Reliable Schedule Forecasting in Federal Design-Build Facility Procurement

Reliable Schedule Forecasting in Federal Design-Build Facility Procurement

2011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.60164/6om5c9exv

Authors: Timothy Gannon, Peter Feng, William Sitzabee

Citation:

Gannon, T., Feng, P., and Sitzabee, W. (2012). Reliable Schedule Forecasting in Federal Design-Build Facility Procurement. Lean Construction Journal 2012 pp 01-14.

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Abstract:

Research Question: Do initial schedules provide reliable forecasting for project control?  

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to understand how scheduling works in federal facility procurement and identify how project change underscores schedule uncertainty.     

Research Method: Comparative analysis of project schedule data from three case studies.  

Findings: This paper documents how initial project schedules fail to sufficiently forecast and provide a reliable baseline for total cost, final duration, and activity count for three design-build projects.  Most schedule variability occurs after the 100% design benchmark.  Activity growth highlights scheduling challenges encountered by the construction managers and general contractors (GCs).    

Limitations: The research considers three military construction projects managed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.  

Implications: The research indicates a need to reexamine federal design-build schedule specifications and management practices in the pursuit of project control.  

Value for Practitioners: This paper discusses reliability concerns in activity-based scheduling and promotes an application of lean thinking to public sector construction management.    

Keywords:  scheduling, production control, lean construction, federal facility procurement, public sector construction, construction management 

Paper type: Full paper