Construction Planning & Scheduling with Dr. Saleh Mubarak is a online, on-demand course created for Project Controls Professionals, whether they work for an Owner or a Contractor. Learn what valuable content will be covered in the course.
What's the process of managing Construction projects? Dr. Mubarak will take you through the foundations of managing Construction projects including defining key terms and processes.
All projects must be clearly defined before we undertake them. Is your project defined well enough? Are you working on poorly defined projects?
Planning is not Scheduling, although we use these terms interchangeably. Find out what the key differences are between Planning & Scheduling as they relate to Construction projects.
The importance of good planning in Construction can't be emphasized enough. Good planning leads to successful projects by minimizing project risks. Here's how.
Owners and Contractors see things differently but they both should see the benefits of proper schedules. Dr. Mubarak explains from both perspectives.
What skills and experience make for good Construction schedulers? It might not be what you think.
Dr. Mubarak answers the question: "Is it experience in the field that makes a great scheduler or credentials and education?"
Let's debunk some myths about planning & scheduling. Saleh has 4 big myths and misconceptions to set straight.
In 1917, Henry Gantt developed what we now call Gantt charts. These types of graphical bar charts were actually one of the very first methods of scheduling work ever conceived.
A Gantt chart is a surprisingly good tool to help us visually and plan work. But like every tool, Gantt charts too have their strengths and their shortcomings.
There is an ideal way to use Gantt Charts to help you plan and manage construction work. Let Dr. Mubarak talk you through the best way to use Gantt Charts.
This course has a large focus on Critical Path Method Scheduling, but what is the Critical Path Method exactly? Dr. Mubarak will illustrate the Critical Path Method with a unique analogy.
Find out the sequence of 9 steps that go into creating a CPM schedule as Dr. Mubarak introduces and briefly explains how the entire process works.
It's obvious we need to come with some activities for the project, but there is some science involved in how you break down a large project into it's component activities. Find out what that is.
Do you take into account these factors when defining your project's activities? This lesson will give you something to think about when coming up with your activities.
A Work Breakdown Structure is a vital component to planning and organizing your CPM work schedule. Here's why.
A great example that illustrates how you need to consider how many activities you will include in your schedule. The difference could make you life easy or a virtual nightmare.
An Event is often called a Milestone. Learn what special qualities an event has in construction project management.
When you estimate the duration of an activity, many factors are involved. But productivity is the most important factor.
Adding logic to a schedule deals primarily with sequencing how the work will be accomplished; what piece is first, what is next and so on. Saleh also discusses external relationships, hard and soft logic and constraints.
These 2 steps are not trivial. Even though computers can schedule a project in milliseconds, it's important to grasp the underlying process and to review the output of scheduling to ensure it makes sense.
Not all projects need to be cost and resource loaded, but that doesn't mean it doesn't benefit you. Find out what goes into cost and resource-loading a schedule.
Implementing a schedule means taking it from the computers screen or paper to action in the field. This is not a simple steps and Dr. Mubarak discusses how a schedule must be sold to stakeholders and the project team.
Get a general overview of the processes and tasks involved in monitoring and controlling a project that is being executed.
The final step is called Closeout and involves looking back on the project for successes and failures.
These aren't the same thing. Saleh explains the key differences between the Project Schedule and the Construction Schedule.
[Whiteboard session] Here's a thorough explanation of lag and lead times and how to use them, along with an example.
[Whiteboard session] If you're going to do it, do it right and Saleh shows you how to draw proper network with tips along the way.
[Whiteboard session:] A CPM schedule is truly a logic network of inter-related work packages. Let Dr. Mubarak bring this concept to light in this whiteboard session.
[Whiteboard Session] Watch and learn as Saleh does a complete walkthrough on how to draw a logic network, a vital skill for any project controller.
[Whiteboard session] Lag and lead time is often misused in schedules. Find out how to best use lag and lead time on your schedule, the right way.
Date constraints are another important topic in planning. Learn about the different constraints you'll see in software like Primavera P6 and how constraints can impact your schedule and your Critical Path.
Here's a 2nd CPM calculation example for you to digest. This project is bit bigger and more complex.
See the whole CPM Schedule process in detail as Saleh walks you through a detailed example network, performing the calculations as you go. This is a good lesson to bookmark.
On any project, the question of "who own the float" is bound to draw some debate. Understand how float is "used" on a schedule and what factors are involved. Saleh will help you answer the question "who owns the float?"
Everyone knows Total Float, but not as many understand the concept of Free Float. Let's get into it and see what Free Float is all about.
There is constant debate about the definition of the Critical Path. But let it become clear as Saleh defines what the Critical Path is and how to discover it.
The concept of a driving relationship explains how impacted activities will shift downstream activities. This is much more clear with a detailed explanation and some great pictures.
When we do CPM calculations in an academic way, we use something called the "End of Day Convention" to help make the math a bit easier to follow along. This video explains how that works.
An imposed finish date is like a applying deadline on your project. But an imposed finish date is applied in a special way that CPM calculations use to help you gauge whether you will finish on time or not.
When negative float appears on a project, it's usually undesirable. It indicates a delay but it does not automatically lay blame on the contractor or any other party.
Calendars are an essential tool for defining workable and non-workable periods in your project. But they also play a role in the outcome of CPM Scheduling.
Continuing our discussion of Calendars, let's discuss non-work days and how they can impact your schedule's timeline.
Another logic linking example that covers the Finish-to-Finish relationship type.
In this detailed example, you'll see activities having both start-to-start and finish-to-finish relationships. Saleh explains how the Critical Path is derived in this unique situation.
Dr. Mubarak proposes a new relationship type (his own invention) around the concept of Dynamic Minimum Lag, that replaces the need to combine SS and FF relationships.
Building on the previous lesson, Saleh adds a twist with some activity lag. In this example, he discusses how part of an activity can be critical.
As we move into a more advanced topic, Saleh discusses Precedence Networks or Diagrams, sometimes called PDM. This type of network accommodates all 4 relationships in CPM Scheduling and the discussion revolves around good logic linking.
Dr. Mubarak elaborates on logic link with an example demonstrating parallel activities with Start-to-Start relationships.
Execution. This is where Project Controls & Progress Updating starts. Saleh covers definitions and concepts like the Data Date.
When you set up a recurring update process for your project, it's important to get it right. Learn what information you'll need to properly update your project schedule.
Not sure how often to update your schedule? Every day? Every week? Dr. Mubarak sheds some light on this topic and how it can lead to your project's success.
Updated your schedule, but still not sure where you stand? Learn about the key information from your project that shows where you're heading after an update.
Deciding updates are not worth the effort? Or perhaps you'd like to do updates only when they is a need? It's time to debunk myths and misconceptions about updating your project and learn to do it the right way.
Project Controls is focused on controlling a project that is in the execution stage. It follows a simple but important process of which Progress Updating is a key part.
Learn about Baselines and their role in Project Controls and updating.
Percent Complete is a confusing topic and notion. But Saleh sheds some light on why and helps you understand what is most important in evaluating percent complete.
Let's conclude the course with a special and personal story from Saleh that helps pull all of the content together.
