Direct Answer
Recover a late schedule by first quantifying the gap (how many weeks behind, which assemblies are critical to erection start), then identifying recovery options (overtime, second shift, added capacity, resequencing erection), pricing the recovery, and presenting the GC with a written recovery plan. Never promise recovery without a plan that your shop foreman has reviewed and committed to.
Full Explanation
Recovery strategy options: (1) Overtime — most immediate, highest premium. Practical limit: 10–12 hours/day before productivity loss. (2) Weekend work — adds crew hours but requires advance notice and safety planning. (3) Second shift — adds full shift capacity but needs supervisor coverage and shift overlap for handover. (4) Subcontracting — move specific assemblies to a pre-qualified subcontractor. (5) Resequencing — work with the erector to identify which assemblies can be delivered late without affecting the erection critical path. Not all assemblies are equally critical — sometimes erection sequence flexibility can buy 1–2 weeks.
What This Means for Your Shop
Present recovery plans proactively — as soon as you know you're 2+ weeks behind. Reactive recovery (discovering the delay at delivery time) destroys trust and eliminates the GC's ability to mitigate. Proactive communication preserves the relationship even when the news is bad.
Common Mistakes
Committing to a recovery plan without input from your shop foreman. Project managers who make recovery commitments without the shop's buy-in routinely over-promise and under-deliver.
Recommended Process
When you identify a developing schedule gap, hold an internal recovery meeting: project manager + shop foreman + detailer. Identify the root cause, the realistic options, and the team's capacity for recovery. Develop the plan together. Then communicate it to the GC.