Schedule Compression and Time-Cost Trade-Off - Construction Project Scheduling and Control - page 221

be completed in a few hours rather than several days with a high accompanying
delivery cost. Management software also speeds up the RFI process if all
parties have immediate access to the software. 8
The author also suggests using optimum scheduling (discussed later in this
chapter), a concept that, when applicable, can result is time saving, among other
potential benefits.
The earlier the need to accelerate the schedule is known, the more options the
contractor will have and the lower the cost may be.
CONSTRUCTION VERSUS MANUFACTURING
The term construction has more to do with the process than the final product. For
example, making mobile homes and trailers falls technically under the manufacturing
industry, not the construction industry. Construction is a process that takes place pri-
marily on the project site where the final product will reside, even if there are parts
of the project that are premanufactured or preassembled somewhere else. Manufac-
turing takes place in a plant, and then products are shipped to where they will be
permanently installed. However, the combination of construction and manufacturing
is possible and often done. For example, modular units and precast concrete members
are manufactured products that are frequently used in construction.
The extent of use of such manufactured products depends on many factors, such
as feasibility, economics, quality, and logistics. For example, a floating platform for an
oil rig may be completely manufactured on land and then transported and installed
in the desired location. Modular units are used sometimes either for economics or
for speed of construction in areas of extreme weather. The manufactured products
are prepared in advance and are then delivered and installed (constructed) during the
limited period of good weather.
Manufactured products have a number of advantages by working under con-
trolled conditions. Control of adverse weather conditions allows work to continue
indoors without concern about weather. Use of assembly line techniques speeds up
the construction of components by allowing safe, efficient processes to be performed
repeatedly with less knowledgeable labor. Jigs and templates allow for the construction
of components to be achieved in the most advantageous conditions, such as building
walls on a convenient platform with carpenters on each end. Lighting conditions and
convenient power and power tools allow the workers to work with increased safety
and improved efficiency. The advantages improve the efficiency of the overall manu-
facturing operation, reduce the costs, and shorten the time to completion.
The use of manufactured products also poses some challenges, mainly, transporta-
tion and installation. These products have to be designed to withstand not only service
8 Most project management software packages provide access to users on the company's server, with the
possibility of providing limited access through the Internet.