Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Oct 15, 1999 03:36pm | #1

   *
   J

   Do not lose any sleep over it. I was involved with a large commercial project a few years ago. They brought in professional schedulers. I was doing the trimwork/cabinetry. There were meetings every week for several months before the project started. They knew what had to be done every day. Rain delays were taken into account for. The Project was three months behind before I was able to hang the first door.

   I keep a loose flexible schedule of what I want accomplished each week. Order what I need ahead of time and store it. If something takes a week to get in I order it 2 to 3 weeks before I know I will need it. Keep in touch with your subs, give them notice of when you think you will need them and do not be afraid to call them and put them off for a day or two. Nothing screws them up more than comming to a job that is not ready for them.

   Rick Tuk

1. 
   Guest_ | Oct 15, 1999 06:24pm | #2

   *jc That's about as good advice as you can get. One more thing. If it's Your job don't allow some sub to muck up the works by getting a little antsy. After they are gone You'll still be there. If You get to wondering if you should make a call that's the time to make it. Do Your homework. Everyone will appreciate it. I don't know what Your responsibilities are but I like to keep a daily log. Some jobs require it and there are some available.You can sit down with it before the job starts and enter notes to Yourself and when You get to that day there is the thing You didn't want to forget. A little front end loading can pay off big time. Gool duck, Skip. ps email me if you can't find a log book

1. 
   Guest_ | Oct 15, 1999 06:43pm | #3

   *I always ask my subs how long they will need for each phase of their work and over schedule them each way. Say the electrician needs 3 days, I schedule him for 5 so the inevitable delays and changes don't compound as the job progresses. - jb

1. 
   Guest_ | Oct 16, 1999 08:30pm | #4

   *j,To me, building is like a chess game. You have to look several moves ahead. Then somebody takes your rook and you have to re-schedule everything.Good luck,Ed. Williams

1. 
   Guest_ | Oct 16, 1999 10:58pm | #5

   *Interesting, all so far have spoken of the importance of "float time" between each phase. Rick Tuk's story illustrates this well (in spite of all the prior planning, the job was over schedule). Just by reading the subject title, I knew what I wanted to suggest before I even opened this thread. They beat me to the punch. Must be important, huh?

2. 
   Guest_ | Oct 17, 1999 04:00pm | #6

   *Rich,Scheduling is one of the things that drives contractors crazy. It is also the thing that drives a wedge between contractor and client. It is something that you should talk about to them. I am printing this post to keep and show to new clients, so they know what is comming. I am glad I learned early to be flexiable (I like the chess analogy) and devote my limited resoutsed where they will do more good.Rick Tuk