The Best Construction Schedule Tool

Developing a construction schedule is one of the many essential steps you’ll need to take before constructing a new structure begins – and you need of course the best construction schedule tool. The construction process takes time, effort, and unification, with everyone who works on the project gathering together to collaborate, share ideas, and continuously take on tasks that will lead to the finished project. Because these projects often involve dozens of different professionals, such as engineers, architects, and contractors, it’s crucial to create a schedule that allows you to keep everything organised and in one spot that you can regularly access to keep track of everything. With attention to detail and the proper construction schedule tool, such as Next Planning, you can create an in-depth, straightforward, easy-to-follow plan while minimising stress and lowering the risk of delays.

In this guide, you’ll learn the value of having a construction schedule and how to create one that will meet your needs. Although it requires more time and effort to put a schedule together, it will help you in the long run, allowing you to seamlessly integrate different aspects of the construction phase to complete the job.

The Purpose of a Construction Schedule & Why You Need The Best Construction Schedule Tool

The construction schedule is much like a blueprint. You need to have it when working on any project, regardless of how small or big it might be. The schedule includes a list of everything that needs to take place so that you and your team can achieve the ideal outcome, which would be a physical copy of the architectural designs initially illustrated during the construction planning process. In addition to listing the specific tasks, it includes a timeframe, including when contractors should get started and when they should finish working on specific project parts. Without a schedule, it would be nearly impossible to keep everything organised while overseeing the workload and regularly delegating tasks to different contractors.

The benefits of a construction schedule include:

• Having a better idea of how long it will take to complete various tasks and finish the project in its entirety
• Accessing details on the methods, materials, and equipment contractors will use to complete their assigned tasks
• Knowing the number of people working on any given task at any moment with the press of a button
• Easily overseeing the construction site to make sure tasks are getting done promptly by the right professionals
• Getting everyone together on the same page with what needs to get done and when it needs to get done to achieve the best results

With benefits like these, it only makes sense to put in that extra time and effort to create a detailed schedule while using a convenient construction schedule tool that can make it that much easier for you.

How to Create a Construction Schedule

Now that you know the importance of using a construction schedule to stay on track, overcome challenges, and keep all contractors as productive as possible at the job site, it’s vital to understand how to put one of these schedules together.

#1. Create Your List

Start by making your list of every fine detail you can think of regarding this project. You’ll want to have a list of the people involved in the project, including the different contractors you’re planning to work with to get the job done. Your list should also include the various assignments, equipment needed to complete those assignments, the supplies you’ll need to acquire to handle the construction, and more. Make sure you’re also creating a to-do list that includes everything you need to do and when you’d like to have those specific tasks completed. For example, you’ll need to ensure you have the correct permits and licenses to complete tasks while staying up to code and avoiding issues throughout the building phase. This is a basic function you should check for when you search for the best construction schedule tool

#2. Manage Tasks

Although the schedule is a start, the following steps involve managing all the tasks that must be completed throughout the construction phase. You’ll need to consider the tasks and the specific contractors that will get assigned to handle them. During this step, you can also use a work breakdown structure to make things much easier for you to review and manage. With the structure, you’re essentially breaking things down into multiple phases and elements based on what needs to happen in a specific order. In addition, it enables you to connect better with team members to discuss project details and the steps involved, getting everyone on board and ready to tackle the project.

#3. Set Your Start and Completion Dates

Setting starting dates and completion dates will help determine how much time contractors should spend on each assigned task. After all, you don’t want specific parts of the construction phase taking much longer than they should because that will lead to delays that can hold up the process. Even if it’s simply a rough estimate that gives you the slightest idea of when contractors will have something done, it’s better than not knowing when those contractors can complete the work assigned. Always consider that the completion date may need to be extended based on different factors, including bad weather, shipping delays, etc.

#4. Delegate Tasks Across the Board

Your construction schedule will make it easier for you to begin delegating tasks across the board, ensuring team members know what to do and when to do it. You can start assigning teams and contractors different functions while using a personalised method to distinguish the various teams created to keep things more organised. It’s also an excellent time to use the schedule to oversee the work completed by these individuals to help you monitor progress and see how close they’re getting to having everything done by the designated completion date.

#5. Make Adjustments When Needed

Although the construction schedule tool helps you keep all the most crucial information organised and easy to access when needed, nothing is set in stone. You can still access the tool and make adjustments when needed. For example, if you’re checking the schedule and seeing what’s on the agenda, you may need to make a few updates, switch contractors, or reassign assignments based on different factors.

The Benefits of Using one of the best construction scheduling tools

The benefits of using a construction schedule tool are tremendous. If you’re not already using one, save yourself time, effort, and energy in the long run by keeping critical information in one spot.

#1. Easily Make Adjustments to Your Construction Plan When Needed

With the right tool, you can quickly and easily add staff members and contractors to the schedule. Monitoring who is working on what lets you know who to reach out to when you need to address something, ask questions, or touch base for the latest updates.

#2. Reduce the Risk of Manual Error When Completing Scheduling Tasks

Relying on old, outdated scheduling methods can drastically increase the risk of manual error. However, manual error leads to more frustration because it can potentially throw contractors off and cause them to waste more of their time. Scheduling a construction project has never been easier with advanced software tools designed with the latest technology and features. Avoid the risk of manual error when planning tasks and assigning contractors to handle those specific jobs.

#3. Enable Collaborations with Other Contractors Using the Construction Schedule Tool

You can use the scheduling tool to encourage collaborations with other team members who may need to add details to the schedule or even adjust it based on timelines and tasks included on the list. Cohesive collaborations between team members will lead to greater efficiencies throughout the duration of the construction project.

#4. Have Greater Control Over Your Resources

You can even use the tool to have greater control over resources, keeping an eye on materials and supplies you might need to purchase again while monitoring how much work each contractor has on their plate. If you believe a contractor or a group of them are a bit too overloaded with work, you may choose to delegate some of their tasks to others to reduce the workload and get more done in less time.

#5. Keep Track of Accomplishments and Milestones Reached

Even more convenient is having the option to track accomplishments through milestones reached. You can monitor the progress made and compare completed work to the designated timelines to see that things are getting done as anticipated by the desired completion date. If you’re noticing numerous delays, you can use this information to get to the bottom of the situation, identifying potential issues and reassigning different parts of the project if needed.

Use a custom-tailored construction schedule tool to plan your next project like a pro

Create the ideal schedule for your latest construction project using a custom-tailored construction schedule tool personalised to your liking. You can ensure your schedule includes every critical detail, including a list of everything that needs to get done and when those tasks should be completed by the professionals you’ll work with to help you on this project. By creating a comprehensive schedule, you can handle the construction planning process like a pro and achieve better results from start to finish.

Test Next Planning now – sign up for a free trial here.