6 Tips for Mapping Out Your Construction Project Timeline

6 Tips for Mapping Out Your Construction Project Timeline

If you work in construction, you know that keeping a project on schedule is absolutely vital to its success. Whether it’s coordinating with vendors or communicating with other subcontractors, there are thousands of activities that go on over the course of a project. Unfortunately, mapping out a project’s timeline and keeping it on track is easier said than done! To make the process a little easier, let’s go over a few tips to help you create a successful construction project timeline.

Tip #1

Make sure you are knowledgeable about your construction project

You need to have a solid understanding of your project before you begin! Without a high level of understanding, your project will be much more likely to fail. To ensure that you’re knowledgeable, go over all project documentation and paperwork and figure out what the end goal is. If you understand what the project is trying to achieve, it will be a tremendous help when it comes to creating a accurate schedule for your construction project.

Tip #2

Familiarize yourself with potential hurdles you might face

Working in construction can often be unpredictable, but forecasting potential challenges can help prepare you. For instance, taking into account potential weather issues or upcoming holidays can help you build your schedule a certain way. By foreseeing possible constraints, you can create a schedule that works around them, giving you a better chance of success.

Tip #3

Break your project down into deliverables

Looking at a construction project as a whole can be overwhelming, especially if it’s a huge project. Breaking down activities into deliverables can make it easier for you to see how all of the little things come together to create the big picture. By determining deliverables, you will be on track to creating an accurate and successful project schedule.

Tip #4

Take into account the sequence of activities

As I mentioned before, there are hundreds of tasks that occur on a construction site every day. To create a successful schedule, you must order these activities in a very precise and calculated way. By creating a sequential list, you can see which activities must be performed before others. This will keep you organized and help you to maintain a flawless construction schedule. Focus on the critical path and dependent activity schedules.

Tip #5

Set goals and milestones

A construction project’s timeline can often last up to several years. This long duration can make it difficult to see the end picture. By setting weekly goals and project milestones, you can have a better vision of how your construction project timeline should map out.

Tip #6

Understand the expected date of completion

Depending on the project and your stakeholders, project deadlines can vary regarding flexibility. Take the time to communicate with your stakeholders so that you understand if your timeline is flexible or not. This can have a large impact on your schedule so make sure you know what is expected!

Conclusion

Following these tips will give you the best chance at starting off strong, but no matter how much research you do and how much you plan, a construction schedule will never be perfect. As a project manager, you will have to be adaptable and ready for changes to occur. You also need the right kind of software program designed for subcontractors.  Just like life, construction can be unpredictable. It’s up to you to prepare yourself and be ready for whatever gets thrown at you!