Many years ago, in a high school chemistry class, I remember learning about something called the Rate Determining Step. For whatever reason, it resonated with me at the time and has stuck with me to this day.
The rate determining step is the slowest stage in a chemical reaction and it determines the speed at which the overall reaction proceeds. Think of it like a funnel – above a minimal volume, the rate at which water flows through a funnel is limited by the diameter of the neck, not by the amount of water entering the funnel.
What is the relevance of this?
In building projects, the slowest activity can often impact your whole program. For example, long lead-time items such as windows will absolutely determine when you can finish the outside of your home and when you can safely start on internal finishes. So, establishing the timeline for the fabrication of your windows, you need to ensure that they are ordered in a timely manner – otherwise your project may have to be put on hold while you wait for them.
A related, critical concept is known as Critical Path and it is vital that you understand both these concepts when setting up your building program. I will expand on this topic in a future post – for now, identify those key tasks in your project that can potentially slow down your whole program. They require special attention.
Best wishes for your building journey…
