Bluewater Project Management Services, LLC
Project Scheduling
Bluewater offers three types of scheduling expertise:
development, review and critical chain scheduling. We use the following as
scheduling tools: Microsoft Project®,
Primavera P3®, Primavera SureTrak® and ProChain®
Schedule Development
Our aim in developing a schedule is to provide the client with a planning
and communication tool through:
- The use of a simple work breakdown structure, or work-packaging
concept, to break down the project, even the most formidable one,
into manageable components. These components are then further broken
down into activities to which costs and resources are assigned and then monitored.
- Resource allocation (labor, equipment or materials) during planning
to help maximize their use during project execution.
- Cost loading activities to provide a means to monitor billing amounts
based on progress and provide future income or cash requirement profiles.
A fully developed schedule will assist in the identification of the risk to
the project. This may be in terms of resource requirements, cash flow or simply
time required to complete the project.
Schedule Review
Our aim in providing this service is to help the client (normally an owner or
their representative) understand the overall plan as well as analyze the
initial schedule. Listed below are the aspects of the schedule we focus
on:
- Compliance with the Contract scheduling specifications
- Structure of the Schedule
- Critical path and near critical activities
- Logic
- Durations
- Constraints
- Float
- Costs
- Resources
Critical Chain Scheduling
Critical chain scheduling is a relatively recent addition to the toolset
available to the project manager. It is based on the Theory of Constraints
(TOC) and is designed to improve the probability of delivering a project
on time.
In essence, the concept instructs us to remove the cushion of time we
naturally include in each of our task duration estimates and centralize
it in a "buffer" that is placed just prior to completion. The critical
chain of tasks is created from logic, the availability of any particular
resource and the time required to do the work. Non-critical tasks are
treated in a similar fashion, with buffers being placed between them
and the critical chain.
To be effective, working to a critical chain schedule requires a commitment
from management to eliminate multi tasking and protect their resources
from distractions. From the team members it requires a commitment to
focus on completing the task in hand rather than working to specific
dates.
Application of this type of scheduling is most applicable to projects with
high uncertainties such as software development, R&D and IT projects.
Some of the clients for whom Bluewater has provided these services
are The Weyerhaeuser Company, Boise, DW Close Company and Bayley Construction.
For information on some of the ways in which Bluewater has supported their clients, see our client portfolios.
Other Service Offerings
General Services
- Project Risk Analysis
- Risk Analysis
- Risk Identification
- Risk Quantification
- Risk Response Planning
- Project Scheduling
- Critical Chain Scheduling
- Critical Path Scheduling
- Schedule Development & Maintenance
- Schedule Review
- Training
- Foundations of Project Management
- Microsoft Project® Software Training
- PMP Certification Training
Construction Services
Please feel free to contact us for additional information on any of our products and services
via any of the following means:
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