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
Constructability Reviews
Design Intent Review
Drawing Review
Specification Review
Cost Analysis
Cost Control
ROI Calculation
Estimating
Budgetary Estimating
Change Order Analysis
Quantity Surveys
Troubled Project Turnaround
Detailed Work Plan Development
Gap Analysis
Recovery Plan Development
Value Management
Methodology
Process


Please feel free to contact us for additional information on any of our products and services via any of the following means:

 Telephone425-422-6986
 Telephone (alt)206-790-3610
 Fax425-771-6747
 Emailjlanger@bluewaterpm.com

Visit the Bluewater Project Management Services, LLC Web Site