Project Scheduling Fundamentals

Project Scheduling

Definition

Project scheduling is the process of developing a detailed plan for executing a construction project, including the scope, timeline, and resources required.

Key Components

• Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): a hierarchical decomposition of the project into smaller, manageable tasks
• Network Diagram: a visual representation of the project schedule, showing the relationships between tasks
• Gantt Chart: a bar chart that illustrates the project schedule, including task start and end dates

Scheduling Techniques

• Critical Path Method (CPM): a technique used to identify the critical tasks that determine the minimum duration required to complete the project
• Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT): a method used to plan, organize, and coordinate tasks in a project

Scheduling Steps

1. Define project scope and objectives
2. Establish the work breakdown structure (WBS)
3. Estimate task durations and resources
4. Develop the project schedule network diagram
5. Determine the critical path and float times
6. Develop the project Gantt chart
7. Resource leveling and smoothing (if necessary)
8. Finalize the project schedule

Key Considerations

• Dependencies: tasks that rely on the completion of previous tasks
• Float: the amount of time a task can be delayed without affecting the project completion date
• Crashing: reducing the duration of a task by adding resources
• Fast tracking: overlapping tasks to reduce the project duration

Project Scheduling

Definition

• Project scheduling is the process of developing a detailed plan for executing a construction project, including the scope, timeline, and resources required.

Key Components

• Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a hierarchical decomposition of the project into smaller, manageable tasks.
• Network Diagram is a visual representation of the project schedule, showing the relationships between tasks.
• Gantt Chart is a bar chart that illustrates the project schedule, including task start and end dates.

Scheduling Techniques

• Critical Path Method (CPM) is a technique used to identify the critical tasks that determine the minimum duration required to complete the project.
• Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) is a method used to plan, organize, and coordinate tasks in a project.

Scheduling Steps

• Define project scope and objectives.
• Establish the work breakdown structure (WBS).
• Estimate task durations and resources.
• Develop the project schedule network diagram.
• Determine the critical path and float times.
• Develop the project Gantt chart.
• Resource leveling and smoothing (if necessary).
• Finalize the project schedule.

Key Considerations

• Dependencies refer to tasks that rely on the completion of previous tasks.
• Float is the amount of time a task can be delayed without affecting the project completion date.
• Crashing involves reducing the duration of a task by adding resources.
• Fast tracking involves overlapping tasks to reduce the project duration.

Learn about the key components of project scheduling, including Work Breakdown Structure, Network Diagram, and Gantt Chart. Understand the process of developing a detailed plan for executing a construction project.