Repost: Problems in construction management

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This post was last edited by hesonchang214 on 2017-9-28 09:18. Problems in construction management. Abstract: The level of construction quality in a project directly affects the quality of the building constructed as part of that project, and construction quality can be controlled through construction management. With the development of the civil engineering industry, construction management issues are widespread. This paper identifies the problems existing in civil engineering construction and proposes corresponding solutions. 　Keywords: construction quality; construction management; civil engineering. In a broad sense, civil engineering encompasses all types of construction related to water, soil, and culture; it includes the construction and maintenance of structures such as roads, buildings, railways, and pipelines that are involved in various aspects of human life, production, and other activities. The civil engineering industry is virtually equivalent to today’s construction industry, and it plays a significant role in the development of Chinese society and economy. During the construction of civil engineering projects, construction activities take place throughout the entire project duration. The quality of these construction activities directly determines the quality level of the building once it is completed. Only through strict construction management can a high standard of construction be ensured, thereby guaranteeing the overall quality of the building project. With the progress of modern society, although civil engineering has made great advances in construction technology, there are still many problems in construction management. Only by continuously identifying problems in the construction management of civil engineering projects and proposing solutions to those problems can the quality of construction be maintained, thereby ensuring the quality of civil engineering projects. 　　I. Problems in the construction management of civil engineering projects Construction management in civil engineering refers to the standardized and rational management of various production activities during the construction of civil engineering projects, thereby ensuring the effective progress of these activities, avoiding losses in terms of resources, labor, and finances resulting from improper construction methods, and thus guaranteeing the quality of the civil engineering constructions. At present, the problems in the construction management of civil engineering projects are mainly manifested in the following aspects. 　　1. Inadequate inspection system during construction First of all, in civil engineering projects, checking the quality of materials used is a crucial prerequisite for ensuring the quality of construction, and it is also a step that must be carried out throughout the project’s duration. However, in practice, due to opaque interests, there are significant problems with the inspection of materials. For example, procurement staff in the civil engineering sector collude with suppliers and relevant technical personnel, using their positions to gain advantages; they then use materials that do not meet the standards required for civil engineering projects in actual construction, which results in a failure to ensure the quality of such projects. This is also the main reason behind the emergence of substandard construction projects in recent years. Common examples of shoddy projects in recent years include the Baihashazhou Yangtze River Bridge project in Wuhan in 2010, the construction of rental houses in Shenzhuang Village, Zhengzhou in 2013, and the Lianhuo Expressway construction project in the same year. Such projects not only waste funds and resources allocated for their construction but also pose a serious threat to the safety of the people. Secondly, regarding inspection issues during construction, there is also a problem of inadequate inspections at the construction site. Such inspections should cover aspects such as the planning of the site’s layout, material storage, equipment maintenance, and site surveys. During the construction of civil engineering projects, contractors often pay more attention to the overall aspects of the project and less focus on the details. For example: Improper storage of materials can lead to waste due to rust; the amount of materials used should be controlled, following the principle of purchasing only what is needed to avoid excess and subsequent waste; equipment should be inspected after use so that it can be used properly the next day; a thorough geological assessment of the construction site is necessary to prevent issues such as unstable foundations resulting from shallow pile driving. The above are the problems related to inspection in the construction management of civil engineering projects. In every civil engineering project, it is necessary to carry out thorough inspection work; only by conducting inspections in a meticulous, comprehensive, and careful manner can the smooth and effective progress of the project be ensured. 　　2. Low competence of professionals The construction of a civil engineering project is an extremely complex process that requires various tasks such as surveying, design, construction, maintenance, and repair. The knowledge involved includes many areas such as advanced mathematics, linear algebra, probability and mathematical statistics, civil engineering drawing, CAD, building mechanics, and structural mechanics. The construction of a civil engineering project may require talents from various fields. The issue of low competence among professionals in civil engineering projects is mainly reflected in: (1) the relatively low professional level of construction workers during the civil engineering construction process. The contracting of traditional civil engineering projects is mainly achieved through connections; although engineers have considerable work experience, it is often older migrant workers who carry out the actual work on site. These workers lack professional knowledge, which affects the quality of the construction. For example, in the process of traditional civil engineering construction, experienced chief engineers often have many tasks to handle with limited staff. In some stages of construction, they may delegate work to subordinates they have trained, who may not fully understand the professional design drawings. As a result, there might be insufficient space allocated for water, electricity, and plumbing lines in the buildings, as well as inadequate reserved gaps, which can significantly affect subsequent construction phases; (2) The quality of supervision personnel is low. In the traditional civil engineering construction process, the personnel overseeing the work tend to focus mainly on the project schedule, paying little attention to technical guidance at the construction site, safety issues, and site management – issues that can also affect the project’s progress and quality. Given the current state of civil engineering construction, it is necessary to increase the recruitment of professional talent in order to ensure the quality of civil engineering projects from the ground up. 　　3. Safety issues in construction management As construction has developed, civil engineering has shifted from the construction of small buildings to that of large ones. Projects in this field are generally of large scale. Despite the rapid progress in civil engineering, safety issues have persisted. For example, during construction in summer, due to the hot weather, many workers fail to wear safety helmets; cranes are used to lift loads that exceed their capacity, resulting in injuries to workers; forklifts are placed at low positions on the slopes of construction sites, causing them to slide down; and the auxiliary structures used as foundations are not sturdy enough, leading to falls and injuries among workers. Safety issues have always been a problem in civil engineering construction. Civil engineering construction projects are inherently dangerous tasks; in practice, it is necessary to raise safety awareness in order to reduce risks. 　　II. Countermeasures to address issues in civil engineering construction management First, improve the inspection system for construction management. The responsibilities within a project should be clearly defined within the system, adopting the principle that \"those who oversee are responsible\" in order to prevent opaque interests among procurement staff. In terms of quality inspection, there must be clear inspection procedures and supervision systems to prevent the use of substandard materials in projects, thereby improving the quality of civil engineering projects from the ground up. Secondly, improve the professional skills of construction workers. Before the project begins, appropriate training programs should be in place. Training should be provided on a categorized basis, taking into account the age and educational level of the workers, and these workers should be assigned to suitable positions. For positions that require high levels of competence, construction companies should recruit highly qualified individuals and provide them with training and practical experience, placing emphasis on the development of such talent. Finally, enhance the safety awareness of construction workers. Only when construction workers have a strong safety awareness can they ensure not only their own safety but also the quality of civil engineering projects. Enhancing practical safety awareness can be achieved through safety knowledge lectures and safety campaigns, which are the most effective and direct methods. 　　III. Conclusion In actual work, only by continuously identifying problems and seeking corresponding solutions can we keep improving the shortcomings in construction management. The construction management of project works is a prerequisite for ensuring the high-quality completion of civil engineering projects, and enterprises and organizations must pay attention to this issue. Furthermore, in its future development, civil engineering should combine technology with management, using technology to guide managerial improvements and management to facilitate the smooth implementation of technology. Construction management in civil engineering projects is of great significance; it not only ensures the quality of such projects but also promotes the vigorous development of the civil engineering industry. 　　References:
Wang Weishuang. Analysis of the main problems in civil engineering project construction management. Smart City, 2016, (12): 310.
Zhang Yanbiao. Analysis of the main problems in civil engineering project construction management. Sichuan Building Materials, 2016, (01): 261–263.
Wang Xiong. Analysis of the main problems in civil engineering project construction management. Brand (Second Half Month), 2015, (03): 112.
Wu Bofei. Analysis of the problems existing in civil engineering project construction management. Jiangxi Building Materials, 2015, (02): 252.
Wu Xiaohang, Qian Hangwei. Analysis of the problems existing in civil engineering project construction management. Chinese Folk Houses (Late Edition), 2013, (07): 222–223.

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