When scheduling is done properly – it saves and makes you more than it costs. So if you are looking at the money it costs you, without looking at the money it makes you, then you are only looking at half the picture. I realize that most schedules are poorly designed /under – developed, do not model the building approach …
The problem is they just don’t exist – at least not in the numbers that they are needed. But I have a solution for you. What if I could provide you with a Primavera expert (a certified PSP) with extensive construction trade/trade management experience? What if: He could build and install your baseline (GC’s) or perform schedule review services (A&E’s) …
Then he asked the kids: What did I tell you about shooting? Aim small – miss small, they replied. It was years before I made the connection between aim small – miss small and PM/CM and project controls. I learned this catchy saying watching the movie, The Patriot. In the movie, Mel Gibson’s character is raising a bunch of kids …
The owner’s interest is not protected when a CM reviews the CPM baseline and update schedules instead of hiring a competent CPM scheduling expert. Nor is it protected when the CM approves a front loaded schedule and proceeds to prematurely disperse funds accordingly. It is surely not protected when a CM hides behind the means & methods clause, when the …
Is Primavera scheduling software that hard to learn? I don’t know if Primavera is really that hard to learn or not. I used to think it was. Now, I am starting to wonder. And Primavera 6 (P6) is quite different from Primavera 3 (P3). A couple of months ago, I overheard a colleague teaching two junior schedulers, that P6, like …
CPM tip #1: Hire a scheduler with Construction Management experience The ideal career path for a scheduler is: Superintendent->Project Manager-> Construction Scheduler. It is the career path less traveled; but if you can find even one such scheduler, you will have really found something. A scheduler without construction experience can’t build a schedule without the help from a CM type. …
Could you be overlooking a fundamental construction management process? Remember, we’re not looking for exciting strategies here; we are looking for profound strategies that make on-time on-budget outcomes routine, and even automatic, for our PM/CM teams, vendors, subcontractors and clients. And that is exactly what this process does. I’m talking about leading smooth projects, retaining employees, and building strong subcontractor/vendor relationships. I am …
Your projects seem very interesting. I would like to talk with you more about how to use a rigorous schedule update review process to optimize construction management. I call it; construction management beyond reproach (CMBR). I am not talking about nitpicking the minor aspects of the schedule. I agree with you, that is futile. What I am talking about is validating …
1. They understand the need to design and develop a valid CPM baseline schedule to model the actual building approach, including fully tied-in; design, submittal, construction, inspection and commissioning activities. 2. They understand the need to update and archive the master schedule weekly. They record as-built data in the course of the update. They do not use detached weekly look-ahead …
The Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International, (aacei), introduced the Professional Scheduler and Planner Certification, (PSP), in 2006. Now, four years later, about 900 schedulers have been certified. I can tell you, the exam is rigorous. Only half of the candidates pass the test on their first attempt. I took the test last summer, (2009), and was sweating …