits of a CM At Risk arrangement:
Budget management: Before design of a project is completed ( 6 months to 1-1/2 years of coordination between Designer and Owner), the CM is involved with estimating cost of constructing a project based on hearing from the designer and Owner (design concept) what is going / desired to be built. Upon some aspect of desired design raising the cost estimate over the budget the Owner wants to maintain, a decision can be made to modify the design concept instead of having to spend a considerable amount of time, effort and money re-designing and/or modifying completed construction documents, OR, the Owner decides to spend more money or obtain higher financial support for the project. To manage the budget before design is done, construction crews are mobilized, CM is spending tens of thousands per week just having onsite management, major items are purchased, etc, etc,...is an extremely more effcient use of everyone's time, effort, Architect / Designer's costs, and the CM's General Conditions costs, AND delivering to the Owner a design within his budget.
Selecting constructor: ( to be elaborated )
Maintaining positive working relationships among the Owner, Architect / Designer and Constructor: ( to be elaborated )
Maximizes the awareness among Owner, Architect / Designer and CM of all parties needs, expectations in order to perform their part of the project in the most efficient manner. ( to be elaborated )
"Fast Track" construction / design: ( to be elaborated )
[edit] Regulation
In the UK the industry is regulated though Construction Design Management regulations, which prevent incidents on construction sites and civil engineering structures once completed
[edit] External links
- American Council for Construction Education
- Associated Schools of Construction
- Construction Management Association of America
- Construction Manager Certification Institute
- US Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Full list of accredited graduate and undergraduate Project Management Degrees in the US and abroad. (list maintained by the International Project Management Commission)
- Graduate course Construction Management in India
- Construction Specifications Institute
[edit] Reference
- ^ Standards and criteria for accreditation of postsecondary construction education degree programs. American Council for Construction Management. Retrieved on 2006-05-29.
[edit] See also
- Architectural engineering
- Civil engineering
- Construction engineering
- Construction software
- Joint Contracts Tribunal
- Submittals (construction)
- Shop drawing
