How can you create a flexible construction schedule that meets your client's needs?

1 Understand your client's goals

Before you start planning your schedule, you need to understand what your client wants and expects from the project. What are their priorities, preferences, and constraints? What are their milestones, deadlines, and deliverables? How often do they want to communicate and review progress? By asking these questions, you can align your schedule with your client's goals and avoid misunderstandings or conflicts later on.

2 Break down the project scope

Once you have a clear idea of your client's goals, you need to break down the project scope into manageable tasks and subtasks. This will help you estimate the time, resources, and costs required for each activity, as well as identify dependencies, risks, and assumptions. You can use a work breakdown structure (WBS) or a similar method to organize your project scope into a hierarchy of deliverables and outcomes.

3 Use a scheduling software

A scheduling software can help you create, update, and share your construction schedule more easily and efficiently. You can use a software that suits your needs and preferences, such as Microsoft Project, Primavera, or Smartsheet. A scheduling software can help you automate calculations, track progress, assign resources, and generate reports. It can also help you create different types of schedules, such as Gantt charts, network diagrams, or critical path methods.

4 Incorporate contingency and flexibility

No matter how well you plan your schedule, you will likely encounter some changes and challenges along the way. To prepare for these situations, you need to incorporate contingency and flexibility into your schedule. Contingency is the amount of time or money you reserve for unforeseen events, such as weather delays, material shortages, or design changes. Flexibility is the ability to adjust your schedule to accommodate new requests, feedback, or opportunities. You can increase your contingency and flexibility by adding buffers, using ranges, and prioritizing tasks.

5 Communicate and collaborate with your team and client

A flexible construction schedule is not only a document, but also a process. You need to communicate and collaborate with your team and client throughout the project to ensure that everyone is on the same page, aware of the changes, and committed to the goals. You can use various tools and methods to communicate and collaborate, such as meetings, emails, phone calls, or online platforms. You should also establish clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations for each stakeholder.

6 Review and update your schedule regularly

A flexible construction schedule is not a static or final product, but a dynamic and evolving one. You need to review and update your schedule regularly to reflect the actual progress, performance, and feedback of your project. You should also compare your schedule with your baseline, which is the original plan you agreed with your client. By reviewing and updating your schedule regularly, you can identify and resolve issues, measure and improve results, and report and celebrate achievements.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?