Schedule Quality

Construction schedules are intended to serve three specific purposes:

manage the project
meet contractual requirement for progress measurement and payment, and
to support and quantify delay and time extension requests.

Creating and managing a construction schedule requires a blend of project experience, scheduling knowhow and knowledge of scheduling software such as Primavera, Microsoft Project or other critical path method (CPM) application being used. Those involved in developing the schedule are presumed to be familiar with the contract requirements, including specific milestones, calendar restrictions and scheduling clause requirements that may govern software settings or scheduling methodology. One measurement of schedule quality is how well the schedule conforms to these requirements.

Other measures of schedule quality are guided by documented best practices, such as the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) Schedule Assessment Guide, which sets both qualitative and quantitative guidelines, and the DCMA 14-Point Schedule Assessment, which serves as a framework for schedule quality control. However, a judgement of schedule quality should not be based merely on satisfying certain metrics, but as to how well the schedule fulfills its intended purposes.

The benefit of measuring and improving schedule quality can result in meaningful improvement of project outcome, sometimes significantly. For example, projects may finish early, or avoid delays, reducing overhead and equipment costs. The schedule quality improvement process can also lead to reallocation of resources to improve logistic support of operations and to resequencing work for better coordination, reduced crowding, improved work flows and increased productivity.

The construction schedule is a planning and measurement tool. The better quality the of the schedule, the more likely the better quality of the project plan. Scheduling is key.