Delays and hindrances arise in connection with circumstances that cause the project to become less cost-effective and more time-consuming than was originally assumed and agreed. This is one of the biggest problem areas in the construction industry. Paradigme AS offers a service where we provide contractors with analyses and advice on how to handle delays and hindrances. This service will be relevant for contracts where various circumstances related to the construction client result in reduced productivity and additional costs that are not covered by other requests for change or additional requirements.
Paradigme works extensively with the assessment of delays and hindrances, which, with regard to method, coincide with the techniques of Quantum Analysis and Delay Analysis .
Changes and events can lead to production downtime
Changes and events that occur in the course of a project can lead to production downtime. This can be highly destructive for the project, at the same time as it can be challenging to understand not only the cause and the context but also how the situation should be handled. If there is no obvious correlation between a single event and the effects it has in the project, such situations can be referred to as delays and hindrances.
Effective methods
At the international level, there are several accepted methods for documenting delays and hindrances. One of these is an earned value analysis. At Paradigme, we use this in combination with timeline analyses to identify the relationship between external factors and the nature and extent of the cost variance.
Identified by negative figures
Delays and hindrances are usually identified when the project or parts of the project show negative figures, which can be difficult to identify during the project. Consequently, delays and hindrances must often be handled after the project has been completed. In order for productivity losses and negative figures to be referred to as delays and hindrances, it must be possible to identify causes that are outside the contractor’s own sphere of risk. Our analyses can also help identify these types of issues while there is still time for corrections and remedial measures.
What circumstances can lead to delays and hindrances?
There are a number of different circumstances that can lead to delays and hindrances in a project. The causes and their effects can be difficult to identify and challenging to document. Here are some examples of events that can cause delays and hindrances:
- unclear and/or delayed decisions
- extensive revisions to drawings
- delayed or poorly executed drawings
- disadvantageous time for changes
- large-scale changes
- the nature of the change
- seasonal delays
- logistical challenges
- disruptions caused by parallel contractors
- poor planning/coordination
Contact us
Are you a contractor or a client in the construction industry? We identify the causes of negative figures and productivity losses. Contact us for more information on how we handle delays and hindrances. You can find our contact information here.