Navigating Global Disruptions and Enhancing Construction Project Delivery

Ben McCafferty, Project Manager, Shook Construction

Ben McCafferty is a project manager at Shook Construction, specializing in budgeting, owner relations, value engineering, scheduling, and contractor management. He holds a bachelor of applied science in industrial technology and construction management from Ball State University and brings strong expertise in project delivery and contract document analysis. McCafferty has also worked within the mechanical contracting sector, gaining valuable experience in technical and operational aspects of construction, making him a well-rounded professional in project execution.

Shaping Future Construction Opportunities

My career journey started at Hagerman, where I worked on commercial construction projects, beginning with the American Red Cross headquarters in Indianapolis. Over the years, I have worked across various sectors, including healthcare, industry, education, and higher education, primarily managing projects from a high-level perspective, overseeing their execution and ensuring everything runs smoothly. In addition, at Shook Construction, I am heavily involved in the proposal process and help develop delivery strategies, assess schedules and budgets, and identify areas for improvement. I aim to ensure we hit key milestones and refine our approach to increase our chances of winning new projects. By aligning project goals with client expectations and improving our proposals, I help secure new business.

Impact of Global Disruptions on Material Availability

The construction industry faces several key challenges, primarily driven by supply chain disruptions. The pandemic and geopolitical tensions have significantly impacted the availability of electrical gear. Additionally, there is a growing shortage of skilled labor, especially in trades like carpentry, due to a generational workforce gap. The high volume of available projects has made subcontractors more selective, driving up costs per square foot. The complex designs fueled by advanced technology are becoming harder to execute as the gap between innovative designs and available skilled labor continues to widen. These factors are collectively creating significant hurdles for the industry.

Bridging the Supply Chain and Workforce Gap

Addressing supply chain challenges involves actively engaging with suppliers and vendors and exploring every possible angle. This includes reaching out to different regions to source materials and equipment to access resources with better availability and lead times.

When it comes to the workforce gap, several local initiatives are in place, like programs from organizations like Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). The programs focus on educating and recruiting high school students and trade school graduates to fill labor shortages. There is also an emphasis on bolstering union labor markets as part of the efforts. These solutions aim to bridge the gap in both resources and manpower within the construction industry.

Investing in Tomorrow's Workforce

One key focus for our current projects is improving the efficiency of the virtual design and construction (VDC) process. Essentially, we are building projects virtually, coordinating complex systems like piping before the physical construction begins. This digital pre-planning allows for better budgeting, scheduling, and project coordination, providing significant advantages during construction.

“Working directly on-site alongside project superintendents and subcontractors as a new project engineer offers invaluable hands-on experience. It sparks excitement about the industry and helps you understand how construction projects come together in real life beyond just seeing them on paper”

In addition to VDC, we have also developed a robust co-op and internship program. We bring in around 40 interns each semester, giving them hands-on experience while strengthening our workforce. This program helps us train the next generation of professionals and ensures we bring in top talent from the college pool, further improving our team’s capabilities.

Real-Time Access

One innovative solution we are currently utilizing is Revisto, a program designed to view 3D files on-site. A major challenge in construction has been a disconnect between the field and the office, particularly when workers don’t have access to software like Revit or AutoCAD on their field laptops. With Revisto, we can now view 3D models directly on laptops and tablets, providing crucial information to workers in real time This technology has significantly improved the flow of information from architects and engineers to the job site, streamlining communication and enhancing overall project efficiency.

Shifting from Traditional Bidding

Recently, I have been working on more design-assist contracts, which have proven to be highly successful from start to finish. While this approach can be intimidating for owners at first due to the need to negotiate with a contractor before the design is fully finalized, the long-term advantages are substantial. Unlike traditional methods, where an architect or engineer designs, produces contract documents and then bids out the project to the lowest contractor, the design-assist model fosters collaboration between the contractor and design team early on.

This results in a superior end product by incorporating the contractor’s expertise early in the design phase, enhancing the quality and efficiency of the entire project. Over time, I have seen this shift toward a more collaborative, integrated approach to construction deliverables become increasingly valuable compared to the old hard-bid processes.

Accelerating Project Timelines with Design-Assist

The design-assist method revolutionizes traditional project timelines by overlapping the design and construction phases. This approach deviates from the conventional sequential process—design, bidding, then construction—by enabling design and construction to overlap, starting almost concurrently. This shift significantly accelerates the overall project timeline. Additionally, it helps reduce general conditions costs, as construction can commence on certain components while the design is still being finalized, driving faster progress and improving overall efficiency.

The Power of Field Experience

My biggest advice for young professionals and fellow peers is to spend the first few years in a field-based role before entering construction management. Working directly on-site alongside project superintendents and subcontractors as a new project engineer offers invaluable hands-on experience. It sparks excitement about the industry and helps you understand how construction projects come together in real life beyond just seeing them on paper. This experience allows young professionals to develop the critical skill of translating construction documents into practical, real-time applications.