Scheduling for Estimators

Learning critical path scheduling is not terribly difficult. It used to be very difficult. Drawing a decent critical path schedule for even a small building project could takes weeks and changes or updates were major tasks. Scheduling software has changed all of that. The modern estimator can draw a preliminary critical path schedule in a few hours that truly reflects the job requirements.

The preliminary bid-phase schedule will be good enough to give the estimating team an idea of how onerous the project schedule requirements really are. The preliminary schedule will demonstrate where the schedule bottle necks occur. The estimator will be able to determine which trades will be required to put forth extra effort in the way of overtime or extra shifts in order to accomplish the project requirements.

Of course, this is a very preliminary schedule and it’s absolute accuracy will be questionable. Much work will be done to this preliminary schedule before one arrives at a good as-planned schedule.

What does the estimator need to know to prepare a schedule that truly reflects the requirements of the project? That can be answered by the following list:

1. Understand the construction process of the project at hand. This is the same requirement that any estimator needs to properly estimate the cost of a project.
   
2. Understand basic scheduling nomenclature and techniques. A few hours in a seminar designed for that purpose will give you the information you need about scheduling.
   
3. Learn how to use scheduling software. There are many good scheduling software packages including the very popular SureTrak by Primavera and Microsoft Project.
   
4. Practice. Just like anything else, the more schedules you prepare, the easier it gets

Previous Page | Next Page

Introduction

Bar Charts are not adequate

Using Preliminary critical path schedules

The scheduling process

Listing and Sequencing

Logical Connections and Lag

Assigning Durations

Summary

© 1998, Construction Experts, Inc.