Back to Basics #16 – How to Measure Progress
In this Article we look at the principles of progress monitoring and reporting. Having robust processes in place to measure progress is vital for the management of any project to optimise performance and for managing change. For some, planning resource may just be seen as an unnecessary Project Overhead. Whilst good planning is not free, when you look at the influence that it can have on the Project outcome, it could it be one of the highest returning investments you can make.
There is an increase in the use of automated systems which can efficiently collect site progress information. However, the most important factor in managing the progressing process is not necessarily the tools that are used, but the skills and experience of the Planner – being able to process all this data to understand the overall Project position, along with any impacts of change and delays.
The Planner should remain independent. An “independent” viewpoint will ensure that the reporting process is objective and not influenced by external subjective factors and pressures. Inaccurate reporting, or looking through “rose-tinted glasses” when assessing progress, is not beneficial to any party and can undermine a claim for entitlement.
The Project Programme should be the means by which “actual” against “planned” progress is monitored, reported and used as a tool for determining Extensions of Time.
Depending on the type of Contract, the demands on the Contractor can be quite different so understanding your contractual obligations with regards to the provision, content and management of Programme updates is important when defining the process. There is rarely a “one size fits all” approach that can be used with every Construction or Engineering Project, but there are general principles which should be followed and can be adapted to suit the specific requirements of a project.
The art of reporting the progress information is to be able to communicate what is likely to be, on very large projects, a vast amount of information to the people who need it, in the most efficient and easy to understand manner. Too much information may result in the report being overlooked, equally not enough information could lead to a lack of understanding. Again, the Planner is key to picking out what is important to ensure the correct management decisions can be made at the right time.
For a more in depth look at How to Measure Progress you can read our article by clicking HERE
If you need assistance with setting up robust progress monitoring procedures, or require planning assistance on live or upcoming projects, Ramskill Martin has experienced Planners who can help.
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