SCHEDULING
ABEGAIL S. BAGON
WHAT IS SCHEDULING
The process of determining the sequential order of the
planned activities, assigning realistic durations to each
activity,and determining the start and finish dates for
each activity.
To prepare a time chart showing the start and finish
times for each activity as well as its relationship to other
activities of the project.
The schedule must pinpoint the critical path activities
which require special attention if the project is to be
completed in time.
Basis for monitoring and controlling project
scheduling involves
1. Identifying Project Activities
2. Determining Task Durations
3. Establishing Task Dependencies
4. Allocating Resources
5. Selecting a Scheduling Method
6. Defining the Critical Path
7. Setting Milestones and Deadlines
8. Monitoring and Updating the
Schedule
9. Identifying and Managing Risks
10. Communicating the Schedule
Identifying Project Activities
📌 Breaking down the entire project into smaller,
manageable tasks or activities.
✔ Example: Site preparation, foundation work,
framing, electrical installation, finishing
Determining Task Durations
📌 Estimating how long each activity will take using
historical data, expert judgment, or probabilistic
methods (PERT).
✔ Example:
• Site Preparation – 5 days
• Foundation Work – 10 days
Establishing Task Dependencies
📌 Identifying the logical sequence of tasks to
determine which activities must be completed before
others can begin.
✔ Types of dependencies:
• Finish-to-Start (FS) – Task A must finish before
Task B starts.
• Start-to-Start (SS) – Task A and Task B start at the
same time.
• Finish-to-Finish (FF) – Task A and Task B must
finish together.
✔ Example: Foundation must be completed before
structural framing can begin.
Allocating Resources
📌 Assigning labor, materials, and equipment to tasks
while ensuring efficient resource use.
✔ Example:
• Labor – Assigning workers for different activities.
• Materials – Ordering concrete, steel, or fixtures in
advance.
• Equipment – Scheduling cranes, trucks, and
scaffolding.
Selecting a Scheduling Method
📌 Choosing the right technique to create the project
schedule.
✔ Common methods include:
• Gantt Chart – Visual timeline representation.
• Critical Path Method (CPM) – Identifies the longest
path to determine project duration.
• Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
– Accounts for uncertainty in activity durations.
• Line of Balance (LOB) – Used for repetitive
construction tasks.
Defining the Critical Path
📌 Determining the longest sequence of dependent
tasks that must be completed on time to avoid
project delays.
✔ Example: If the critical path is 75 days long, any
delay in a critical task will extend the total project
Setting Milestones and Deadlines
duration.
📌 Establishing important project checkpoints to
monitor progress.
✔ Example:
• Foundation Completion – Day 15
• Structural Framing Done – Day 30
• Final Inspection – Day 75
Monitoring and Updating the Schedule
📌 Tracking actual progress vs. planned schedule to
identify delays and make adjustments.
✔ Methods:
• Regular progress meetings
• Software tools like Primavera P6, MS Project, or
BIM
• Adjusting resource allocation or task sequences
Identifying and Managing Risks
📌 Anticipating and addressing potential scheduling
risks like weather delays, labor shortages, or supply
chain issues.
✔ Example: Preparing for monsoon season by
adjusting excavation schedules in advance.
Communicating the Schedule
📌 Sharing the project schedule with stakeholders,
including project managers, engineers, contractors,
and clients.
✔ Tools:
• Printed schedules or reports
• Project management software dashboards
COMMON
LEGENDS IN
SCHEDULING
COLORS
are used to differentiate tasks, statuses, and
categories for easy identification.
Activity Bars (Gantt Chart Representation) 📊
In Gantt charts and CPM schedules, horizontal bars
represent the duration of activities.
• Short bars → Short-duration tasks
• Long bars → Long-duration tasks
• Thicker bars → Major project phases
Task Names & Descriptions 📋
Each activity is labeled with a task name (e.g.,
"Excavation," "Foundation Work") to indicate its role
in the project.
Timeline & Dates 🕒
A horizontal time axis (days, weeks, months) shows
when each task starts and ends.
• Milestones (important dates) are usually
represented with diamonds (◆).
• Example: "Structural Framing Completion – March
10, 2025"
Dependencies & Task Links 🔗
Arrows or lines indicate relationships between tasks
(e.g., which task must be finished before another
starts).
• Finish-to-Start (FS) → Task A must finish before
Task B starts.
• Start-to-Start (SS) → Task A and B start at the
same time.
Critical Path (CPM Method) 🚦
The longest sequence of dependent tasks that
determines the minimum project duration.
• Critical tasks → 🔴 (Red)
• Non-critical tasks → 🔵 (Blue)
📌 Example: If the critical path is delayed, the entire
project will be delayed.
Progress Indicators ✅
Some schedules use percentage completion or
shading to show progress.
• 0-25% → Light shading
• 50% → Half-shaded
• 100% → Fully colored (Green)
Resource Allocation 📦
Some schedules include resource assignments (e.g.,
workers, materials, equipment).
• Example: "Excavation – 10 workers, 2 excavators"
Delays & Risk Indicators ⚠️
Schedules may highlight delayed tasks in red or
orange and include a reason (e.g., weather, supply
issues).
📌 Example: "Rain Delay – Excavation delayed by 3
days"
IMPORTANCE 1
Ensures timely
project completion
OF Optimizes resource
SCHEDULING 2
allocation (labor,
materials,
equipment)
Reduces project
3
costs by avoiding
delays
Improves coordination
4 between teams
(contractors, suppliers,
engineers)
5
Identifies potential
risks and delays in
REFERENCES
Atienza, L., Planning and Scheduling. Emilio Aguinaldo
College.
Planning Scheduling Pert CPM | PDF | Applied Mathemati
cs | Systems Science
Project Scheduling.
Chapter 8 Project Scheduling | PDF | Operations Research
| Projects
Sri Vidya College of Engineering and Technology. Course
Material (Lecture Notes). [Link]
23 Construction Schedule Templates in Word & Excel ᐅ Te
mplateLab
Chatgpt.