The Planning module is developed to correspond to the unique requirements of the Construction sector, whilst adhereing strictly to the principles of the Critical Path Method for planning. It is a simple and effective planning system, that also allows the work schedules to be presented as Time-Chainage Diagrams, for simplified visualisation.
Specifications
• Construction-oriented Planning
• On-screen GANTT charts (barcharts) and time-chainage diagrams
• Customisable activity schedule lists
• Various calendars for different activities
• Definitions database
• Resource database
• Resource levelling
• Progress monitoring
• As-built record of progress by update periods
• Long lead and Information Schedules
• Integration with Budgeting, Production Control and Cashflow.
Objectives
• Plan and control the project. Record the as-built schedule.
• Organisation of design and engineering information as required to perform the activities in the planned schedule.
• Produce accurate project development status reports for all levels of management.
• Integrate with estimating to provide quantity, cost/value and cashflow analysis forecasts.
Flexible
his Planning module can be used to draw a bar chart or to arrange a detailed precedence network or a mixture of these two methods. The network can be constructed from the order of precedence of activities or through a linked bar chart that automatically creates a dynamic precedence network.
Intuitive
The system checks network loops and duplications to minimise the introduction of errors and to avoid time-consuming manual checking.
Multiple work programmes
It is possible to draw up different work programmes, with their corresponding activities, for the same project. In this way it is possible to divide the work into different phases or areas, enabling greater monitoring of the different phases of the project.
Detailed
Various notes and comments can be attached to activities to record progress and site conditions. Networks can be divided into any number of subnets and these into further subnets, up to nine levels. Information can be grouped into logical chapters and hidden in a summary description until required to be displayed.
Planning Resources
Planning resources are either simple resources or combinations of simple resources (such as placing gangs). The planning resources are allocated to the activities (or part of an activity), and the resulting resource forecast histogram can be observed directly on-screen or printed on a customisable report.
Organisation and Filters
Powerful Filters are available and can be specified by the user to locate activities by code, description, float or other pre-defined criteria.
Progress
Activity progress can be recorded in order to obtain the as-built record of how the project has been carried out. Additionally, the base programme is saved and can be used for comparison with the current programme.
Information Scheduleo
The "Long Lead Schedule " and the "Information Schedule" are powerful tools to plan, track and record operations that may affect the execution of activities that are on the planning schedule. Operations such as provisioning and manufacture of built-in items, delivery of components and client decisions may not be shown on the activity schedule, but must be performed timeously so that the project completion date is not jeopardised.
Integration of Estimate and Planning
Items from the bill of quantities can be assigned to the planning activities (or to parts of the activity). This allows the cost and usage of the estimating resources to be reflected in the same period of time that is calculated for the activity in the programme.
The resources used in the bill of quantities may also be presented in histograms. Changes made in planning or budgeting are immediately reflected in the forecasts and/or histograms.
Time-Location
The Time-Location diagram is a summary report that represents the schedule using both the Time and Location coordinates. This type of report is best suited for linear activities, typically found in the construction of roads, railway lines, canals, high rise buildings, mines, etc.