CM 4510 – Construction Scheduling

Summer 2009

 

Prerequisite:              CM 3410

Classroom:                 H339

Class periods:            Tuesday/Thursday  1:00-4:15

Instructor:                  Maureen M. Weidner

Office Hours:             Mon/Wed:  10:-12:00 / 5:00-6:00

Tues/Thurs:  5:00-7:00            Fridays: by appointment only

Telephone:                 678-915-5518

email:                          mweidner@spsu.edu

 

Required Text/Materials:     Construction Scheduling Principles & Practices; Newitt

                                                Flash drive

Course Description:  A study of the management techniques used in controlling the time and cost of construction projects, including development of schedules and budgets, organization and presentation of project information, and updating and monitoring progress using critical path methodology. Development of a construction schedule and budget is required. Commonly used commercial software packages are introduced.

Course Goals & Objectives:  Projects are becoming progressively larger and more complex in terms of physical size and cost.   The execution of a project requires the management of scarce resources:  manpower, materials, money and equipment must be managed throughout the life of the project – from conception to completion.  Planning is one of the key functions of the management process.  It is decision making for the future; it is looking ahead.  Decisions are required because a choice must be made from among the alternatives available.  Proactive management sets a plan and makes it happen.

 

The schedule is a powerful management and communication tool.  The increased complexity in construction techniques and materials as well as diverse labor issues and the pressures of budgets, scheduling has increasingly been the standard control method.  Many construction companies have moved from an office in which one or two people acted as the company schedulers, to an office in which every project manager is expected to create and update CPM schedules for every project they run.

 

The scope of this course will cover the relevant information and topics necessary to create and monitor project schedules that are used in the construction industry construction industry:

 

Learning Outcomes:

*           Understanding and development of project planning and how to incorporate into a project schedule, including the determination of project constraints, activities, logic, and durations.

*           Attain skill and confidence in precedence network diagrams and understand the calculations of CPM schedules

*           Determine progress; analyze schedule status; effective management of production resources; determine performance by computing cost and schedule variances in order to recognize trends and better forecast the projected outcome of the project.

*           Scope change review and analysis; who and what is effected; impact (both time and money) to original completion date; additional time analysis and recommendations.

Quizzes

25%

Lab /Assignments/Participation

50%

Scheduling Project

25%

 

Grading

A

B

C

D

F

90-100

80-89

70-79

60-69

<60

 

 

Quiz/Exam:  There will be four (4) throughout the semester and will be primarily objective and short answer based on lecture, text, and handouts; along with analytical question(s) based on lab exercises/assignments.

 

Lab exercises / Assignments:  Course exercises and lab assignments should be able to be completed during class time (typical) using project documents.  In certain cases, it may be required to complete an assignment outside of class and will be due at the beginning of class on the date specified.   All students are expected to complete assignments as given.  Instructor reserves the right to modify assignments as necessary.  Keep all returned/graded assignments through the end of the course.

 

Attendance/participation: Attendance is mandatory.  You are expected to complete readings and other assigned work, prior to class in order to participate fully.  You are expected to attend and actively participate in classes.  The only acceptable excused absences are:  illness (with documentation) or your participation in a University sponsored event which instructor must have prior notice.  Work related conflicts are not excused absences.

 

Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact the counselor working with disabilities at (678) 915-7226
as soon as possible to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.

 

Plagiarism


It is assumed that by this time in the student's matriculation, he/she is well-versed with what constitutes plagiarism.  Proper citation of references is required for this and all your coursework in the Construction Management program.  Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disciplinary action.


 

Supplemental Information and Requirements

 

1.     Students in this course are responsible for behaving in accordance with academic honor code.

2.     The use of cell phones/PDAs/pagers during class will not be tolerated. Turn them OFF before entering class and are to remain off until the class is completed.  Any student that does not comply will be required to leave the class and it is your responsibility to acquire missed information.  The classroom environment will be treated the same way as if this was a corporate meeting in a large conference room in which your boss was delivering a presentation. He/she would not tolerate their use and a “wise” young employee would probably shy away from their use in order to prevent their discharge from the firm as a result of their rudeness.

 

Use of cell phone/PDA/Pager during class will result in the dismissal of the student from that particular class and the receipt of a “zero” for that class’s particular assignment, exercise, exam, quiz, etc.. The second use of the device during class will result in the withdrawal of the student from the class by the instructor. Withdrawal of the student by the instructor after the official “drop date” will result in the grade of a “WF” for the student.

 

3.     Laptops are permitted during class for note taking assistance only – no facebook, web surfing, IM, or emailing is allowed.  If you use your laptop for any other purpose than taking notes, you will have to leave the class and it is your responsibility to acquire missed information. 

4.     Incomplete assignments will not be accepted.  NO EXCEPTIONS.

5.     Late assignments will not be accepted unless approved by instructor  PRIOR  to the due date - NO EXCEPTIONS

6.     It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to obtain information/notes/assignments from missed classes.  DO NOT ask instructor to provide for you.

7.     Methods of Communicating:  If you have questions, need clarification or additional information, ask during class, see instructor after class or during office hours.  If you prefer email, send through course Vista email.  DO NOT send to instructor’s spsu.edu address.  ANY information, discussion, or issue concerning grades will be done in person ONLY. 

8.     In-class exercises and work sessions are part of this course.  They will be graded and included as part of the 50% assignment grade.  If you are not in class, you will not receive credit.  (exception:  see excused absence policy above-you must meet with instructor to determine in-class work make-up).

 

Conflicts, problems and/or issues with this course should be discussed as early as possible with instructor and it will be at instructor’s discretion to solve as equitably as possible. Do not delay discussion as sympathy for conflicts or problems diminishes with time.  After the fact is not acceptable nor is bringing to instructor’s attention towards the end of the course.


 

 

CM 4510 – Construction Planning & Scheduling

Syllabus:  (subject to change with notice)

 

Topic or Subject

Date

Related Reading

Course Intro and Administration

8/25

 

Part 1 - Planning

 

Chapter 1-3

Overview / Ethics

8/27

 

Planning and Scheduling Basics

8/29

“Evolution of the Project”

Project Investigation

9/1

“Planning for Construction”

“Solving Site Problems…”

Planning vs. Scheduling (Case Study)

9/3

 

Part 2 – Schedule Development

 

 

Types of Schedules

9/8

Chapter 4, 5

Bar Chart Schedules

9/10

Chapter 4, 5

Activity Identification

9/15

 

Quiz #1

9/17

 

Activity Durations

9/22

Chapter 7

Activity Durations

9/24

 

CPM Network Development / Network Logic

9/29

Chapter 6, 7, 10, 19

“Practical Use of CPM…”

Precedence Networks / Diagrams

10/1

Chapter 6, 7, 10, 19

Network Schedule Calculations

10/6

Chapter 8, 9

Time in Contract Provisions

10/8

 

Quiz #2 / Scheduling Project work session

10/13

 

Reports & Graphics

10/15

Chapter 12, 22, 23

Reviewing and Analyzing

10/20

Chapter 11

Short Interval / Production Schedules

10/22

Chapter 13, 18

Procurement Planning and Scheduling

10/29

 

Subcontractor Planning and Scheduling

11/3

Chapter 17

Design-Build Planning and Scheduling

11/5

 

Quiz #3 / Scheduling Project work session

11/10

 

Part 3 – Project Monitoring and Control

 

 

Updating the Schedule / Scheduling Project work session

11/12

Chapter 14

Resource Planning & Scheduling

11/17

Chapter 15

Cost Planning & Scheduling

11/19

 

Integrating Costs and Schedule-Earned Value

11/24

 

Holiday 

11/26

Chapter 16

Schedule Control/Cost Impact

12/1

 

Scope Change Review, Analysis, Impact

12/3

 

Quiz #4 / Scheduling Project work session

12/8

 

Scheduling Project Due

(specific information to be provided later)

12/10