Milestones and Time Scheduling
6.1.8.1 Milestones
A milestone defines point of time indicating the start or finish of an important group of activities. Milestone can be any component of the WBS. Project scheduling shall be initiated by identifying project milestones and setting their planned dates as intermediate project targets. At the project execution stage, the assessment of these targets helps the senior level management in assessing the project status and taking strategic decisions for the project.
6.1.8.2 Time scheduling
Time scheduling involves putting the project plan on a calendar, that is, identifying planned start and finish dates for the activities. Precedence diagram method or activity on node method given in 7 of IS 14580 (Part 2) shall be used for time scheduling. After determining dependency links, the steps given below shall be followed:
a) Preparation of the network diagram based upon established data, and
b) Forward pass and backward pass calculations for the network diagram.
The time scheduling deliverables shall be as given below:
a) Early start and early finish dates of each activity,
b) Late start and late finish dates of each activity,
c) Early and late dates for project milestones,
d) Total float and free float of each activity and project milestones,
e) Critical activities and project critical path, and
f) Calculated project duration.
For automation of time scheduling process and other processes given in subsequent clauses, suitable construction management software may be employed.