A GC’s Gantt schedule has important information critical to electrical foremen. Starting with the basics, let’s review the different parts of the schedule.
The first column in a GC’s Gantt schedule lists identification numbers assigned to tasks. This information is useful when communicating with the GC during coordination meetings. You can confirm that both you and the GC are looking at the same line item.
The next column lists descriptions of work. In the example provided you see the task, “In-slab Electrical”. This line item should be highlighted because the GC has scheduled the electrician to do something on these dates.
The next few columns list total work duration, remaining work duration, date the work is to begin, and the date the work is expected to be completed.
Make sure the logistics are thought about and better yet documented so they can be executed in a smooth fashion; material needs to be on site and staged in the optimal location before the date work begins, workers need to be scheduled on site during the dates work is to be done, and inspection appointments booked for after the work is completed.
To the right of the columns are horizontal bars providing a visual of sequential and overlapping activities.
Many times our electrical work cannot begin until another trade has completed their activity. In the example provided the deck must be formed and made safe before electricians can begin layout, nailing inserts, and installing raceway.
Looking at the horizontal bars I see the plumber’s will be installing their in-slab materials on the same days we are. This information is useful to the electrical foreman because “Trade stacking”, the act of scheduling multiple trades to work in the same area at the same time affects efficiency and productivity. As an electrical foreman one of your most important duties is designing efficient workflow systems to maximize your worker’s productivity.
Stay safe,
Buddy, The San Francisco Electrician