Schedule Updating Best Practices

Updating is more than just entering actual start and finish dates. It’s about preserving schedule logic and ensuring the CPM remains a trustworthy forecasting tool.

When updating, focus on:

• Critical and Near-Critical Paths: Always review how updates impact these paths. Delays here often dictate overall project completion.
• Logic Ties: Verify that relationships between activities are still valid and adjust if site conditions or plans change.
• Durations and Remaining Work: Update remaining durations based on actual performance, not just original estimates.
• Data Date: Move the data date forward consistently (usually monthly, or more often for fast-moving projects). This ensures progress is measured against a realistic timeline.

Steps to Schedule Updating:

Step 1: Walk the Site and Status the Job

• Physically walk the project site to see actual progress.
• Talk to field supervisors, subcontractors, and crews to confirm progress and verify what’s really happening
• Confirm which activities have started, are in progress, or are completed.
• Note delays, obstacles, or resource constraints directly from the field.
• Use this field intel to ground your updates in reality.
  
  

Step 2: Update the Schedule with Site Walk Info

• Enter actual start and finish dates for activities.
• Update percentage complete for ongoing tasks.
• Adjust durations if work is progressing faster or slower than planned.
• Ensure float values and the critical path are recalculated after updates.
  
  

Step 3: Identify and Incorporate Necessary Changes

• Add scope changes, resequenced work, or newly identified dependencies.
• Document reasons for schedule changes to maintain transparency.
• Reassess the critical and near-critical paths to anticipate potential delays.
• Communicate changes with the project team and owner for alignment.