COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the course Construction Schedule Planning & Control. This course is designed to equip you with the essential knowledge and skills needed to effectively plan, develop, and manage construction schedules. Proper scheduling is crucial to the successful completion of construction projects, ensuring that timelines are met, resources are optimally utilised, and risks are managed efficiently. Through this course, you will explore various scheduling techniques, methods, and best practices that are vital in the construction industry.

We begin with an introduction to construction scheduling, where you will learn the definition and significance of scheduling within construction projects. This section will explore the various types of construction schedules used in the industry, such as Gantt charts, network diagrams, and milestone schedules. Additionally, you will gain an understanding of the key stakeholders involved in scheduling, including project managers, contractors, and clients, and their roles in the scheduling process.

The project scope and Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) are foundational elements of effective scheduling. You will learn how to define the project scope accurately, create a WBS that breaks down the project into manageable components, and understand how to link the WBS to the project schedule to ensure that all aspects of the project are accounted for.

Scheduling methods and techniques form the core of construction scheduling practices. This section will introduce you to the Critical Path Method (CPM), the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT), and Lean Construction Scheduling. You will learn how to apply these techniques to plan and control project timelines effectively.

Time estimation and task sequencing are critical for creating realistic and efficient schedules. You will explore methods for estimating task durations, understanding task dependencies and relationships, and sequencing tasks in a way that maximises efficiency and minimises delays.

Developing the project schedule involves creating an initial schedule, integrating key milestones and deadlines, and ensuring that the schedule is reviewed and approved by all stakeholders. This section will guide you through the process of building a comprehensive project schedule that serves as the blueprint for project execution.

Resource allocation and levelling are vital for ensuring that the necessary resources are available when needed without overburdening the project. You will learn how to identify resource requirements, apply resource levelling techniques, and optimise resource utilisation to prevent bottlenecks and ensure smooth project flow.

Monitoring and controlling the schedule is essential for keeping the project on track. This section will cover how to track progress against the schedule, conduct variance analysis to identify deviations, and implement control measures to address any issues that arise.

Schedule acceleration techniques are sometimes necessary to meet tight deadlines. You will explore strategies such as fast-tracking and crashing the schedule, as well as how to mitigate the risks associated with accelerating the project timeline.

Managing schedule delays is a common challenge in construction projects. This section will teach you how to identify the types of delays that can occur, use delay analysis techniques to determine their impact, and develop effective delay mitigation plans to minimise their effect on the project.

Schedule risk management is critical for anticipating and addressing potential issues that could disrupt the schedule. You will learn how to identify schedule risks, perform quantitative and qualitative risk analysis, and develop risk response plans to protect the project timeline.

Integrated project scheduling involves coordinating multiple projects and stakeholders. This section will cover multi-project scheduling, collaborative scheduling with stakeholders, and ensuring coordination between subcontractors to achieve seamless project execution.

Legal and contractual aspects of scheduling are important to ensure compliance and manage changes effectively. You will explore the contractual obligations related to scheduling, how to manage change orders, and strategies for resolving claims and disputes that may arise during the project.

Continuous improvement in scheduling is essential for enhancing the effectiveness of future projects. You will learn how to evaluate schedule performance, gather feedback and lessons learned, and implement improvements in your scheduling practices for future projects.

Finally, case studies in construction scheduling will provide you with real-world examples of successful scheduling practices and lessons learned from scheduling failures. These case studies will help you understand the practical application of the concepts and techniques covered in the course, and provide insights into best practices for future projects.

By the end of this course, you will be well-equipped to plan, develop, and manage construction schedules that lead to successful project outcomes, ensuring that your projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.

Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:

1. Introduction to Construction Scheduling

• Definition and Importance of Scheduling
• Types of Construction Schedules
• Stakeholders Involved in Scheduling

2. Project Scope and Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

• Defining Project Scope
• Creating a Work Breakdown Structure
• Linking WBS to Scheduling

3. Scheduling Methods and Techniques

• Critical Path Method (CPM)
• Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
• Lean Construction Scheduling

4. Time Estimation and Task Sequencing

• Estimating Task Durations
• Task Dependencies and Relationships
• Sequencing Tasks for Efficiency

5. Developing the Project Schedule

• Creating the Initial Schedule
• Integrating Milestones and Deadlines
• Reviewing and Approving the Schedule

6. Resource Allocation and Levelling

• Identifying Resource Requirements
• Resource Levelling Techniques
• Optimising Resource Utilisation

7. Monitoring and Controlling the Schedule

• Tracking Progress Against the Schedule
• Variance Analysis
• Implementing Schedule Control Measures

8. Schedule Acceleration Techniques

• Fast-Tracking
• Crashing the Schedule
• Mitigating Risks of Acceleration

9. Managing Schedule Delays

• Types of Delays
• Delay Analysis Techniques
• Developing Delay Mitigation Plans

10. Schedule Risk Management

• Identifying Schedule Risks
• Quantitative and Qualitative Risk Analysis
• Developing Risk Response Plans

11. Integrated Project Scheduling

• Multi-Project Scheduling
• Collaborative Scheduling with Stakeholders
• Coordination Between Subcontractors

12. Legal and Contractual Aspects of Scheduling

• Contractual Obligations Related to Scheduling
• Managing Change Orders
• Claims and Dispute Resolution

13. Continuous Improvement in Scheduling

• Evaluating Schedule Performance
• Feedback and Lessons Learned
• Implementing Improvements in Future Projects

14. Case Studies in Construction Scheduling

• Successful Scheduling Practices
• Lessons from Scheduling Failures
• Best Practices for Future Projects

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.