For those of you running multiple jobs with multiple people what processes do you use to schedule your work and how far in advance do you create your schedules?
Do you have any particular software program that helps keep it organized?
Currently we have 4 lead carpenters a few “helpers” and a painter. With at least 4 jobs in progress at the same time.
I’m trying to come up with more effective way to effienctly schedule our jobs based on my labor estimates. Right now, the schedules are a week or so out and on pen and paper.
I know there has to be a better way to do this and ideally I’d like to add a job to a master schedule as soon as it signs, schedule the subs, labor, and material deliveries as far in advance as possible.
I realize this schedule will need to be very adaptable and easily changeable based on the inevitable unforeseen complications, but it has to be possible.
Replies
I use an older version of MS Project now, but have been looking into VirtualBoss. You can download a copy and try it out. It doesn't have all of the bells and whistles of a MS Project but it seems to have enough for what I would need.
Out of curiosity, if you have "lead" carpenters, what's your role? salesman? owner? And if they are true lead carpenters, why do you do the scheduling for the job(s) they run?
Lead carpenter is open to interpreting I guess...
They are supposed to be responsible for the job once it starts, scheduling subs, material deliveries, requesting additional help when needed, inspections, etc.
I'd like to get there but we're not 100% there yet... that said, I'm more interested in scheduling the total job process for all jobs then necessary what get's completed each day on a particular job... For example my schedule would have 2 days allotted for demo, 3 days for framing, 1 day for the Sparky, one day for the plumber, 4 days for the sheet rock crew etc for job's A, B, C, D, E and on.
My schedule would be based on the time I have budgeted for each phase of work. With that, I could plan the various jobs we have going and ready to begin into a master schedule so I could see all the jobs planned out and how they interact with each other, when one job is complete to framing and the sub's are coming in I could have it scheduled for another smaller job to start. I'm having a hard time trying to explain what I have in my head here though..
In short I want a master plan of the work we have sold and when it will be completed.
It would also allow me to better estimate or back-log, so when I tell someone we're approximately 6 weeks out before start, I have a SWAG instead of just a WAG
As for my role, I'm not sure what my title is, fortunately I'm not much for titles anyway... What I do though is the following; Estimating/sales, project manager, customer relations, coordinating subs, making sub's & suppliers aware of what's coming down the pipe, schedule when a job starts and who goes where, some billing, minor amount of actual field work, basically what ever needs to be done I do.
Edited 7/23/2006 11:01 pm ET by CAGIV
Thanks for the explanation. I have always run my own remodeling business but just recently started working for another RC as a project manager. I run anywhere from 2 to 4 jobs and do my own scheduling and hiring of subs. I also do some of the work myself, depending on the time factor. We have 6 other PM's who do the same. We have one guy that does some of the stuff you do..sales, estimating and construction coordinater. We have PM meetings weekly and monthly where we share our schedules and manpower needs It's always interesting to see how others do it..
Barry E-Remodeler
jxProject
Short shallow learning curve.
Gannt charts
HTML ready
Free
SamT
Edited 7/24/2006 10:38 am by SamT
Thanks for the link Sam, I'll check it out
I've used project in the past, though it's been a while... I think it would work well, but I'd have a steep learning curve to make it happen. I've thought about looking on ebay for an older version, It would be a tough sell to the boss for a 600 program.
I'm going to look into the program you mentioned, have you used it at all yet?
CAGI bought my MS Project on Ebay for around $150. I don't think it's that bad to learn, but then again, I might not be using it to it's full potential. I do like the way it can be shown as gantt, calender or pert depending on who you are showing it to. Some of our other guys just use the calender on Outlook Express and want to change to my program. It's much easier to make changes that come up during the project.I have used VB on one job, a community service project our Remodelors Council is doing and I needed to communicate with another contracter who uses VB. He seems to be very happy with it and I and my company are looking into buying it for our needs. I think that MS project has many "bells & whistles that are not needed by remodelors, VB was created for the construction industry and at $300 a little easier to justify
Barry E-Remodeler
I don't want to use Outlook or a similar calander program because of the constant editing it would require.
With Project I know if I go in and change the time for one item, all dependant items will also change.
I'll have to look on ebay for a used version of project.
"With Project I know if I go in and change the time for one item, all dependant items will also change."Exactly, and that's why the rest of my company wants to change over. I really don't think your learning curve will be that steep.
Barry E-Remodeler