Each U.S. COST schedule is carefully prepared for a specific project and displays the relationships between associated activities in a usable presentation for control of the project. An in-depth review of the documents and site environs ensure that the established activity duration and relationships accurately reflect the necessary work efforts.
At the budgetary stage, our staff visits the project site and assists in developing the project scope (or definition) for which the schedule is being prepared. To assist in the scheduling process, we have developed a number of schedules for projects which contain activity structure, logic and durations based on productivity rates applicable to the specific sites and types of facilities for which schedules are being prepared.
Most preliminary engineering schedules are developed from drawings or sketches, along with some written or verbal description of the proposed project. Our schedulers are skilled in developing schedules that incorporate the known information, as well as, assumptions regarding project phasing, which are not always defined at the preliminary stage. Working with the cost estimators, our schedulers refine durations and logic based on measured quantities and estimated labor.
Final design and bid schedules may be developed in a CSI or trade format in order to more closely correspond with contractor proposal schedules which facilitate the evaluation and selection process. All final schedules are based upon industry standard practices and historical performance data. And the durations are based on the estimators measured quantities for each construction item. Each activity can also be cost/resource loaded based on the estimate along with any project coding to generate the various types of reports specified by the client.
Project Management Scheduling. Complex installation projects require more than construction schedules to ensure timely completion. The entire project management process must be included in cost loaded, critical path schedules to ensure project performance. In our scheduling approach, we use industry best practices for effective activity definition related to elements and key project milestones. Logical relationships are identified and detailed predecessor and successor relationships are established to properly drive the schedule using the Critical Path Method (CPM). Our Senior Schedulers, considered experts in using the Primavera® scheduling system, develop resource, cost and duration data for each activity in accordance with the centralized code structures. Using this approach we develop and support the project execution master schedule using hierarchy based on the WBS coding structure. Risk analysis may be performed as necessary to identify the most likely cost and completions date based on assigned probable cost/duration and likelihood of occurrence.
Schedule Updates. Once a baseline schedule is established, all commitments made on the program are represented by a cost and resource loaded CPM schedule. The commitment baseline is used to track, monitor and forecast the execution of the work. Monthly updates are reviewed by senior management staff and subsequently used to validate the work performed, approval of payment and overall status of the program.
