Second Edition

David A. MarchmanTulio A. Sulbaran

Construction Scheduling with SureTrak

A u s t r a l i a C a n a d a M e x i c o S i n g a p o r e S p a i n U n i t e d K i n g d o m U n i t e d S t a t e s

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Scheduling with SureTrak, Second Edition

David A. Marchman and Tulio A. Sulbaran

Vice President, Technologyand Trades SBU:Alar Elken

Editorial Director:Sandy Clark

Acquisitions Editor:Alison Weintraub

Developmental Editor:Jennifer A. Thompson

Marketing Director: Dave Garza

Channel Manager: William Lawrensen

Marketing Coordinator: Mark Pierro

Production Director: Mary Ellen Black

Production Editor: Barbara L. Diaz

Technology Project Manager: Kevin Smith

Technology Project Specialist:Linda Verde

COPYRIGHT 2006 by Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson, the Star logo, and Delmar Learning™are trademarks used herein underlicense.

Printed in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 XX 06 05 04

For more information contact Thomson Delmar Learning Executive Woods 5 Maxwell Drive, PO Box 8007, Clifton Park, NY 12065-8007 Or find us on the World Wide Web at www.delmarlearning.com

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this work covered by the copyrighthereon may be reproduced in any form or by any means—graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, Web distribution, or information storage and retrieval systems—without the written permission of the publisher.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Marchman, David A.Construction scheduling with SureTrak /

David A. Marchman, Tulio A. Sulbaran.—2nd ed.

p. cm.Includes index.ISBN 1-4018-6721-9

1. Building—Superintendence.2. Production scheduling. 3. SureTrak.I. Sulbaran, Tulio A. II. Title.

TH438.4.M38 2005

690'.068—dc22 2005006984

NOTICE TO THE READER

Publisher does not warrant or guarantee any of the products described herein or perform any independent analysis in connection withany of the product information contained herein. Publisher does not assume, and expressly disclaims, any obligation to obtain andinclude information other than that provided to it by the manufacturer.

The reader is expressly warned to consider and adopt all safety precautions that might be indicated by the activities herein and to avoidall potential hazards. By following the instructions contained herein, the reader willingly assumes all risks in connection with suchinstructions.

The publisher makes no representation or warranties of any kind, including but not limited to, the warranties of fitness for particular pur-pose or merchantability, nor are any such representations implied with respect to the material set forth herein, and the publisher takesno responsibility with respect to such material. The publisher shall not be liable for any special, consequential, or exemplary damagesresulting, in whole or part, from the readers’ use of, or reliance upon, this material.

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Preface ix

SECTION 1 Planning 1

CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Scheduling 3Objectives 3History of Scheduling 3Scheduling Impacts on Project Management 4Benefits of Good Scheduling Practices 5Scheduling Phases 8Scheduling Design-Bid-Build 12Scheduling Fast-Track Construction 13Comparing the Scheduling of Design-Bid-Build

versus Fast-Track Construction 15Scheduling Levels 15Activity Definition 16Activity Identification 18Activity Description 18Activity Relationships 19Type of Schedule Presentation 19Example Problem: Getting Ready for Work 24Summary 28Exercises 29

CHAPTER 2 Work Breakdown Structure and Rough Logic Diagram 31Objectives 31Introduction 31Rough Logic Diagram Preparation 33Preparation of a Rough Logic Diagram of

Design-Bid-Build versus Fast-Track Construction 35

Types of Activity Relationships 37Use of Schedules 39Time Units 39

Contents

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Concurrent Rather Than Consecutive Logic 40Estimating Activity Duration 40Resource Availability 40Quantity of Work 41Productivity Rate 42Factors Affecting Productivity 43Accuracy of Estimating Activity Duration 47Summary 47Example Problem: Rough Manual Logic Diagram 48Exercises 48

SECTION 2 Scheduling 51

CHAPTER 3 Schedule Calculations 53Objectives 53Definitions of Important Terms 53Forward Pass 55Backward Pass 57Float 59Data Table 61Calendars 61Example Problem #1: Calculations 63Example Problem #2 : Calculations 64Summary 65Exercises 65

CHAPTER 4 Bar Chart Creation 75Objectives 75Starting SureTrak 75Project Manager: Menu Bar Options 77Toolbar Options 77Help Contents 77Create a New Project Schedule 78New Project Dialog Box Buttons 81Activities 82Modify Timescale 85Relationships 88Calculate the Schedule 92Edit Activities 94Close a Project 95Open a Project 96Tools 97Example Problem: Onscreen Bar Chart 109Summary 111Exercises 112

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CHAPTER 5 Bar Chart Format 114Objectives 114Formatting with Scheduling Software 114Layouts 115Zoom 117Columns 117Bars 122Relationship Lines 125Sight Lines 128Row Height 129Screen Colors 132Activity Codes 133Organize 135Summarize 137Filter 140Clip Art 142Text 143Summary 146Exercises 147

CHAPTER 6 Resources 149Objectives 149Necessity of Controlling Resources 149Define Resources and Requirements 150Assigning Resources 153Resource Profiles 157Resource Tables 163Driving Resources 165Set Resource Limits 165Level Resources 168Example Problem 171Summary 174Exercises 175

CHAPTER 7 Costs 181Objectives 181Necessity of Controlling Costs 181Define Costs 183Cost Table 183Assign Other Costs 189Cost Profiles 193Cumulative Costs 196Example Problem 198Summary 202Exercises 203

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CHAPTER 8 Bar Chart Hard Copy Prints 208Objectives 208Necessity For Good Presentations 208Graphic Reports 209Bar Chart Presentation 209Print Preview Options 210Bar Chart Button 211View Page Buttons 212Zoom Buttons 212Format Print Buttons 214Format Bar Chart Buttons 229Layout Button Options 235Example Problem: Bar Chart Print 239Summary 241Exercises 241

CHAPTER 9 PERT Diagrams 243Objectives 243View the PERT Diagram 243Format the PERT Diagram 253Print Preview 267Example Problem 269Summary 275Exercises 275

CHAPTER 10 List Reports 277Objectives 277Daily Schedule List Reports 277Layouts 279Columns 279Organize 282Page Setup 284Weekly Schedule List Reports 285Resource and Cost List Reports 286Example Problem 286Summary 294Exercises 294

SECTION 3 Controlling 295

CHAPTER 11 Updating the Schedule 297Objectives 297Communicating Current Information 297

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Getting Started 298Record Progress 301Activity Table Progress Input 306Target Comparison 307PERT View 308Reports 310Documenting Changes 311Example Problem 319Summary 322Exercises 324

CHAPTER 12 Tracking Resources 328Objectives 328Tracking Resource: SureTrak Versus Contractors 328Tracking Resources: Actual Versus Planned

Expenditures 328Resource Table 331Autocost Rules 331Record Expenditures 334Resource Profile 344Resource Reports 344Example Problem 345Summary 355Exercises 355

CHAPTER 13 Tracking Costs 361Objectives 361Tracking Costs: Comparing Actual

to Planned Expenditures 361Cost Table 361Recording Expenditures 364Cost Profile 377Cost Reports 377Example Problem 378Sumary 388Exercises 388

Appendix Drawings for Example Problems and Exercises 393

Index 399

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COMPUTERS IN CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULING

The Advantages of Using Computers in Construction Scheduling

One of the primary advantages of using computers for constructionscheduling is that the mathematical computations are instantaneous anderror-free. The speed and accuracy of the mathematical scheduling com-putations and analysis of the information produced make computerizedscheduling a valuable tool for construction project controls. The low costand superb on-screen and hard copy graphics make it an effective com-munications and project controls tool for owners, contractors, subcon-tractors, suppliers, and vendors.

The Advantages of SureTrak

Primavera Systems, Inc.’s economical project management/schedulingsoftware package is SureTrak, which is the little brother to PrimaveraEngineering & Construction (formerly P3 E/C for construction). Thisbook explains how to use SureTrak Project Manager 3.0. The advantages ofSureTrak are:

• Between SureTrak and its related packages, Primavera Systems, Inc.controls the largest share of the market for construction schedulingsoftware in the United States.

• Primavera Systems, Inc. is among the top fifty computer software ven-dors in the United States.

• Primavera Systems, Inc. offers excellent training and customer supportin the use of its software.

SureTrak Windows System Requirements

• Pentium PC• 40 MB of free hard disk space• 16 MB RAM, 32 MB recommended• Windows NT, 97, 98, 2000• VGA or higher monitor• CD-ROM drive

Preface

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Help Topics

The online help in SureTrak is extensive. The Help Topics can be accessedthree ways for easy use:

• Contents—Displays SureTrak Help Contents by category (books). • Index—Displays the Search dialog box that enables users to find

Help information using keywords.• Find—Enables user to search for specific words and phrases in Help

Topics instead of searching by category.

Another helpful feature of SureTrak is that by pressing the F1 (firstfunction) key, the Help Topics screen for that field is pulled up from anyfield within SureTrak. The tutorial is a very helpful walkthrough of thedifferent functions of the product.

ABOUT THIS BOOK

This book is a graphic, step-by-step introduction to good constructionproject control techniques. This book shows construction scheduling asit has not been presented before. It includes the traditional theory onplanning, scheduling, and controlling construction projects. Topicsincluded are schedule development, activity definition, relationships,calculations, resources, costs, and monitoring, documenting, and con-trolling change. The difference between this and other scheduling texts isthat this book takes the student through all these topics with an exampleconstruction project schedule using SureTrak. SureTrak, along withPrimavera Engineering & Construction, is generally recognized as thepremier construction scheduling software on the market today. The stu-dent is not only exposed to onscreen images, but is also shown how tomanipulate hard copy prints for exceptional communication anddemonstration results.

The step-by-step tutorials are the strength of this book. This book isdesigned for the classroom, but will work very well for people in theindustry that need to learn SureTrak on their own.

WHO SHOULD USE THIS BOOK

This book was written for students of construction, construction tech-nology, and for working professionals who want to gain a better under-standing of scheduling and the use of SureTrak.

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USING THIS BOOK

This book can be used either as a stand-alone text or in conjunctionwith another more traditional planning/scheduling book. This book isdesigned primarily as a problems-oriented lab manual to improve stu-dent use of SureTrak. Students should be able to use this book as a step-by-step guide while they are sitting at their desks running SureTrak. Thechapters are organized with major headings in capitalized boldfacedprint. Main topics are given at the beginning of the paragraph and arealso in bold print. Boldfaced print is also used for the software com-mands making it very simple for the student to follow along usingSureTrak while reading the book.

The construction professional can use the book to choose particular com-ponents of scheduling with SureTrak to read about. You do not have tostart at the beginning of the book and go to the end. The detail providedin the Contents makes it easy to find specific information.

The strength of this book lies in its detailed examples of a sample sched-ule that uses scheduling information in numerous ways. This book can beused in conjunction with SureTrak’s Help Topics and tutorial for an effi-cient introduction to the subject of planning and scheduling and the useof SureTrak. This book presents scheduling primarily from the generalcontractor’s point of view, but most of the information can be applied tothe subcontractor, fabricator, owner, and construction manager.

USING THE EXERCISES

A sample problem and exercises at the end of each chapter help makethis text more useful in a classroom setting. A student who completes theexercises using SureTrak will have a sound basis for producing construc-tion schedules.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

David Marchman teaches estimating, scheduling, project management,and other construction courses in the School of Construction at The Uni-versity of Southern Mississippi. His teaching career is supported byextensive experience in the construction industry (residential, commer-cial, and industrial), including seven years with Brown & Root. He con-tinues to consult with numerous companies on estimating, scheduling,and cost accounting. Professor Marchman has spent summers with BillHarbert International Construction, Hensel Phelps Construction, and

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Brice Building Company. He has taught numerous construction-relatedseminars and workshops for such companies as W. G. Yates Construc-tion, Ivey Mechanical Corporation, and the Associated Builders andContractors of Mississippi.

Tulio Sulbaran teaches estimating, scheduling, project management, andother construction courses in the School of Construction at the Univer-sity of Southern Mississippi. His teaching career is supported by a doc-torate degree from Georgia Institute of Technology and several years ofinternational work experience in the A/E/C (architecture, engineering,and construction) industry in planning and managing engineering proj-ects both in the field and from the office. Dr. Sulbaran continues to con-sult with numerous companies on scheduling and estimating, such asURS Corp, W. G. Yates Construction, Superior Asphalt, and MississippiPower among others. He has been very active in organization such asAssociated School of Construction (ASC), American Council for Con-struction Education (ACCE), American Society for Engineering Educa-tion (ASEE), and Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) to mentiona few. Additionally, he has taught numerous construction-related semi-nars and workshop as well as presented in both nationally and interna-tionally recognized conferences.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

David Marchman wants to thank his wife Janet, daughter Dee Ann, andson Dane who were a great inspiration and support in the writing process.

Tulio Sulbaran wants to express great gratitude to his undergraduatestudents, construction companies, and construction organizations forproviding priceless input and opportunities for personal and profes-sional growth. Further, Dr. Sulbaran wants to recognize the importantrole that his graduate students Claire Freeney, Mathew Carpenter, BlakeHowell, Chad Marcum, Susan Rayborn, and Carlos Sterling played byhelping him in other activities, which provided the much needed time tofocus on this book. Dr. Sulbaran wants to give very special thanks toProf. Marchman for the invitation to participate in the preparation ofthis book and for sharing numerous hours of enjoyable and productivework. Finally, all of this would not have been possible without the nur-turing of my mother Alida Gonzalez, the support and understandingfrom my wife Virginia Sulbaran, and the joy from my son Tulio Nicolasand my daughter Viginia Valentina.

The authors and Delmar gratefully acknowledge the comments and sug-gestions of the members of the review panel who contributed to this text.Their efforts have proven valuable to its success.

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