What exactly does a Project Scheduler do?

At the core, you do 4 things:

1. You create plans

2. You update plans with actual results

3. You run the numbers

4. You work with the project team to do better

Create

The first thing that everyone thinks of when scheduling is creating a plan.

It makes up about 5% of the job.

To create a plan you need software. The most widely used for construction is Primavera P6, but you may also use Microsoft Project or Asta PowerProject.

These are fairly simple to learn for the job of creating a plan.

In a later newsletter we’ll compile a host of videos to teach you how to use these.

Update Plans

When work gets done or doesn't you update your plan. This makes up about 15% of the job.

You get updates by speaking with people and by walking the job site.

Because schedulers can choose to be on site, and projects are undertaken all over the world, a lot of people use this to pay for traveling the world.

California - Data Center

UK - Rail Road

Australia - Mining Facility

China - Advanced Manufacturing

Middle East - An Entire New City

Find Answers

Creating and updating a schedule provides answers. Your plan is the input, but what matters is the “so what?” Things like:

• What’s our progress?

• Are we accelerating or slowing down?

• Is my plan a good one?

• Is my plan risky?

• Can I go faster?

• Can I make my plan more accurate?

• What’s important in my plan?

• What has changed since my last update?

• What should I tell people?

To figure these out you need to run the numbers. These calculations can be easy, or they can be complex. It really depends on what you’re asking.

The good news is that there’s software that automates all of these calculations for you. We’ll cover all of them in the future.

You just need to decide what information you want to use.

Working with the team to do better.

By far the most significant part of the job. This takes up 50% of your time.

Of course, if you don’t have an up-to-date plan, and you haven’t run the numbers, you’ll have nothing to say.

But if you have, this is where you flex.

You work with the guys and gals on the ground and across the offices to make the project faster, less risky and more efficient.

Again, software helps - you can choose from using Excel or PowerBI to create graphs, or chose artificial intelligence to write reports and speeches for you.

Ultimately you’re the boss.

Your limit is what you can create and communicate.

That’s it.

By doing these 4 things you’re a scheduler.

Then, to rise up the ranks you simply need to get better or pick your niche.

We’ve got content planned for that as well.

For example, if you enjoy analysis, you can work as a Forensic Scheduler, or a Project Data Scientist.

If you love people, you can become a manager and Project Leader.

If you love Planning you can become a Tender / Bid Scheduler.

If you like a bit of everything you can become a Senior Scheduler.

If you want to own your own business, you can launch your own consultancy.

Don’t worry about these job titles for now. We’re here to walk you through them all.

Subscribe and stay tuned for more!