The construction industry has changed considerably over the years, specifically in the adoption of chemicals to improve building materials, durability, and performance in general.
Nonetheless, there are a number of challenges present for the construction chemical industry that may hinder its progress. Here are 10 primary challenges and solutions in the construction chemical industry to assist the industry in its growth.
Table of Contents
Challenges and Solutions in the Construction Chemical Industry
1. Environmental Concerns
Challenge: The growing awareness concerning environmental matters indicates that construction chemicals must meet stringent regulations in order to be sustainable.
Out of the multitude of chemicals involved with construction, many are deemed harmful to the environment; some construction chemicals contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which contribute to air pollution.
Solution: Manufacturers in the construction chemical industry are working hard to provide environmentally friendly and low-toxicity, low-VOC chemical products, or biodegradable products as well.
Innovations such as water-based paints, and water-based sustainable concrete admixtures and additives, are having a great impact in the industry. Recycling construction materials, as well as more green building standards can go a long way in reducing environmental harm.
2. Shortages of Raw Materials
Challenge: The global supply chain for many raw materials utilized in construction chemicals are often impeded or compromised by geopolitical issues, natural disasters, or trade restrictions/difficulties, causing a lack of sufficient materials. When this happens, prices will rise.
Solution: A reduction in dependence on foreign suppliers can be achieved through a diversification of suppliers and/or investment in the education and construction of facilities close to the supply of materials. In the long-term, good research will involve searching for alternative raw materials or recycling of raw materials to help ease shortages.
3. Cost Escalation
Challenge: Construction chemicals face increasing costs due to threats of instability in the cost of raw materials, transportation of materials, or labor.
Within construction projects, fluctuation in costs creates risk to project budgets and funding decisions and can risk/slow down projects as layers of increased costs will overextend financial condition beyond available funding.
Solution: Embracing efficient production practices, investing in automation, and effectively leveraging bulk purchases can further stabilize costs. Additionally, more robust materials will reduce costs over time by alleviating frequent replacements.
4. Compliance with Regulations
Challenge: Navigating the complex framework of regulations can be one of the most challenging endeavors for companies in the construction chemical category.
Regulations will differ from geographic location to geographic location, and compliance can be time-consuming and expensive.
Solution: Make sure to stay up to date with local and international regulation, and strive to build a rapport with local regulators. Companies must also seek to hire legal counsel and/or compliance software to assist them through the process of compliance.
5. Quality Control
Challenge: Consistency and quality are incredibly important in the construction chemical industry; however, quality cannot always be upheld consistently for each product produced, particularly with bulk production.
Solution: Companies can embrace strict best quality control practices, including always conducting tests, and having certified standards. To support quality, companies can seek to better automate production as well as by working to better select raw materials.
6. Technology Integration
Challenge: New technologies in the production of construction chemicals are often resisted. Many companies are either not aware, or reluctant to invest in the new technology since there is an upfront cost of entry.
Solution: Educating stakeholders on the benefits of applying technologies such as AI, machine learning, and automation could promote greater adoption of the technology, as these technologies improve production efficiency as well as enhance product performance and minimize material waste.
7. Health and Safety Risks
Challenge: Construction chemicals can present a risk to worker safety, as long as best practices are not followed. Chemicals such as adhesive, paint and/or sealant products can result in air quality concerns, skin alerts, and long-term health issues.
Solution: Companies need to be educated in the area of safety, provide equipment and ventilation measures for workers, and create safer chemicals (non-toxic paint or adhesive, etc.) when possible.
8. Supply Chain Disruptions
Challenge: The supply of construction chemicals is reliant on a complicated global supply chain for the price, sourcing, and product support of raw materials.
Disruptions due to supply (in-congruency) of other raw materials, transportation issues, strikes, or labor shortages could negatively affect production schedules and the flow of supplies to customer agency companies.
Solution: Supply chain management is a valuable business tool that has provided real-time tracking of products, geographic hurdles resolved, and relational equity established with multiple suppliers where available, reducing credit risks, while protecting in service products through supply chain disruptions.
Moreover, taking into account local material supply can provide a more stable source for materials and supply.
9. Product Innovation
Challenge: The construction chemicals market needs continuous advancement to meet the shifting construction job site demands and needs. Although the industry should constantly innovate, creating new products and replacement of somewhat “obsolete” products is always a slow, risky, and expensive process.
Solution: It may be best for companies to encourage professionals from research teams, universities, and industry experts to work together to accelerate the new product process.
Additionally, product development plans arm companies to use consumers’ needs to steer the business into new product and market area or determine the need for a new solution to existing demand.
10. Skilled Labor Shortage
Challenge: The construction sector and construction chemical industry, are not without their own labor shortage and needs for skilled labor.
Not only does the industry need workers skilled in chemical chemistry formulation and production skills, but also to apply their chemistry skills into application specific methods.
Solution: In either industry, companies can address their labor shortage by investing in training programs or in partnerships they can develop training plans with area technical schools or universities to crop the next generation in skilled labor.
Also, companies can provide sign on bonuses, or relocation fees to help attract skilled labor in areas with a labor shortage.
Conclusion
The construction chemical market faces several challenges, and with the right solutions to both these and some new challenges that may arise, the construction chemical market can overcome its challenges.
The future of the construction chemical market is in sustainability and cost management, however, innovation, labor needs, and assessment of new products may also need attention.
Addressing these challenges, regardless of the challenge, will allow the market to respond and not retreat.
By adopting the right technologies, improving quality control, and working together as an industry, construction chemicals can play an even more significant role in shaping the future of construction.
