Best practices boost schedule accuracy and optimize resources

For construction project delivery teams, the critical path schedule is both the map and the compass. It sets out the myriad of complex relationships that intertwine timelines, activities, and resources. It establishes the path to deliver the project on time and within budget.

On a major construction project, the schedule can include numerous activities for just a couple of weeks’ work. Each has many underlying tasks, varying dependencies, and a different level of importance. And as schedule complexity increases, the likelihood of errors, omissions, or disconnects rises, limiting the visibility that is needed to manage activities and resources optimally.

True visibility comes from an understanding—by all relevant project participants—of how those parts fit together, the time and resource they require, any external factors which might affect the project, and how construction is likely to play out. That is no easy feat, and no matter how well put together a schedule is, there are several common process or organizational weaknesses that can result in costly deviations and delays. This paper examines five key areas where construction project delivery teams can improve scheduling practices to drive overall better project outcomes.