Topic 5 Scheduling Update, Submittal, and Review

I modified this week’s topic slightly after reading these articles. These 9 articles cover three distinct steps in scheduling work during construction: update schedule, submit to the owner for approval, and review conducted by the owner. The concept of baseline schedule plays a very important role in this process. Unfortunately none of these articles covers all aspects of this process. I am having a hard time deciding which would be the required reading. Article 4 would be a good choice because schedule updating is one of the contractor’s essential tasks. Some of you with architecture background may find Article 2 interesting because it is from the owner’s perspective. The title of Article 1 may be misleading. It is a pretty thorough description of the owner’s schedule review process, just like Article 2. However, very little in this article is about “automating”.

This is the solution I came up with. Choose between Article 2 and 4. You may read either one as the required article. You may find the example schedule in Article 4 challenging if you don’t have any background in scheduling.

Article 5 and 6 are about the timeline issue with getting baseline schedule approved by the owner at the beginning of the project. Article 3 is a short blurp on schedule review from a neutral stand point. Article 9 on the other hand is a long article on recommended practices for the entire process of updating and review, but unfortunately in the context of Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) projects. Most of you would find it less relevant. Article 8 is about the specific issue of constructability and its role in schedule review.

Article 7 is a unique piece about baseline schedule. It gives us at least one of the reasons why the “big dig” project in Boston was so messed up.

1. Automating the Schedule Review Process, John R. Knoke, PE; Jhan Schmitz, AACE Transactions, 1992
2. Owner's Reviews of Schedules - How Far Should They Go?, Donald J. Fredlund, Jr.; Fred King, AACE Transactions, 1992
3. Schedule Review Basics, Craig L. Olsen, AACE International Transactions, 2000
4. The Necessity of Project Schedule Updating/Monitoring/Statusing, Jeffrey D. Kursave, CCC, Cost Engineering , 2003
5. Contractor's Schedule Submittal: Catch-22, Earl T. Glenwright Jr., AACE International Transactions, 2004
6. Construction Baseline Schedule Review and Submittal Timeframe, Win G. Li, PE CCE PSP; David J. Carter, Cost Engineering, 2005
7. A Continuously Changing As-Planned Baseline, John C Livengood; Mark I Anderson, AACE International Transactions; 2005
8. Schedule Constructability Review, Edward E. Douglas, CCC, PSP, AACE International Transactions, 2008
9. AACE International Recommended Practice No. 53R-06 Schedule Update Review, 2008

Topic 4 The Myth of Work Breakdown Structure

I am calling WBS a Myth because most people in this class are not familiar with this. We are going to stay with the basics. The required reading for this week is Article 2, Work Breakdown Structure: a Simple Tool Complex Jobs, by John Mansy, even though Article 1 on the list ties WBS to cost and schedule very nicely. Article 2 also refers to a few WBS guides from government agencies (p5), all from the 80’s. For a more up to date guide on WBS, check the Powerpoint file (No. 5 on the list) prepared by Booz Allen Hamilton for DOE. Some articles are on the technical side referencing to actual projects (Article 3, 6, and 9). Article 4 and 7 are advanced discussion on lesson learned for WBS. Article 8 is about a very specific use of WBS in estimating.

1. WBS Criteria for Effective Project Control, Frank D. Postula, AACE International Transactions, 1991
2. Work Breakdown Structure: A Simple Tool for Complex Jobs, John Mansuy, Cost Engineering, 1991
3. WBS development for an $11 billion transportation project, Michael A. AHauser, AACE International Transactions, 1994
4. Resolving Work Breakdown Structure Problems, Stephen E. Mueller, AACE International Transactions, 2000
5. Earned Value Management Tutorial Module 2: Work Breakdown Structure, Booz Allen Hamilton, 2001
6. Developing a Work Breakdown Structure as the Unifying Foundation for Project Controls Systems Development, Lee J. Hobb; Beverly M. Sheafer, Cost Engineering , 2003
7. The Keys to Forecasting-#2 Work Breakdown Structure, James Baar; Stephen M. Jacobson, Cost Engineering, 2004
8. Work and Resource Breakdown Structures for Formalized Bottom-Up Estimating, Parviz F. Rad, PE CCE; Denis F. Cioffi, Cost Engineering , 2004
9. Heavy Civil & Infrastructure WBS, Paul Martin Hewitt, AACE International Transactions, 2006

Enjoy.

Topic 3 From Cost/Schedule Integration to Project Control

The required reading for this week is Article 3 Integrated Cost And Schedule Control, by Bruce Kibler. This article shows how cost/schedule integration evolved into the concept of project control. Article 4 is similar in nature but has more practical elements. To gain a historic perspective on the subject, read Article 1 from 1981. Article 2 is one of the earlier and corner stone works on project control developed by CII. For real world applications, read Article 5 and 6. Article 8 is about implementation strategies for project control. Article 10, 11, and 12 are about the latest development, more at an advanced level. Article 7 is a one of a kind piece on why estimators need to know about scheduling. You can also call it scheduling in a nutshell. Article 9 is about a very specific subject related to both cost and schedule, activity based job costing.

1. Integration of Cost and Scheduling Systems, Paul B. Shiring, Jr., CCE, AACE Transactions, 1981
2. Project Control for Construction (p1-p13), CII Publication RS6-5, September 1987, reviewed by CII June 23, 2004
3. Integrated Cost And Schedule Control, BE Kibler, Cost Engineering , 1992
4. Project Controls - A Practical Approach, Michael J. Cunningham, CCC, Cost Engineering , 1994
5. Cost/schedule systems for a utility engineering organization, Daniel J Martin, Cost Engineering, 1994
6. Project Controls: Cost / Schedule / Progress Management on the NASA Wind Tunnel Restoration Project, Kelvin Yu, PE, CCE, Cost Engineering, 1996
7. Scheduling for Estimators, Robert R. George, CCC, JCMS Proceedings, 1998
8. Establishing a project controls organization, Douglas, Edward E, III, AACE International Transactions, 1999
9. Activity-Based Job Costing for Integrating Estimating, Scheduling, and Cost Control, Aminah Robinson Fayek, Cost Engineering , 2001
10. Evolving project control practices, Longworth, Scott R, AACE International Transactions; 2002
11. Avoiding project controls pitfalls, Hyde, Marlene M, AACE International Transactions, 2003
12. Revitalizing Project Controls: A Roadmap to Excellence, Michalak, Christopher F;Stephenson, H Lance, AACE International Transactions, 2006