Large construction projects are notoriously complicated to execute. This is because many moving parts must work in unison to ensure the project is completed successfully. Your construction project will be prone to delays without an effective construction schedule, which can result in millions of dollars in losses.
For this reason, general contractors should leverage the right tools to create an effective construction schedule.
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What is a construction schedule?
A construction schedule is a blueprint of an entire project detailing how the contractor will implement the project based on reasonable timelines/milestones. The blueprint must include the budget for the project, responsible team members, and the duration of the project. This way, each construction manager will be able to follow the project’s progress and identify any issues along the way.
There are certain features that an effective construction schedule should have. These are:
- Construction deadlines
- Budget based on outlined timeframes/milestones
- Asset allocations
- Responsible team members
- Resource management
- Tasks per milestone
- Deliverables of the project
It is essential to understand that having a construction schedule does not mean that the project will succeed. Project managers/team leaders must periodically assess the schedule to ensure that everything is going according to plan.
Manually creating a construction schedule is time-consuming and can result in specific operational procedures being left out. For this reason, we advise construction companies and property developers to use AI-powered construction planning and scheduling solutions.
An example of an AI-powered construction optioneering platform that offers planning and scheduling solutions is https://www.alicetechnologies.com.
Why should you have a construction schedule?
If you are not yet convinced that you require a construction schedule, we have listed a few points for you to consider:
It’s easier to manage resources
If you have limited resources for your construction project, it is vital to allocate those resources to sectors with the highest return on investment. A construction schedule will increase productivity because every resource at your disposal will be adequately accounted for and utilized.
It keeps things under budget
A well-thought-out plan can help project managers and construction companies reduce operational costs. A schedule will also allow the companies to set monetary limits, increasing profits.
It increases efficiency
A well-detailed schedule increases operational efficiency because it acts as a road map for all involved parties to follow. The road map enables them to work together because they have fixed tasks and timelines.
Other benefits include ensuring quality control, using only suitable materials, and effective asset allocation. So how do you create an effective construction schedule?
Steps for creating an effective construction schedule
1. Get the correct information and an AI-powered solution
The first step in creating an effective plan is identifying all the parties involved. This should include internal staff as well as subcontractors.
Project owners who are budgeting the project will work with financiers and quantity surveyors. This will help them tackle any cash flow challenges they might face. Once this information is identified, it is time to find an AI-powered scheduling solution.
2. Identify tasks and prioritize them
Your schedule cannot be accurate if you cannot identify and prioritize tasks.
It is essential to break large, complicated tasks into smaller, manageable projects with realistic milestones. Once a milestone is achieved, the second milestone should automatically start until the project is completed.
3. Add the time frame
Once you have identified and prioritized your tasks, give them a realistic time frame. At the same time, you must factor in external elements that might affect the project. Some of these elements include government regulations and weather forecasts.
You need to consider other factors, including vacation days for employees, national holidays, and off days for sick employees. Another common mistake that contractors make is forgetting about procurement. In your schedule, factor in procurement delivery time and payment challenges.
4. Allocate Labor
When everything has been put in place, including unforeseen factors, it is time to allocate the labor. If you only have a few employees, that is easy, but dealing with hundreds of workers simultaneously becomes challenging.
One way of solving this problem is by color-coding the tasks based on the team handling them. The tasks should be based on realistic and achievable milestones.
5. Review your schedule to identify any issues
When you are manually creating a construction schedule, you can miss a lot of things, especially if you are dealing with a megaproject. For this reason, it is important to review your plan as many times as possible until you are satisfied everything is in order. When an unexpected occurrence happens, it is essential to re-evaluate the schedule so that you are still on track.
Creating an effective construction schedule is hard work requiring hours of human resources. Therefore, always strive to use a construction optimization platform because it makes it easier to follow events, stay on track, manage risk, and allocate and reallocate resources as necessary.