Schedule control and schedule control cycle

Project schedule control

Schedule control is the process of monitoring the actual progress of the project, comparing it with the baseline schedule, finding the causes of any delay and taking corrective action (or making approved changes) so that the project is completed on the planned date.

Schedule control cycle

+-----------------+   +------------------+
| Baseline        |-->| Record actual    |
| schedule        |   | progress         |
+--------^--------+   +---------+--------+
         |                      v
+--------+--------+   +------------------+
| Update schedule |   | Compare with plan|
| and report      |   | (SV, SPI, float) |
+--------^--------+   +---------+--------+
         |                      v
+--------+--------+   +------------------+
| Corrective      |<--| Analyse delay,   |
| action          |   | critical path    |
+-----------------+   +------------------+

1. Baseline schedule: the approved bar chart or network with milestones.
2. Record actual progress: percent complete and the actual start/finish of each activity.
3. Compare with the plan: bar chart, S-curve, schedule variance $SV = EV - PV$, $SPI = EV/PV$, float used.
4. Analyse: which activities are delayed, whether they are critical, and the effect on completion; forecast the new date.
5. Corrective action: see below.
6. Update and report the schedule; repeat at the next review.

How to keep the project on schedule

• Make a realistic plan, with the critical path and float known.
• Arrange materials, equipment, drawings, land and payments in advance.
• Give critical activities priority for resources, and monitor them daily.
• Hold regular progress meetings and take quick decisions.
• If delayed: add labour or equipment, work overtime or extra shifts (crashing), do activities in parallel (fast-tracking), change the method or logic, or use the float of non-critical work.
• Control changes and variation orders; manage risks (weather, strikes) with contingency.
• Use incentives for early completion and penalties for delay in the contract.