Back to Basics #17 – Planning and Programming - Maintaining the Programme

Back to Basics #17 - Planning and Programming – Maintaining the Programme

We all know that construction projects tend to overrun. In general, the more complex the project, the more likely it will suffer from delays. A professionally prepared and managed programme is crucial to the success of construction and engineering projects.

There are some key steps that should be followed when the programme is updated: 

1. Ensure the programme is sensibly logic linked.

2. Input accurate progress data.

3. Reschedule the programme (update the programme so that the plan for the remaining work is recalculated). 

4. Sense check the result to ensure the plan for the remaining work is sensible.

5. Record and present key changes and the reasons for change - for example in a dashboard report.

A properly maintained programme can improve communication and understanding of the timing and flow of work by giving a single reference point for the team. It increases the effectiveness of the coordination and day-to-day management of contractors and other resources and provides a focus on the critical tasks and activities. 

The programme also helps the impact of change to be more efficiently assessed and managed, reducing the risk of delays occurring and helping demonstrate entitlement to additional time if there is a delay.

Ramskill Martin’s Team of Construction Planners can help you draft a robust and reliable logic linked programme which will enable you to forecast completion, identify problems before they arise and allow your construction team to understand the sequence of work and identify the project critical activities. 

We can also help you draft an NEC compliant programme, update programmes with progress and change to put you in control of your project.

Ramskill Martin’s Planners can be provided on an ad-hoc basis, a regular visiting basis or on a full-time basis.

• Sheffield

  The Annexe,
  260 Ecclesall Road South,
  Ecclesall,
  Sheffield,
  S11 9PS

  Tel - 0114 230 1329

• London

  Adam House,
  7-10 Adam Street,
  London,
  WC2N 6AA

  Tel – 020 7520 9295

• Leeds

  Suite 69,
  4100 Park Approach,
  Thorpe Park,
  Leeds,
  LS15 8GB

  Tel - 0113 397 0358

• Warrington

  Suite 41,
  Lakeview 600,
  Lakeside Drive,
  Centre Park Square,
  Warrington,
  WA1 1RW

  Tel - 01925 984705

• Manchester

  3 Hardman Street,
  Manchester,
  M3 3HF

  Tel - 0114 230 1329

• Birmingham

  Birmingham Business Park,
  4200 Waterside Centre,
  Solihull Parkway,
  Birmingham,
  B37 7YN

  Tel - 0121 481 2381

• Liverpool

  Horton House,
  Exchange Flags,
  Liverpool,
  L2 3PF

  Tel - 07753 837149