Construction Scheduling

Construction Scheduling is the “black art” of developing, distributing, and maintaining a listing of a project’s milestones (including dates), activities, and deliverables (what is going to be produced). Usually, dependencies and resources are defined for each task, then start and finish dates are estimated from the resource allocation, budget, task duration, and scheduled events.

• The goal is to be sure the project is completed on time and to keep everyone informed about job progress.
• There are several types of schedules including Critical Path Method (CPM), Gantt Charts, Last Planner System (LPS), Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT), Resource Oriented Scheduling.  There are many computer software program to assist in the process including Microsoft Project, Primavera and Procore.
• Oddly enough, CRESG has found this to be weakest link in the process.
• Often initial schedules are not realistic because the written schedule milestone dates/durations are too short, the people doing the scheduling do not have adequate experience (they are NOT professional schedulers), subcontractor and vendor information is missing or unrealistic, schedules are simply “updated” or changed to make it look like the work is progressing well when it is not.
• Occasionally, CRESG has had to speak the truth when a room full of people try to ignore reality that a project will not be completed on the contract date(s).