INDUSTRY NEWS
PERSPECTIVE
The Lost Art of Scheduling Why every contractor aspires to the premise (and where it breaks down)
A
s our world has evolved, we have learned new skills and abandoned others. In centuries past, our ancestors likely knew how to trap their own food, make their own soap and sew their own clothes. While those skills still exist today in some form or another, fewer people know how to do them. And even fewer know how to do them well. One day, maybe not far into the future, those skills will be completely lost, either because they are no longer necessary or because the tradespeople will have left this world without passing along their knowledge. When it comes to commercial construction, schedules that are both accurate and detailed are critical to successfully completing a project. Adolfson & Peterson Construction (AP) realizes that scheduling is a skill that has been lost in our industry, and we’re taking steps to ensure the art of scheduling does not disappear forever.
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Magic words: On-schedule and on-budget
For construction projects, bragging rights go to those who can claim they have completed a project on schedule and on budget. It is a goal every general contractor aspires to, but one that’s easier said than done. Schedules provide a path to successful project completion. Without a schedule, those involved in the project have no roadmap to guide them to their destination. A schedule is a tool that can be used to keep
COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — JANUARY 2021
By Bob Lemke
a project on track and on budget, as well as get a project back on track when and if problems arise (and they always do). Schedules also provide transparency into the process and the work required to accomplish specific tasks and to complete the entire project. Without a schedule, everyone involved in the project is operating in a vacuum—aware only of the role they play—and lacking a greater understanding of the bigger picture. Finally, schedules act as a communication tool, keeping all stakeholders in the loop, on the same page, and working toward the same goals. They also ensure accountability when they clearly detail who is responsible for what tasks. And, perhaps most important, they establish trust between client and contractor.
