CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

CHAPTER 3: CONSTRUCTION METHODS AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT

CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 PLANNING
PLANNING IS AN ART, AND THE ART OF PLANNING EXIST ONLY AMONG HUMAN
BEINGS.
FOR A GOOD PLANNING, INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE ARE NECESSARY. AND FOR
A PLAN TO BE SUCCESSFUL, IT MUST BE PREPARED BY THOSE WERE TRAINED AND
QUALIFIED.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 PLANNING
THE PRE-PLANNING STAGE, ESTABLISHES AND DETERMINE THE DIRECTION AND
SUCCESS OF ANY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT SEEMS THAT SOME ENGINEERS AND CONSTRUCTORS HAVE NOT
GIVEN THE PRE-PLANNING SPECIAL EMPHASIS DESPITE THEIR ONE DIRECTION OF
GOING THERE.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 PLANNING
FOUR BASIC RULES FOR ANY JOB
1. THE CONSTRUCTION SUPERINTENDENT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE
CONSULTATION AT THE VERY START OF THE PLANNING STAGE.
-DO NOT JUST PRESENT HIM LATER THE FINISHED PLAN AND SAY: “HERE IS THE
PLAN FOR YOU TO IMPLEMENT.”
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 PLANNING
FOUR BASIC RULES FOR ANY JOB
2. MAKE A JOB BREAKDOWN INTO COMPONENTS.
-THIS WILL SIMPLIFY THE WHOLE PROGRAM.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 PLANNING
FOUR BASIC RULES FOR ANY JOB
3. PREPARE A CONSTRUCTION PLAN THAT WILL BE CONSULTED CONSTANTLY.
-DO NOT JUST FILE IT IN A DRAWER ONLY TO ACCUMULATE DUST.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 PLANNING
FOUR BASIC RULES FOR ANY JOB
4. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NEW TOOLS, WHICH HAVE DEMONSTRATED IN SAVING
TIME, MONEY OR CONFUSION.
-FOR INSTANCE, A COMPUTER CAN BE USED TO LAYOUT ON ONE SHEET A DETAILED
SCHEDULE ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF DAYS, CRAFTS, MAN-HOURS, COSTS,
PROCUREMENT AND COMPLETION OF A PROCESS.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 PLANNING
FOR WHOM AND WHAT ARE WE PLANNING FOR?
1. WE ARE PLANNING FOR THE OWNERS OF THE COMPANY WHEN WE PLAN TO
ACHIEVE A PROFIT BY OPEARTING AT THE MINIMUM CAPACITY, UTILIZING THE
AVAILABLE RESOURCES.
2. WE ARE PLANNING FOR THE EMPLOYEES WHEN WE PLAN TO CREATE OR
MAINTAIN JOBS.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 PLANNING
FOUR DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS OF PLANNING FUNCTIONS
1. PLANNING IS A PHILOSOPHY
2. PLANNING IS INTEGRATION
3. PLANNING IS A PROCESS
4. PLANNING IS A COLLECTION OF PROCEDURES
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 PLANNING
FOUR DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS OF PLANNING FUNCTIONS
1. PLANNING IS A PHILOSOPHY
-LOOKING AHEAD IS A WAY OF THINKING, A CONCERN ABOUT THE FUTURE EFFECTS
OF TODAY’S ACTION. PLANNING INVOLVES A STATE OF THE MIND THAT RECOGNIZES
THE NEED FOR ORDERLINESS AND THE VALUE OF DIRECTION.
INDIVIDUAL PLANNERS MAY SWAY BETWEEN OPTIMISM AND PESSIMISM, BUT THEY
DARE NOT STRAY TOO FAR FROM REALITY.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 PLANNING
FOUR DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS OF PLANNING FUNCTIONS
2. PLANNING IS INTEGRATION
-BOTH LONG AND SHORT RANGE PLANS PROVIDE A UNIFIED STRUCTURE TO GIVE
PURPOSE TO THE ORGANIZATIONAL INITS INVOLVED. BROADER PLANS CONSIDER
THE CLIENT, THE SUPPLIER AND OTHER PERIPHERAL CONTACT OF THE COMPANY.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 PLANNING
FOUR DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS OF PLANNING FUNCTIONS
3. PLANNING IS A PROCESS
-GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE THE MOST OBVIOUS CONSEQUENCE OF THE
PLANNING PROCESS. A LOOSE OBJECTIVE OF SURVIVAL OR OF MAKING PROFIT IS A
POOR GUIDELINE CLEARLY INADEQUATE FOR STEERING AN ENTERPRISE.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 PLANNING
FOUR DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS OF PLANNING FUNCTIONS
3. PLANNING IS A PROCESS
A WINNING PLAN INCLUDES:
1) THE STRATEGY THAT DEFINES HOW MUCH HAS TO BE DONE TO ACHIEVE THE
OBJECTIVES.
2) THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS THAT SATISFIES THOSE STRATEGIES.
3) THE ASSIGNMENT THAT LEAD TO THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE EVENTS.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 PLANNING
FOUR DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS OF PLANNING FUNCTIONS
4. PLANNING IS A COLLECTION OF PROCEDURES
-ALL COMPANIES MAKE PLANS AHEAD TO SOME EXTENT AND APPLY THEIR OWN
METHODS OF DOING SO. IN SMALL COMPANY, ONE PERSON MAY DO IT ALL, BUT
LARGER COMPANIES HAVE STANDARD PROCEDURES FOR FORMULATING AND
CARRYING OUT PLANS.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 THE PROJECT MANAGER

THE CENTRAL FIGURE IN A PROJECT IS THE PROJECT MANAGER. HE BEARS THE
ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THE PROJECT. HIS
ROLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION IS ONE OF AN ORGANIZER, A PERSON WHO IS
CAPABLE OF WORKING THROUGH OTHERS TO ACCOMPLISH THE OBJECTIVES OF
THE PROJECT.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 THE PROJECT MANAGER

THE REWARD OF THE JOB OF THE PROJECT MANAGER COMES FROM:
1. THE BENEFITS OF BEING ASSOCIATED WITH A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT.
2. THE PERSONAL SATISFACTION OF SEEING IT THROUGH TO ITS CONCLUSION.
3. THE CHALLENGE OF THE JOB, AND WORKING WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING
 THE PROJECT MANAGER
THE PROBLEMS OF PLANNING AND COORDINATING PROJECT ACTIVITIES CAN BE
QUITE FORMIDABLE FOR LARGE PROJECTS, WHICH TYPICALLY HAVE HUNDREDS OR
THOUSANDS OF ACTIVITIES, THAT MUST BE CAREFULLY PLANNED AND MONITORED
IF THE PROJECT IS TO PROCEED ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE AT
REASONABLE COST.

1. PROJECT GOALS MUST BE ESTABLISHED AND PRIORITIES ARE SET.

2. DIFFERENT WORKS MUST BE IDENTIFIED AND TIME ESTIMATE MUST BE
DETERMINED.
3. RESOURCE REQUIREMENT MUST BE PROJECTED, AND BUDGET MUST BE
PREPARED.
4. ONCE UNDERWAY, PROGRESS MUST BE MONITORED TO ASSURE ACHIEVEMENT OF
THE GOAL.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 THE PROJECT MANAGER

MANAGERIAL COMPETENCE IS A FUNCTION OF A MANAGER’S CHARACTER,
KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCE.THESE 3 INGREDIENTS INTERACT TO MOLD A
PARTICULAR STYLE OF MANAGEMENT.
STYLES MAY BE ALTERED OR FASHIONED BY EDUCATION GAINED FROM FORMAL
TRAINING AND WORK SEASONING.
AN ADVANTAGE OF STUDYING MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES IS THE OPPORTUNITY IT
ALLOWS TO EXPLORE AND DEVELOP MANAGERIAL SKILLS WITHOUT SUFFERING THE
CONSEQUENCES OF TRIAL AND ERROR LEARNING.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 THE WORKSHEET
THE INITIAL MOVE TO GET THE GET THE PROJECT UNDER WAY IS FOR THE
PROJECT MANAGER TO CONVENE A PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION ON THE DOCUMENTS,
AND TO GATHER MORE INFORMATION AS MAY BE AVAILABLE AT THE EARLY STAGE.
THERE SHOULD BE ADDITIONAL AND PRE-PLANNING INFORMATION AVAILABLE SUCH
AS, THE CLIENT’S REQUIRED OPERATIONAL DATE.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 THE WORKSHEET
WHAT THE PROJECT MANAGER NEEDS TO KNOW ARE:
1. THE LOGICAL CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED.
2. THE QUANTITY AND THE DELIVERY DATE’S OF VARIOUS MATERIALS TO BE USED.
3. HOW MUCH AND WHAT KIND OF MANPOWER WILL BE NEEDED.
4. WHEN TO START AND COMPLETE THE JOB ON TIME.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 THE WORKSHEET
THE WORKSHEET REPRESENTS A PLAN OF ACTION PRESENTED GRAPHICALLY BY A
CRITICAL SEQUENCE OF FUNCTIONS OF SUBSIDIARY ACTIVITIES CONTAINED WITHIN
A COMPACT PERIOD OF TIME.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 TIMETABLE
THE PROJECT MANAGER SHOULD CONDUCT ONE OR MORE INFORMAL SESSIONS
WITH KEY PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO THE PROJECT SUCH AS:
1. THE CONSTRUCTION SUPERINTENDENT
2. JOB BUYER
3. DRAFTING ROOM COORDINATOR
4. JOB EXPEDITER
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 TIMETABLE
DURING THE SESSION, THE PRELIMINARY CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM OR
WORKSHEET IS REVIEWED TO DETERMINE WHETHER ENGINEERING WORK AND
PROCUREMENT OF MATERIALS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED AT THE RATE IN THE
SEQUENCE AS PROGRAMMED IN THE SCHEDULE.

THE SEQUENCE OF CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, WHICH ARE RELATED TO OPTIONAL

EARLY AND LATE STARTS, WILL SERVE AS A RUNNING LIST OF INDIVIDUAL JOB
COMPONENTS, WITH NOTATION TO WORK ACTIVITIES WITH GREATER IMPORTANCE
AND PRIORITY OVER THE OTHERS.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 TIMETABLE
SPECIFICATIONS FOR EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS, WHICH ARE IN THE
DEVELOPMENT, SHOULD BE PROCESSED ACCORDING TO THEIR IMPORTANCE OR
URGENCY IN THE OVERALL PROJECT. THE DESIGN AND DRAFTING EFFORT CAN BE
ORGANIZED, TO PRODUCE THOSE DRAWINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY AT THE EARLY
STAGE OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM FOR FIELD INSTALLATION OR TO
COMPLEMENT AN URGENT PURCHASE OF MATERIALS.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 TIMETABLE
AT THIS EARLY STAGE OF CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENT, IT IS ESSENTIAL AND
TIMELY FOR THE PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE TO PLACE ORDERS FOR LONG TERM
DELIVERY OF ITEMS AT AN EARLY PHASE OF THE PROJECT. THE RELATIVE URGENCY
OF THE ON SITE RECEIPT AS SCHEDULED, MAY BE USED IN ESTABLISHING A SHOP
FABRICATION SCHEDULE WITH THE SUPPLIER.

ONE IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF THE CONSTRUCTION PLANNER IS THE PREPARATION

OF AN ACCURATE MANPOWER ESTIMATES ASSIGNED TO EACH FUNCTION. THIS CAN
BE DONE ON THE BASIS OF ANAPOWER CATEGORY OF THE WORKS LIKE: WORKING
ON FOUNDATIONS AND UNDERGROUND FACILITIES OR BY CRAFT SUCH AS
CARPENTERS, TINSMITH, PLUMBER, ELECTRICIAN, LABORERS OR BY GROUP
METHODS.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 TIMETABLE
THE MANPOWER DISTRIBUTION AND CLASSIFICATIONS CAN BE DONE IN TWO WAYS:
BY MANUAL OR BY THE USE OF COMPUTER
BY MANUAL METHOD-IT TAKES MORE TIME BUT RESULTS IN A MORE ACCURATE AND
REALISTIC SUMMARY AS AN ANTICIPATION OF THE NEED WITHOUT REVERTING TO
AN AVERAGE MANPOWER DISTRIBUTION.

BY THE USE OF COMPUTER-IT LESSEN THE ENGINEERS TIME BUT THE RESULT IS
LESS REALISTIC BECAUSE IT IS APPLIED ON THE AVERAGE MANPOWER LOADINGS TO
THE COMPUTER. THE MANPOWER SUMMARY RESULT WILL BE LOWER THAN MIGHT
BE REALISTICALLY ANTICIPATED. WHERE TIME IS AVAILABLE, THE MANUAL METHOD
PREPARED BY AN EXPERIENCED ENGINEER IS PREFERRED.
CONSTRUCTION PRE-PLANNING

 TIMETABLE
IN EITHER CASE, WHAT IS NEEDED IS THE RATE OF ANTICIPATED MANPOWER
EXPENDITURE ON THE BASIS OF WORK CATEGORY OR CLASSIFICATION OR ON THE
BASIS OF CRAFTS. IN ADDITION, IT IS A WORTHWHILE INSTRUMENT IN
ESTABLISHING THE LIMIT EXTREMES OF MANPOWER APPLICATION TO SUMMARIZE
THE MANPOWER LOADING IN TWO WAYS:
1. WITH ALL FUNCTIONS PERFORMED IN THEIR EARLIEST POSITION ON
TIMETABLE.
2. WITH ALL FUNCTIONS PERFORMED IN THEIR LATEST STARTING POSITION.