Construction to operations: Where handover risk begins
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Transcript
The transition from capital construction to day-to-day operations is one of the most vulnerable moments in a building's life. New research commissioned by ABM and conducted independently by Hanover Research shows that the threats to operational readiness do not wait for closeout. They start during equipment installation and commissioning, then compound as the project approaches the first day of operation.
For owners, developers, and facility leaders, that fact should change when transition planning begins. Starting earlier than most current project schedules budget for can lead to better downstream outcomes.
Where the construction-to-operations transition breaks down
Hanover surveyed U.S. facility, property, construction, and project-management professionals to learn where projects stumble on the way to operations. Four findings stand out:
1. Most handover problems start during installation, not at closeout.
More than a third of respondents (36%) named equipment installation as the riskiest phase of the move from construction to operations.
2. Small coordination misses turn into big closeout delays.
Nearly nine in 10 respondents (86%) said coordination gaps disrupted critical-path milestones, and incomplete documentation was the top cause of closeout delay.
3. Owners hire on track record, not just credentials.
A bad past experience was the most common reason respondents ruled out a provider, ahead of safety record or documentation.
4. One partner can speed things up, but only if owners keep control.
Half of respondents would consolidate scopes to meet an aggressive schedule, yet 61% said their top worry is depending too much on one vendor.
What the report means for facility leaders
By the time a building is handed over, it is too late to fix what went wrong during installation. Facility leaders get a smoother Day 1 by planning for operations from the start. The report includes four practical actions facility leaders can take to move from construction completion to safe, documented, operations-ready performance.
