Chapter 15 Construction Scheduling 257
Figure 15-1. This task list includes cost and the percentage of the total job
costs that each task represents. Cost for tasks that are a part of overhead are
shown as $0.
The contractor studies each job to determine which tasks are depen-
dent on the completion of other tasks. For example, the hole must be laid
out before it is dug. Other tasks, such as ordering and delivering pipe and
fittings, can overlap with tasks that must be done in order.
Having analyzed the jobs, the contractor prepares the bar chart,
Figure 15-2. In our example, the bar chart was updated at noon on the
fourth day. Note that the first task was not completed on schedule. As a
result, the assembly of pipe and fittings was delayed and is one-half day
behind schedule. In order to get the job back on schedule, the manager may
choose to:
•
Pay workers overtime to complete the assembly on schedule.
•
Assign additional workers to the assembly task.
•
Allow the job to be delayed.
The planned and actual expenditures of money for a project are shown
in an overall progress chart, Figure 15-3. In this figure, the blue line indi-
cates the planned rate of expenditure and the red line indicates the actual
expenditure. Examine the bar chart and the overall progress chart together
to get a side-by-side view of the status of the project. You can see that work
is behind schedule and more money has been spent than planned. This is a
dangerous situation and must be corrected if possible. Viewing both the bar
chart and overall progress chart together allows managers to see these issues
while they can still be corrected.
Tasks Cost Percentage of Job
Order and deliver pipe and fittings
Lay out hole
Dig hole
Order and deliver form lumber
Build forms
Assemble pipe and fittings
Order concrete
Erect pole
Place, finish, and cure concrete
Award painting contract
Strip forms
Paint pole
Clean up site
Total
$500
$50
$250
$100
$100
$100
$0
$150
$350
$0
$50
$250
$100
$2,000
25
2.5
12.5
5
5
5
0
7.5
17.5
0
2.5
12.5
5
100 percent
overall progress
chart: A graph
showing planned
and actual
expenditures of
money for a project.