In today’s day and age, there are many different platforms and tools that are designed to streamline construction project scheduling. With each platform comes it’s own unique pros and cons, but the general consensus is that most of them are likely better than the traditional way of scheduling. Not only do they help improve efficiency and the ability to track key metrics and milestones, they also are much more flexible when it comes to change, all while increasing transparency for all parties involved.

With scheduling being such an essential component in construction management, it’s important to take your time and assess which solution is right for your company. Below I’ve listed out some of the most common methods of scheduling found in construction, each with their own pros and cons.

The CPM is a ‘push’ focused method often used in large construction projects. The foundation of its design is based on the idea that your ability to complete any activity relies on a few essential constraints or resources.

This idea is often understood through the use of a sandwich as an analogy. Let’s use making a turkey sandwich as an example, because who doesn’t like turkey?

‘You may have all the mayo, turkey, and cheese you need, but without bread, you can’t make a turkey sandwich.’

It is easy to see that, in the example above, the bread would be the constraint in the ‘turkey sandwich project’. Of course identifying the critical path and any related constraints isn’t so cut and dry in the construction world but with some practice it can become second nature. In fact, this method is so popular that it is included in the curriculum for the PMP certification and is also often seen as a standard for measuring delays in the event of project disputes.

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