Implementing Earned Value Management: Lessons from the Field

Watch or listen on Youtube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Earned Value Management (EVM) is one of the most powerful tools in project controls. But let’s be honest—mention EVM in a meeting, and half the room runs for the hills. The challenge? Taking an organization unfamiliar with EVM and implementing it in a way that actually adds value instead of turning into a compliance-driven headache.

In this episode of Beyond Deadlines, I sat down with Christopher Mikec , Project Controls Manager, and Frank Casertano , Scheduling Manager, both from Lighthouse Electric Company, Inc. They shared their experience working with a general contractor (GC) to roll out EVM across an entire program. Their insights are a must listen for anyone looking to make EVM work in the real world.

Key Takeaways

For those short on time, here’s what you need to know:

1. A Strong Schedule is the Foundation Before you even think about implementing EVM, your schedule must be rock solid. Chris and Frank stress the importance of creating a Level 4 schedule—detailed enough to track work packages but not so detailed that it becomes unmanageable. They follow the DCMA 14-point schedule assessment to ensure quality.
2. Standardization is Key Standardizing data between scheduling (P6) and accounting software is critical. They’ve built a system where every project follows the same structure, allowing seamless cost tracking, percent complete calculations, and historical benchmarking.
3. Earned Value Data Comes from Multiple Sources EVM isn’t just about the schedule. It integrates with accounting systems, cost codes, and quantity tracking software (Assemble) to get a complete picture of planned value, earned value, and actual costs.
4. Buy-In Requires Selling the Value EVM often gets a bad reputation as an overcomplicated process. The key to securing buy-in from project teams and leadership is demonstrating how it drives proactive decision-making—identifying inefficiencies and making adjustments before they escalate.
5. Quantity Tracking Reduces Schedule Complexity Using a model-based tracking tool like Assemble allows them to keep schedules leaner and more manageable while still reporting highly accurate percent completes. This reduces the administrative burden of maintaining a bloated schedule with thousands of activities.
6. Continuous Improvement and Automation are the Future Right now, quantity tracking is still manual. The future lies in automation and AI-driven progress tracking, such as site cameras or drones that capture real-time installation data and feed it back into the EVM system.

Tactical Takeaway: Set Up a Clean Handoff Between Schedule and Cost Data

One of the biggest mistakes in EVM implementation is a messy handoff between scheduling and cost data. If you’re looking for one actionable step today, make sure your scheduling team and accounting team are using the same cost codes and WBS structure. A standard, well-integrated framework prevents rework, minimizes confusion, and ensures that your earned value calculations are both accurate and meaningful.

Watch or listen on Youtube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

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