Construction Gantt chart : Everything you need to know

The problem with construction project scheduling is that you need to be extremely precise if you want to deliver your project within budget and on time. Although there are many phases of the construction project, variables overcomplicate each phase and attempting to oversee the whole project becomes immensely difficult. Project managers have to juggle multiple tasks, various timelines, different crews, general contractors and subcontractors in order to complete the deliverables. Thankfully, there are many management tools that can assist you with project management, making job scheduling a little bit simpler. Such management tools help you visualise the overall timeline of the project, allowing you to make plans and schedules so that you can stay on top of all your deliverables and variables. Out of these management tools, the Gantt chart is one of the more popular ones. Let us discuss everything that you need to know about Gantt charts.

What is a Gantt chart?

If we go into the technical definition, the Gantt chart can be described as a type of bar chart which helps you visualise the project schedule by illustrating the different types of dependency relationships between the current schedule status and activities. In simpler words, the Gantt chart can be described as a visual representation of all tasks placed against the timeline of the construction project. Gantt charts help to display important information, such as the estimated duration of tasks, who is assigned to what task and overlapping activities within the project plan.

Why are Gantt charts used for construction project scheduling?

When we are talking about construction project schedules, you have to remember that there are different phases and milestones that need to be accounted for through proper monitoring. That is why the illustrative elements in a Gantt chart become so attractive. When an individual sees the overall progress of different tasks during the construction process, it becomes easier for them to visualise the remaining timeline. Moreover, Gantt charts prove to be incredibly beneficial in areas such as:

• Planning the order of execution.
• Understanding and highlighting the dependencies between different tasks.
• Identifying which resources and materials are needed to execute the tasks.
• Assessing how long the project will take.

In fact, visualising project progress at a glance is one of the biggest advantages of Gantt charts. Since there are several different bar charts that exist in a single desktop view, it makes it simpler to prioritise as well as identify overlaps or redundancies. Additionally, since all critical data is displayed in the simplest of terms, it makes it easy to understand what is needed to be done, helping to categorise the task groups and to bring all team members on the same page.

Also read: “Time Management In Construction”

Why use construction scheduling software?

One of the biggest advantages of construction scheduling software is that the usage Gantt chart can be customised so that they become suitable for projects of different sizes. Such software programs easily show aspects such as task dependencies, start-to-end dates, order of task progress, trackers, and much more. The benefits of using construction schedule software include the following:

• Viewing critical project information in real-time: Critical information such as task dependencies, task progression and who is involved in which activity can all be tracked in real-time by using Gantt chart software features. This allows project managers to make better-informed decisions, thereby reducing the chance of misinterpretation or delays.
• Improving communication with team members as well as stakeholders: One of the biggest obstacles in any project can be the misinterpretation of information due to miscommunication or, even more dangerously, the lack of communication. Gantt charts act as the perfect communication channel because they provide crystal-clear instructions and communication to individuals at all levels. Project managers can make sure that there is no misinterpretation of information by seeing which individuals are participating in what activities. Using the Gantt chart, relevant information can be passed along at all levels.

• Allocating resources efficiently: Due to the usage of Gantt charts, the allocation of resources to certain tasks among different team members becomes more effective. This is because these charts allow you to have a comprehensive view of your project’s timeline so that you can see where and how the allocated resources are being utilised. This allows you to keep track of what has been utilised and what you need to order. Another advantage of the Gantt chart is that it helps you delegate responsibilities so that managers are aligned appropriately with objectives.
• Gaining a better understanding of task dependencies: Another benefit of the Gantt chart is that you are able to see how individual tasks are interdependent on each other. Without the usage of such charts, it becomes difficult to visualise and manage these dependencies. The resultant confusion makes you easily lose track of which task depends on others. Thankfully, by using Gantt charts in construction programmes like Edara construction business software , even complex and intricate projects can be easily tracked and understood.

Conclusion

Gantt Charts are helpful as they help you visualise the entire timeline of the project, allowing you to plan the order of execution, understand the dependencies between tasks, determine which resources are needed and assess how long a project may take. Having a daily construction timesheet to control your plans can help you.