A thorough and well-thought-out schedule is critical to project success. A schedule that is properly put together is indicative of many other aspects of the job: the management of subcontractors, the team’s problem-solving ability, and the relationship with the project owner, to name a few. Project Managers (or PMs) are ultimately in charge of the schedule. Their job is to develop that schedule in conjunction with their superintendents and with input from their subcontractors. The Senior Project Manager then reviews the schedule to ensure its quality and inclusion of the appropriate project milestones and organization.

Identifying the Project Milestones

Within a project, there are myriad milestones that must be completed on schedule in order to ensure the timely completion of the entire project. Each project requires a specific approach, and specific milestones will depend on whether it is a renovation or a ground-up project. There are, however, some standard milestones, such as:

Staying On Schedule

Connect with Margaret now to learn more about feasible project scheduling.

  • Permanent power
  • Conditioned air
  • Building dry-in
  • Structure top-out
  • Turn-over completion
  • Certificate of occupancy

These milestones enable the project managers to measure the progress of a project. Moreover, they allow PMs to identify areas that may be behind schedule in time to remedy the delay and keep the project on track.

Organizing the Schedule

Once milestones are identified, the project manager organizes the schedule in multiple ways and layers. They examine the timeframe from spatial and temporal perspectives, including:

  • Area
  • Phase
  • Building System
  • Trade

Our scheduling software of choice, Primavera SureTrak, enables this type of complex organization. A properly organized schedule provides a three-dimensional view of all the different components that must operate in concert to reach each of the milestones.

The project schedule, once completed, is updated regularly and reviewed in weekly subcontractor meetings, as well as during biweekly owner meetings. A good, experienced project manager will ensure every project – regardless of market – has a well-thought-out, feasible schedule.