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Why not give Contractors the "Engineers Schedule" as a starting point on complicated projects?

5 replies [Last post]
John Reeves
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An engineer does a complicated 15 -20 page schedule that they have worked on for a year as part of the design documents.  Then the contractor wins the project and has 60 days to start from scratch to produce a better one - this makes no sense, it is just re-inventing the wheel.  I realize there are some "means & methods & legal" issues but it is a massive waste of time when that same time coould be spent further progressing the existing schedule and making it better.  Engineer's version of the construction schedule are generally better - based on the fact that they have more time.  I am not talking about a simple 4 page "can of corn" project.  Can do some legal rider that they cannot keep it the same, have to progress it, and that the engineers absolves itself from it once handed over - or something.  This is almost as annoying as when engineers wont give contractors quantity breakdowns they have already done.

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Zoltan Palffy
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agreed how about big bold letters on it FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. There are no means and methods are implied and no leagal matters can be derived from this document. By acpeting this document you waive any legal right to use this in an formal or informal proceeding. 

John Reeves
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Yes, true.  But I am talking about time and the way projects work.  Why do we have to do the time consuming manual work that has already been done?  It is re-inventing the basic wheel instead of starting with the basic wheel in making it good.  You have 30-60 days to produce a baseline while the engineer had a year.  The contractor has enough time to put together an ok schedule.  Why not start at OK and spend the same amount of time they would have to make it a great schedule.  Can you make a great 100 Mil cost and resource schedule by yourself in 60 days?  Maybe.  Could you make a better one if you started with the basic schedule and had time to work out the details and work with the people involved yes.  There is a big difference between a 100 Mil road schedule that is 6-7 pages and and 100 Mil. complex project that is like 20 pages for a Server Center or something.

John Reeves
User offline. Last seen 28 weeks 1 day ago. Offline
Joined: 10 May 2013
Posts: 343
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Yes, true.  But I am talking about time and the way projects work.  Why do we have to do the time consuming manual work that has already been done?  It is re-inventing the basic wheel instead of starting with the basic wheel in making it good.  You have 30-60 days to produce a baseline while the engineer had a year.  The contractor has enough time to put together an ok schedule.  Why not start at OK and spend the same amount of time they would have to make it a great schedule.  Can you make a great 100 Mil cost and resource schedule by yourself in 60 days?  Maybe.  Could you make a better one if you started with the basic schedule and had time to work out the details and work with the people involved yes.  There is a big difference between a 100 Mil road schedule that is 6-7 pages and and 100 Mil. complex project that is like 20 pages for a Server Center or something.

Anoon Iimos
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I supposed contractors won projects because of their expertise. How will you work out a project if you have no idea how to do it? Engineers were hired to do the design or engineering...while constructors will do the construction...but both of course are considered architects and engineers... On the other hand, "project controllers" must understand every aspect of the project and that would include "accounting"...otherwise...IDK...IKR...
Anoon Iimos
User offline. Last seen 2 years 41 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1422
I supposed contractors won projects because of their expertise. How will you work out a project if you have no idea how to do it? Engineers were hired to do the design or engineering...while constructors will do the construction...but both of course are considered architects and engineers... On the other hand, "project controllers" must understand every aspect of the project and that would include "accounting"...otherwise...IDK...IKR...