Service / CPM scheduling
Schedules built for
the field, not the wall.
Every activity carries predecessor logic, documented durations, and resource assignments. We build schedules that survive first contact with the field — baseline through closeout, with monthly updates and delay analysis when things shift.
SCH-1108 · CPM baseline16-week program
W1W3W5W7W9W11W13W15
Mobilization
Demolition
Earthwork
Foundations
Structural
Envelope
MEP rough-in
Finishes
Closeout
Critical path
Non-critical
Future
1,000+
Schedules delivered
Baseline + updates
P6+
Primavera P6 certified
Also MS Project & Smartsheet
48hr
Standard turnaround
For schedule updates
TIA
Time Impact Analysis
Delay claims & forensic work
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What is CPM schedulingIndustry standard
The Critical Path Method is how real schedules get built.
CPM is the industry-standard scheduling methodology for construction. Unlike a simple bar chart or task list, a CPM schedule defines the logical relationships between activities — what must finish before something else can start, what can run in parallel, and which sequence of activities determines the project's minimum duration.
The result is a schedule that doesn't just show when things happen — it shows why they happen in that order, which activities have float (scheduling flexibility) and which don't, and exactly where a delay in one activity cascades into a delay to the entire project.
This makes CPM schedules the foundation for monthly progress reporting, delay claim analysis, recovery planning, and — increasingly — contractual requirements on projects over $1M.
Critical pathThe longest continuous chain of dependent activities. Any delay on a critical activity delays the entire project end date. Zero total float.
Total floatThe amount of time an activity can slip without pushing the project completion date. Critical activities have zero float; non-critical activities have positive float.
PredecessorsThe logical relationships between activities — finish-to-start, start-to-start, finish-to-finish, or start-to-finish — that define the required sequencing of work.
BaselineThe approved version of the schedule against which all progress is measured. Monthly updates compare actual vs. planned to identify variance and forecast the completion date.
Resource loadingAssigning labor crews, equipment, and materials to each activity. Reveals over-allocation conflicts and enables resource leveling to smooth workload peaks.
Time impactA forensic analysis technique that inserts a delay event into the schedule to quantify its effect on the critical path — the standard methodology for delay claims.
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Scheduling services6 service types
S.01
Baseline CPM Schedules
Full CPM schedule development from preconstruction through closeout. Documented predecessor logic, durations based on crew productivities, and resource loading. Delivered in your preferred platform.
S.02
Two-Week Look-Aheads
Rolling short-interval schedules issued weekly. Derived from the baseline, filtered to the next 10–15 working days, with crew assignments and constraint flags for field coordination.
S.03
Monthly Schedule Updates
Progress the schedule each period — actual start/finish dates, remaining durations, percent complete. Variance report showing critical path shifts, float erosion, and projected completion versus baseline.
S.04
Delay & Impact Analysis
Forensic schedule analysis using Time Impact Analysis (TIA) and As-Planned vs. As-Built windows. Quantifies excusable vs. non-excusable delay for claims, disputes, or owner reporting.
S.05
Recovery Schedules
When a project falls behind, we rebuild the path forward — re-sequenced activities, accelerated durations, resource leveling, and cost-of-acceleration analysis to evaluate options before committing.
S.06
Schedule Reviews & Audits
Third-party review of contractor-submitted schedules for logic, duration reasonableness, resource adequacy, and specification compliance. Red-flag report with actionable recommendations.
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Construction phases we scheduleFull project lifecycle
From mobilization to closeout.
Every construction phase has unique scheduling considerations — predecessor dependencies, long-lead procurement, inspection holds, weather windows, and trade stacking constraints. We build schedules that account for all of them.
01PreconstructionPermitting, long-lead procurement, submittals, shop drawings, site logistics planning4–12 weeks typical
02Site WorkDemolition, earthwork, grading, erosion control, underground utilities, foundation excavation3–8 weeks typical
03FoundationsFootings, grade beams, pile driving, slab-on-grade, waterproofing, backfill2–6 weeks typical
04StructureStructural steel, concrete frame, wood framing, metal decking, masonry4–16 weeks typical
05EnvelopeRoofing, curtain wall, glazing, exterior cladding, air/vapor barriers, insulation4–12 weeks typical
06MEP Rough-InMechanical ductwork, electrical conduit, plumbing risers, fire protection, low voltage6–14 weeks typical
07Interior FinishesDrywall, flooring, paint, ceilings, millwork, specialties, fixtures, hardware6–16 weeks typical
08Commissioning & CloseoutSystems testing, punch list, final inspections, O&M manuals, warranty coordination, turnover2–6 weeks typical
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Try the schedule builderInteractive tool
Get your schedule & a free consultation
Enter your name and email — we'll follow up to discuss your scheduling needs. No spam, no list.
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Delivery platformsYour choice of format
Primavera P6
Enterprise · EPPM
The industry standard for large commercial, infrastructure, and government projects. Full CPM engine with resource dictionaries, multiple baselines, and earned value.
Microsoft Project
Professional · Desktop
Widely used for mid-market commercial and tenant improvement work. Strong CPM capabilities with familiar Microsoft interface. Exports to PDF and Excel.
Smartsheet
Cloud · Collaborative
Cloud-based option for teams that need real-time collaboration. Gantt views, automated alerts, and dashboard reporting. Popular with owner's reps and developers.
PDF & Excel
Universal · Export
Every schedule ships with a formatted PDF for distribution and an Excel export for data manipulation. Print-ready Gantt charts with your project branding.
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Frequently asked
Questions about scheduling.
A Gantt chart is a visualization — bars on a timeline. A CPM schedule is a Gantt chart plus logic: predecessor relationships between activities, calculated float, and a mathematically derived critical path. You can have a Gantt chart without CPM (a simple bar chart), but you can't have CPM without a Gantt chart to display it. Most specifications require CPM logic, not just a bar chart.
If the project is over $500K or longer than 3 months, the answer is almost certainly yes. Most commercial contracts require it. Even if not contractually required, a CPM schedule pays for itself in coordination savings — it's the only tool that reliably shows how a delay in one trade affects every other trade downstream.
The construction documents (plans and specs), the contract duration or milestone dates, the bid or budget breakdown by trade (so we know the scope splits), and any owner-imposed constraints (phasing requirements, occupied spaces, blackout dates). If you have a preliminary schedule or bid-day schedule, that's helpful too but not required.
For a typical commercial project (50–300 activities), 5–7 business days from receipt of documents. Larger or more complex projects (500+ activities, multiple phases) typically take 10–15 business days. Monthly updates take 2–3 business days from receipt of progress data.
It depends on your audience. If the owner or spec requires Primavera P6, use P6 — no substitutes. For most mid-market commercial work, MS Project is the pragmatic choice. If your team lives in the cloud and needs real-time collaboration, Smartsheet is strong. We deliver in all three and can convert between formats.
Yes. We perform Time Impact Analysis (TIA) and As-Planned vs. As-Built analysis to quantify excusable and compensable delay. Our analysis follows AACE and ASCE recommended practices and is formatted for attorney review and expert testimony if needed.
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Request a scheduling proposal24-hour response
Let's build your schedule.
Tell us about your project and we'll scope a scheduling engagement — baseline development, ongoing updates, delay analysis, or all of the above.
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02
Response
Within 1 business day
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Delivery
P6 · MS Project · Smartsheet · PDF