Rework plagues U.S. commercial construction projects, causing problems ranging from longer construction schedules and late delivery to worker injuries and billions a year in lost revenue. In the long term, rework can also affect a construction company's reputation and its ability to attract new business.
The problem of rework has been largely ignored by the construction industry, but tighter profit margins during the recent recession have prompted contractors to look for new ways to shave expenses as well as boost earnings. Preventing, or at least curtailing, rework is one cost-cutting measure embraced by more and more contractors. Those efforts include using processes such as building information modeling and lean construction techniques to detect and correct mistakes virtually, as well as common-sense practices such as involving owners, users and other stakeholders throughout planning and construction.