Overview of construction scheduling techniques

The construction industries should form accurate construction schedule techniques to ensure the effective coordination of work.

The mostly used scheduling techniques in construction project is described below :-

Bar Charts and Linked Bar Charts
Network Analysis and Critical Path Method
Line of Balance
Q Scheduling

Bar Charts and Linked Bar Charts

Bar chart is nothing but a simple graphical method of scheduling activities in construction management to commune between management and employees about the accomplishment of the work on a given day. It is also known as Gantt Chart. Bar charts can be generated by a variety of software programs.

A typical Bar chart contains activities with the start, duration and finish of each activity exposed as a bar plotted to a time scale. The level of detail of the activities depends on the proposed use of the schedule.

The bar charts are also utilized for computing the necessary resources for the project. To put in the resources to every activity and total them vertically is known as resource aggregation. In order to estimate the work content regarding man-hours and machine hours, bar charts and resource aggregation charts are very much useful.

The linked bar chart illustrates the links between an activity and its preceding activities which should be completed prior the starting of this activity.

The bar chart includes a two dimensional chart. The x-axis of the chart represents the project timeline and y-axis contains a list of specific activities to be accomplished for completing the project. These activities are typically listed in order of earliest start on the project. The bar chart consists of bars which demonstrate the planned (and/or actual) start and end times for each task. In view of the fact that the tasks are generally organized from earliest to latest, most bar charts illustrate a pattern of bars that commence in the upper left of the chart and go on to bars that complete the project displayed in the bottom right of the chart.

Among the various methods available the least expensive methods is to employ the spreadsheet software programs.

Activities are listed on the Bar Chart in to the sequence that the activity should be completed. "Activity 1" becomes visible at the top of the y-axis. The length of Activity 1 is comparative to the required time for finishing the task.

Given below some checklist for generating effective Bar Charts:
Label the x-axis in working days or weeks
Use "ticks" to show working weeks or months
Y-axis shows the start of the project at time = 0
Skip lines between bars
Print the activity name above each bar, if possible
Free Online Bar Chart Construction Schedule


GNetwork Analysis and Critical Path Method

Network analysis produces more pragmatic models of the proposed work with its logic diagram. The following steps are applied for producing a network:

Listing of activities
Producing a network showing the logical relationship between activities
Assessing the duration of each activity, producing a schedule, and determining the start and finish times of each activity and the available float
Assessing the required resources

Now-a-days two popular forms of network analysis namely activity on the arrow and activity on the node are available in construction management practice. The latter now frequently described a precedence diagram. Each of these approaches offers virtually the same facilities and it seems largely a matter of preference which is used.

A critical path method refers to a network of events. Here e one of them linked to the following activities. Each activity is represented as a node on the network, and connecting lines are drawn to represent the time schedule to complete that activity.

The Critical Path Method schedule comes up with all work specified in the Contract Documents as well as all probable activities of subcontractors, vendors, suppliers and all other parties related with construction project.

Through the Critical Path Method(CPM), calendar days are ascertained and activities are allocated with an early date, first date that an activity can start; late start, specifying the last possible date that this activity must be started to avoid delays in the overall construction process; early finish, the earlier date that the proposed activity will be completed; and the late finish, that is the last date the activity must be completed without affecting the start of the next one, and subsequently affecting the entire construction schedule.

A critical path method represents a graphical view of the project. It will help you to have the required time for accomplishing an activity and find out the activities that may be critical if not performed within the specified time of a project.

A critical path method schedule must be completed using the following steps:

Identify the activities
Determine the sequence of the activities
Producing a network showing the logical relationship between activities
Assessing the duration of each activity, producing a schedule and Enter the completion time for every activity listed on step 1
Identify the critical path or the longest possible path to complete all activities
One important and valuable component is the CPM update progress, allowing to track closely the performance and time used to complete the activities

The network of activities should start at the time of all activities have been defined and interdependence of activities has been analyzed. All critical work sequence is linked with logical coordination and planning requirements. The CPM format must be based on calendar days as their main planning unit. Working days should be avoided when planning or preparing a critical path method schedule.

Line of Balance

The Line‐Of‐Balance Scheduling Technique(LOBST) can be termed as a linear scheduling method that permits the balancing of the operations such that each activity is continuously and efficiently performed in each consecutive unit.

Line of Balance scheduling technique (LOB) is nothing but a planning technique to allocate the resources to restrain the repeated operations for a project.

The line of balance technique is useful for construction work mostly to house building, jetty work, road works and high-rise construction. Consequently the Line-of-Balance diagram is an essential communication and productivity analysis tool for projects that have repetitive work areas.

In the context of construction projects, the LOB technique offers two main advantages:

It gives the ability to the project managers to verify whether they will be able to meet the schedule in the middle of a project, if they continue working as they have been.
It exposes process bottlenecks, allowing the project manager to focus on those points responsible for slippage.

Arrow and Precedence Diagramming are capable to model these types of schedules efficiently. The Line-of-Balance (also known as the Vertical Production Method) is a graphical technique to be applied together with Arrow or Precedence Diagrams.

In the Line-of-Balance diagram, the x-axis represents (as in the bar chart) the timeline of the project. The y-axis identifies the work areas that define the project. The blank chart is the starting point for the Line-of-Balance schedule.

Q Scheduling

Q. Scheduling is known as quantitative scheduling. In this technique quantities are accomplished at different locations of the construction project form the elements of the schedule. Q. Scheduling trades pass all the way through the diverse sections of the project in a queue sequence. No intervention between two activities is permitted at the same location. It is obtained mainly from the Line of balance technique making some amendments to allow for a varying volume of repetitive activities at different segments or locations of the construction project.

The Q Scheduling is the solitary scheduling technique that exposes a relation among the sequence of performing a job and the incurable cost.

Posted by Rajib Dey
Business Development
Global Associates
A pioneer company in construction estimating
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Construction Estimation is must for recent competitive era

One of the fastest moving jobs around now is that of Construction Cost Estimating. Construction is the largest industry to use cost estimators; but the manufacturing industry also employs cost estimators.

Now the question is what Construction Estimation is
Simply we can say Construction Estimation is just like a “budget”. And we all aware of the fact that budget is very important for every step of our life. It is as useful for maintaining our expenditure on our home world as maintaining the economic condition of our country. At first, we make a budget and then according to this we maintain our account. Just like that, in business world specifically which is related to construction or manufacture Construction Estimation is a very essential part of the business as it estimates the production cost before starting the project.

Necessity of Construction Estimation
Every construction project, no matter how big or small, is controlled each step of the way by adherence to the project's budget. This budget is developed before the first shovel of dirt is removed or the first brick is laid on the site. It was likely compiled by a construction estimator who put together pricing for all materials, labor, and miscellaneous costs and fees associated with getting the project built.

The estimation is made early in a project & it helps determine the scope of what can be built and whether cost saving measures or value engineering must be considered. Here is lying the cause of the necessity of Construction Estimation.

Main purpose of a construction estimating
The main purpose of a construction estimator is to develop a project budget based on proposed building plans and specifications. The owner and design team use these figures to determine if they can afford to build the project the way it was designed or if changes need to be made. Other estimators are responsible for completely different tasks. They are employed by contractors to prepare bids for projects. On most jobs, the lowest bidder is awarded the contract, although other factors like experience etc. may be considered as well.

Construction Estimator must be alert until the project is rightly done
There is no word of laziness in that kind of profession. It is that profession where employees must be attentive till the end of the project and they have to remain constantly on tight deadlines. The entire project bids will have to strict as dates and pricing must be submitted on time and in the proper format. The job is therefore incredibly stressful and action-packed. Additionally, there is pressure to not make a mistake.

Recent advanced technology makes you confident & efficient
No program can guarantee that you'll win every contract you bid on, but a quality program can help you manage your day-to-day functions, increase your productivity and in turn, raise your profit margin.

The in-depth construction estimating software reviews and side-by-side comparisons can help you quickly access the needs of your small business and find the software that can help you get organized and productive.

Below are the criteria Top Ten REVIEWS used to rank construction estimating software:

Feature Set
Construction estimating software should provide all of the features you need to make your job easier. Including the ability to track job costs and bids as well as perform general office management functions. It should also accept customized formulas and calculations, provide reports, import national cost indexes, and compare subcontractor and vendor quotes and track jobs by divisions and sub-divisions.

Ease of Use
Construction estimating software manages many variables and therefore can be quite complex, but using the software should be as easy as possible. It should be well organized and presented in a logical manner.

Ease of Installation and Setup
The software should install quickly and set up without error, regardless of your computer experience.

Help Documentation
Since this type of software involves many aspects; the developer should provide tutorials, training classes and/or online demonstrations to help you learn how to utilize all of the features in a productive manner. A phone number, email, FAQs and other contact methods should be available for technical support.

A small investment in a flexible construction estimating program that can handle your needs can increase your accuracy, speed up your bidding process and ultimately add to your bottom line.

Easiness with math & Computer, good communication skills & self-confidence- just need for a Construction Estimator

Being able to accurately project the cost of upcoming projects is vital to the survival of any company. Cost estimators provide this vital information by developing the cost information needed in order to determine if a proposed product will be profitable, or to make bid for a contract. This also works to determine which endeavors are making an adequate profit.

About the job of construction estimator
A construction estimator will be responsible for calculating quotes and proposals for your employer and making sure that these proposals offer a good return on investment for the company. Construction estimators also negotiate contracts and prepare estimated construction prices based on architect's drawings, the amount of employees needed for the job and also the amount of construction materials required.

Main Criteria of being a Construction Estimator
The main aspect of the job is to analyze and compile data you have at hand. It is important that estimators have an easy inclination for math and a well-rounded confidence in their determinations. You need to be computer literate, have knowledge of office system software (such as word processing and spreadsheet) and be familiar with blueprints. Excellent communication skills are a must as you will interact with many different people at all levels in the industry.

Often an estimator's job description states that a college degree is preferred. In reality, a person can start to work in estimating as an assistant to the estimator. Upon learning the trade, they can work their way up to become an assistant estimator, then an estimator.

Types of estimators
There are three main types of estimators. The first are employed by architecture and engineering firms. They price the project as it is designed to determine whether it fits within the preliminary budget. Next the job is put out for bid to general contractors and their estimators put together estimates on what they should charge to build the project. Once the job has been awarded, the blueprints are sent to subcontractors, where a new estimator prices specific tasks, such as electrical work or carpet installation.

One must fulfill the demands of Employers to become a Construction Estimator
Employers interviewing estimators will look for three specific areas of credentials to satisfy: Education, Experience, and how you present yourself.

Education: If you have a degree in construction engineering, civil engineering or architecture then you have a big advantage to start with. If you don't have a construction related degree then try to complete a Certificate Program in Construction Estimating.

Experience: Either you have it or you don't. Field experience doing the type of work you will be estimating is very good to have. Experience producing successful estimates is the gold standard. If you don't have experience then make darn sure you satisfy the other two requirements listed here (Education and Presentation).
How you present yourself is important on several levels. The personality traits of good estimators are considered by some to be at least as important as education. Estimators must have an eye for detail, they must understand the value of money, they must be competitive and they must have an aptitude for mathematics. They must be analytical, adaptable, and technically oriented. Estimators often meet with clients and company management so they need people skills too.

Tips for improving the skill of estimation
As the estimation should be accurate & systematic, it must be done carefully & efficiently. The following tips intend to improve the skills of a construction estimator/cost planner.

1. Understand the market in which the construction process will take place.
This is an important aspect of cost estimating as the construction of buildings often involves many different specialist trades carried out by separate contractors. Understanding how these contractors operate in the current market will help arrive at a realistic estimate figure.

2. Know how buildings stand up.
Basic knowledge about the process of building construction also helps estimators accurately estimate the Preliminaries component which involves labors, plant and equipment resources required by the main contractor (builder) to project manage and supervise the construction activities carried out by trade contractors. The difference in material and labor would bring about a difference in the cost of the project.

3. Request quotes from suitable trade contractors for each project.
Each construction project has its distinctive characteristics in terms of locality, site conditions, timing, building type, etc. When asking for a quote from a trade contractor, it is important to understand the business preference and specialty of the contractor to ensure a realistic quote.

4. Utilize estimating software to help with the estimate.
Advanced technology has already made it simple to work out the costs of construction. The specialized software simplifies the process of estimation of cost, quantities of labors, plant and materials involved with the project. So utilizing this software designed to handle multiple functions one can easily & quickly make accurate construction estimation.

Efficiency is the key word for the success
Underbidding a job may cause the company to lose money, which could cost millions of dollars on large projects. Overbidding could mean the job is awarded to another firm. There is constant pressure both to get the job done and to get it done right. So “Efficiency” is the key word for the success of a Construction Estimator.

Anurupa Roy
The construction estimating service

Construction Scheduling is the most effective method to streamline a construction process

Planning, scheduling and control of the functions, operations, and resources related with a construction project can bring great benefits to the construction ranging from conception to post-construction analysis.

A construction schedule consists of a sequence of work tasks that are linked to each other in a logical manner. With a well-planned and realistic schedule that includes as many variables as possible the construction managers get updated with the new information. They are able to make adjustments instantly by rearranging the schedules and reduce hindrances and streamline a construction process.

The schedule is also utilized to track bids from original invitation or analysis during the hand over of the final bid.

Scheduling is needed in the following cases of a construction project :-
a) hierarchical breakdown of the project
b) integration of risk and improbability during activity time and cost estimate
c) modeling of dynamically allocated resources.

There are many factors like size and degree of difficulty of the structure, site and weather conditions, material and contractor accessibility, crew sizes, effective scheduling and communication, the number, timeliness, and complexity of the changes to the original contract etc. which may affect the actual scheduling of completion for a specific project.

The construction scheduling can bring so many benefits to contractors - find out critical paths and their dependencies for completion of a project on schedule, set up a comprehensible storage area of requirements, a workflow to attain it and follow any alterations to the set path, help track supply orders and control construction personnel as well as sub contractors.

With over ten years of experience in construction & scheduling and by applying state of the art technologies & cost estimating software, we will provide you a scheduling solution with which you can organize, schedule and control a single or multiple construction projects, take control of the scheduling process, reduce liability by saving Time and $ Money on your communication overhead.

We will help to complete every project on time and ensure you meet those project deadlines, pass your inspection.

In brief, our service can bring you the following benefits:-
• Control Time
• Reduce Liability
• Generate accountability and increased Profits
• Automate the projects control deliveries
• Capability to know your cash flow
• Increase Communication and manage the workload
• Adjust Profit Margins Resource Management
• Reach Purchasing Power Satisfied Customers

Rajib Dey
The construction estimating