Hit your marks: Why you should be using daily production targets

Construction projects are complex, but managing them can be easier. When deadlines loom, budgets stretch thin, and the pressure to stay on track never lets up, daily production targets can become your secret weapon.

Daily production targets are benchmarks that keep your team focused, your progress measurable and your project running like a well-oiled machine. Think of them like mile markers on your project highway. Unlike vague, end-of-the-road goals, daily production targets give your team something concrete to work toward each day.

Why daily production targets are such a big deal

Traditional methods that track progress against average production targets over the course of an entire project aren’t always accurate. Some days are better than others, and averages don’t show the real picture, which hinders your ability to make timely adjustments.

Daily production targets offer a much more precise approach. By setting daily targets that are relative to actual conditions and expectations for each day, you can get a much clearer indication of the job status at any given time.

You also gain the power to adapt as the day unfolds and pivot as necessary.

For example, let’s say you have a 10,000-ton paving job estimated to take 10 days to complete. Your plan calls for 500 tons daily for the first five days and then 1,500 tons daily for the last five days.

If you track progress against an average of 1,000 tons a day for 10 days, reporting would show that crews were behind schedule and might raise a red flag. This also could have obvious and major implications on the schedule for producing and delivering asphalt, but that’s a topic for another blog post.

Setting smarter targets

Being able to make timely, data-driven decisions is the key to successful heavy construction operations. But your data is only as good as the tools you use to leverage it.

Properly configured systems for data capture and field tracking give you precise, instant feedback on performance and productivity based on data generated in the field. They allow you to set daily production targets that are informed by data, realistic timelines and an understanding of what’s possible on site for that day rather than targets based simply on daily averages.

It’s also important to have tools that facilitate the planning and dispatching of resources in alignment with your daily targets so the right resources are allocated to the right task at the right time for more efficient operations.

Beyond tracking performance

Daily production targets aren’t just tracking performance and catching problems. They’re also a way to celebrate wins. Clear daily goals can motivate your crew, and meeting — or exceeding — those goals can be a huge morale boost.

Daily production targets also provide a perfect opportunity to review productivity measures that ultimately indicate daily profitability without exposing estimating details to the entire project team.

Make it a daily habit

You know what they say: Small daily habits lead to big changes over time. In projects as complex as construction, monitoring progress daily is the key to finishing on time and within budget.

Daily production targets make it possible for you to track your project’s progress with precision and accuracy, make the most of your resources and enhance overall project efficiency — ultimately leading to increased profitability and client satisfaction. Now, who wouldn’t want that?

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