Types of project controls and project management services

Project managers need different types of information at different points in the project life cycle. The first step for managers is to identify which type of control is most appropriate for their current needs. Whether it is tracking cost overruns or measuring the number of tasks completed each week, managers need up-to-date information to make effective decisions about how well their projects are progressing. Apart from that, a contract may have several controls, depending on the type of contractual agreement present in the RFP. However, the following are the major types of project controls present in most projects.

Schedule Control

Schedule control is the monitoring of duration and progress concerning critical path activities. That includes changes to milestones or maintaining accurate data about tasks in the schedule, so everyone has up-to-date information. Schedule management is closely related to cost control because many aspects of schedule delays can be correlated with increased costs. For instance, when handling a building project, the owner might approve a change in ordered items to remove and replace building materials if they discover that construction isn't progressing as planned due to defective materials or artistry. That is not unusual when subcontractors are completing certain parts or components of the project.

Cost Control

For construction projects, cost control becomes increasingly important as the value of the contract increases. At some point during a project, an owner will want to know that unexpected costs or major changes are not overrunning their budget. The schedule might show that critical path tasks are behind schedule, but if the resulting delay has had little impact on overall costs, it might not be necessary to escalate immediately for more resources. However, if a significant amount of time elapses without any progress because of financial limitations, then it's likely that escalation will occur regarding allocating additional resources (people and equipment).

Quality Control

Quality control ensures submittals and craftsmanship meet established criteria. It is critical to avoid claims about defective materials or artistry resulting in delay and increased costs for the project, such as change orders. If an owner can demonstrate proper procedures and quality control processes, they can reduce their potential liability relative to construction claims. However, this will vary considerably depending on who built what and where. It's best practice to consider quality control extremely early in the design phase, so the project manager can address potential issues during initial cost estimates rather than afterward when problems surface.

Purchasing Control

Purchasing controls ensure that only authorized subcontractors are used throughout a project. Also, this area of contract administration covers such issues as compliance with prevailing wage requirements and adherence to standards outlined in the subcontracts. That ensures that all subcontractors meet certain minimum qualifications to perform their work within the project's overall parameters. If a subcontractor is not performing as expected, purchasing control may also terminate the relationship based on nonperformance.

Resource Control

Resource control maintains accurate information about subcontractors providing construction services, equipment being used throughout the project's life, material inventories, and safety records. Where other types of controls focus more on how or when these resources are being used relative to specific tasks underway during a project's execution, resource control serves more to keep track of what has already been done. For instance, if a subcontractor's work product is not meeting specifications, it would become an issue of quality control. However, if subcontractors are completing their tasks but the project is significantly over budget, it becomes more of an issue of cost control.