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®

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.

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 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

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