Stacking Up the Problems: What is Challenging Construction Engineers?

It’s not just construction that has had a hard time over the last few years: businesses and individuals alike have not been spared either. Some sectors, such as education technology and online gaming, have managed to level up and stay afloat despite the unprecedented   circumstances of skills shortages, cash flow difficulties, and health and safety risks that have plagued construction. But most companies have had to deal with logistical hurdles and serious financial difficulties. 

Confronted with numerous obstacles, construction engineering is one of the fields to have suffered the most – so how has the industry kept going?  

Here, we look at the issues that have troubled the construction sector in the last 24 months and explore what measures have been – or could be – adopted to face the ongoing concerns. 

Let’s not beat around the bush – the construction industry has had a tough ride in recent times. Here’s some of the challenges that have arisen: 

1 – The ripple effect of the pandemic 

On the whole, the engineering sector has seen better days too. The events of the pandemic forced the sector to adapt swiftly to urgent demands, with life-saving machines and ventilators had to be manufactured at a very rapid pace. At least this suggests that specific engineering branches have never been out of work.This can still be seen today, with the industry trying to catch up with the delays caused by Covid-19. Projects were significantly delayed and cost both owners and contractors both time and money.  

2 – Supply chain issues 

When it comes to the construction sector, continuous delivery issues have halted many businesses’ activities. Not only that, but the shortages of raw materials and the increasing costs of tiles, steel, and cabinetry certainly did not help either. 

Setbacks within supply chains have caused headaches for those in construction. As import and export levels decreased drastically, engineering-related companies had to source alternative solutions and change suppliers in a short space of time, leading to more delays. 

The cost of materials has also jumped up, and haven’t fallen back to pre-pandemic prices. With additional costs to factor in, this can  

3 – Labour shortages 

Additionally, the uncertain situation only served to aggravate existing concerns within the field. A limited labour pool, low predictability, financial instability, and slim productivity levels had been tormenting the engineering sector way before the outbreak of the pandemic. It is fair to say that recent events have done the industry no favours. 

Unsurprisingly, this had a negative impact on the usual turnover of construction businesses. To put things into perspective, in April 2020 alone, 45% of construction companies saw their usual profits halved. The fact that almost half of their workforce was furloughed during that time played a significant part in this statistic. 

The construction engineering sector is working hard to find viable solutions to tackle the numerous  challenges it’s facing. How can the construction industry face the ongoing issues? 

Relying on local suppliers  

Businesses have had to deal with several delays and disruptions within the supply chain in the past 24 months or so. Sourcing materials from local suppliers is one effective way to possibly nip the problem in the bud. As well as supporting local businesses, construction companies can diversify their suppliers and find a timely remedy for unexpected delivery issues. 

Embracing digital technology  

Digital technology may provide the answer to many dilemmas. Not only does it help reduce face-to-face interaction and preserve the well-being of labourers, but it also reduces unnecessary travel and keeps operations flowing.  

For instance, handy pre-commissioning software stores important documentation, keeps all workers informed on updates, and replaces non-essential meetings. All in all, technology allows everybody to continue carrying out their jobs and overcome existing obstacles. 

Utilising drones  

Drone inspections are also becoming an efficient solution. In the construction industry, in fact, they can substitute manual inspections. They also carry an array of attractive benefits, from preventing large gatherings at construction sites to replacing risky practices (e.g., climbing to assess building progress).  

Also, drones offer the chance to save precious money. Why assemble one-off scaffolding for in-person inspections when drones can do the job for you instead? Ultimately, drones offer a cost-effective alternative and can reduce insurance expenses too.