264 Section 4 Construction Management
Summary
Preparing a detailed schedule of all work required in a construction
project enables construction managers to determine the amount of time
needed to complete the project. Comparing actual progress to the schedule
indicates when corrective action needs to be taken. For small jobs, contrac-
tors can often rely on experience to plan the schedule. For larger projects, bar
chart and critical path methods are commonly used.
Schedules are also used to determine when workers, materials, and
equipment will be needed. Workers are hired according to when they are
needed on a job. Materials are purchased at the time they are needed. In this
way, companies can avoid paying for materials before they are needed or
storing materials that are not yet needed. The schedule is used in the same
way for the purchase, rental, or leasing of equipment.
Construction managers also use the schedule for obtaining permits and
scheduling inspections as work progresses.
T
est
Y
our
Knowledge
Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper. Do not write in this book.
1. Schedules are prepared in order to
______.
A. sequence tasks
B. determine when workers, materials, and equipment are needed
C. evaluate job progress
D. All of the above.
2. To prepare a bar chart, the project is first divided into
______.
3. In a bar chart, estimated time for a task is indicated by a
______
bar.
A. vertical
B. striped
C. horizontal
D. diagonal
4. What is the purpose of an overall progress chart?
Match the following terms with the correct definitions.
5. Events
6. Critical path
7. Tasks
8. Critical path method
A. Indicated by a dashed line.
B. Activities and events of a project are
shown in flow-chart form.
C. The path that requires the most time to
complete.
D. Indicated by circles that contain
numbers.
E. Indicated by arrows.
9. True or False? A schedule allows a contractor to determine the number
and type of workers that will be needed for a project.
10. Name two advantages of buying materials as needed.