Hi all,
I have recently been made aware that the schedule should have most of the activities with FS links to make out a sensible (delay) analysis.
So, I have tried to prepare a schedule in line with the above philosophy.
I have observed the following points (difficulties) while doing so:
1) I found out that the activities (at site) are in general taken up in parallel.
2) If I try to break it down into activities with FS relation I had to breakdown the schedule into activities that don’t take more than 4 days (this is time consumed for the highest time consuming activity!).
3) If I create a schedule with activities having longer durations the schedule will not be authentic for discussion in a (authentic) negotiation for Extension of Time. Definitely, the client would say “ You should have started the succeeding activity next day in parallel why should you wait so long?!”.
4) Say, I have a large land to be filled with dirt in layers not exceeding 0.3m thick (at once). If I dump the soil today. The next activity 'doze' is going to start next day without delay, we all know contractor hates to keeps his resources idle.
5) Breaking down work in to small chunks is also making the schedule very complex to track.
Let me know:
a) If there is a pragmatic way to draft schedules that have longer durations for activities with FS relations, but still could stand valid for negotiations??
OR
b) What is the method followed by you which is valid for a delay negotiation.
OR
c) Is this the method (detailed above) delay analysts world over follow?? :(
Cheers,
K. Satish Kumar
Hi Satish
You are facing the eternal problem that occurs with every delay analysis.
The original Baseline Programme is not fit for purpose and the task of re structuring it on a FS link basis is too difficult and again open to challenge that the exersise has been rigged to suit the outcome.
There are at least two ways forward:
1. If the as built records are complete then you can try a Collapsed As Built analysis which does not need a detailed baseline programme.
or
2. If the delay events impact on the start of key elements of the work - approval of design - power connection - employers free issue material etc then it is possible to adopt the Super Summary Method.
Best regards
Mike Testro