Plan Your Construction Project With A Construction Schedule
Visualize construction timelines with a construction workflow plan. But how should construction managers choose their approach and how binding is a construction schedule?
The construction schedule (construction calendar) supports construction managers in coordinating the construction process. It ensures that the work of the trades flows smoothly and without long pauses. Construction managers enter all the necessary entries to guarantee a secure timeline. Deviations often incur high costs. In this article, we address three of the most important questions for construction projects:
Which Type & Presentation is Suitable for the Construction Workflow Plan?
What Information Should a Construction Schedule Contain?
Is There a Requirement to Create a Construction Workflow Plan?
Advantages of Professional PM Software
Use of Templates
For visualization, construction managers usually use bar or Gantt charts. They employ specialized software – from a simple construction scheduler in a spreadsheet to complex project management solutions such as Merlin Project, which link the construction schedule with resource and financial planning.
With Merlin Project you create your construction projects, for example in a Gantt chart, and add costs, risks, attachments and more. This way, you keep all information within your project file. Try it free for 30 days now.
But when should construction managers choose which solution, and how binding is a construction schedule?
Which Type & Presentation is Suitable for the Construction Workflow Plan?
There are different types of construction schedules that are more or less suitable depending on the complexity of the construction project:
Bar Chart
In a construction timeline depicted as a bar chart, the start, end and duration of individual trades are shown on a calendar, e.g. by calendar weeks. For a long time, this form of construction workflow planning was the classic construction schedule or workflow plan. In this form, however, the construction schedule only provides a rough overview of the project timeline and is therefore more suitable for simple construction projects.
Gantt Chart
Similar to the bar chart version of the workflow plan, the Gantt Chart displays the individual construction phases on a calendar. It also shows the dependencies of individual work steps and milestones. Often, the Gantt chart is coupled with a capacity plan, so that workload or potential overloading of employees, materials and machinery becomes evident. With the Gantt chart, construction managers or architects can plan projects that are somewhat more complex.
Network Diagram
So-called network diagrams are developed based on work breakdown structures. With the classic workflow plan, you focus solely on the dependencies between tasks. The network diagram logically represents relationships and helps you capture the fundamental structure of your construction project and review the critical path. It is therefore suitable for particularly complex construction projects.
What Information Should a Construction Schedule Contain?
When creating a construction schedule, the construction management or architect should include at least the following information:
- Conversion of the service titles or positions from the bill of quantities (BOQ) into individual work sections (i.e. construction tasks, trades or location assignments) as they will be executed.
- Transfer of basic data, in particular the number of hours (target hours)
- Determination of man-days based on the established daily working time
- Determination of the number of technologically required and planned labor forces
- Calculation of the number of working days for the respective work section as the duration for the related activity
- Verification, if necessary, of the planned productivity
- Entry of the working days for the individual work sections
- Optimization between work sections as well as review of parallel executions (if necessary, by varying the labor forces employed)
Is There a Requirement to Create a Construction Workflow Plan?
There is no legal requirement that mandates the creation of a construction schedule. However, construction owners and contractors frequently agree to create a construction schedule as part of the construction contract. If such a clause is included in the contract, the construction schedule is binding for both the construction management and the client.
Advantages of Professional PM Software
Professional project management software offers clear advantages over Excel. It enables more precise construction scheduling and optimizes resource usage – a real benefit for your timeline planning in construction projects. With dynamic Gantt charts, automated reports and integrated risk management tools, you always stay on top. Compare why professional software is superior to Excel solutions and boost efficiency and schedule reliability on your construction site.
Use of Templates
Use pre-made Templates to simplify and standardize your construction scheduling. These templates provide a structured framework for your construction workflow plan and ease the creation and adjustment process. With clear, standardized templates, you save time, minimize errors and ensure consistent planning – ideal for recurring construction projects.
