Construction Scheduling using MS Project (Face to Face | May 8-9, 2026)

Construction Scheduling Using MS Project

This 2-day training provides construction professionals with the practical knowledge and hands-on skills required to develop, update, analyze, and present construction schedules using Microsoft Project.

The course goes beyond basic task entry and focuses on the correct planning mindset, realistic construction sequencing, and CPM-based scheduling practices. Participants will learn how to translate construction scope into a structured Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), develop activities with realistic durations, apply proper logic relationships, analyze the critical path, and produce schedules that can be confidently used for project control, reporting, and decision-making.

Through guided demonstrations, hands-on workshops, and a complete mini-project, participants will build a full construction schedule from scratch using Microsoft Project and understand how it is used in real construction projects, particularly small to medium-scale infrastructure and building works.

At the end of this 2-day training, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the fundamentals of planning and scheduling in construction projects
2. Clearly distinguish between planning and scheduling and apply both correctly
3. Explain the role of a Planner / Scheduler in construction projects
4. Navigate the Microsoft Project interface and understand key views and fields
5. Create a construction schedule using proper structure and naming conventions
6. Develop a clear and structured WBS aligned with construction scope
7. Create activities with realistic durations and dependencies
8. Apply correct logic relationships (FS, SS, FF, SF)
9. Perform Critical Path Method (CPM) scheduling and interpret results
10. Assign calendars that reflect actual construction working conditions
11. Use constraints correctly and understand their impact on schedules
12. Update schedules and monitor progress effectively
13. Generate professional Gantt charts and reports suitable for project use
14. Build a complete construction schedule through a guided mini-project

Course Duration: 2 days @ 8 hours per day

Course Outline

MODULE 0 – Microsoft Project Setup & Environment (Pre-Course Guide)

(Email guide will be sent to the participants 1 day before the training)

Topics:

• System requirements
• Microsoft Project versions overview
• Downloading Microsoft Project
• Installing Microsoft Project
• Interface setup and recommended settings

DAY 1 – Foundations & Schedule Development (8 Hours)

MODULE 1 – Planning & Scheduling Fundamentals (1.5 hrs)

Purpose:

• Correct the common misunderstanding of planning vs scheduling
• Build the “planner’s mindset” before touching the software

Topics:

• What planning and scheduling really mean in construction
• Planning vs scheduling (construction examples)
• Why construction schedules fail
• Role of the Planner / Scheduler
• Project life cycle and where MS Project fits
• Introduction to CPM (Critical Path Method)

🛠 Workshop:

• Identify planning mistakes from a sample delayed project

MODULE 2 – Microsoft Project Interface & Project Setup (2 hrs)

Purpose: Set up MS Project correctly (most common real-world failure)

Topics + Demo:

• MS Project interface and key views
• Project information and settings
• Setting project start date and calendars
• Creating and assigning calendars
• Understanding summary tasks and WBS structure

🛠 Hands-on Exercise:

Participants create:

• Project settings
• Calendar
• Multi-level WBS

MODULE 3 – WBS & Activity Development (2 hrs)

Purpose: Translate construction scope into a buildable schedule

Topics:

• Good vs bad WBS (construction examples)
• Activity definition and naming conventions
• Task types (fixed duration, fixed work)
• Duration estimating using productivity logic
• Organizing activities logically

🛠 Hands-on Exercise:

Create activities for:

• Structural works
• Architectural works
• MEP works

MODULE 4 – Logic, Relationships & CPM (2 hrs)

Purpose: Build realistic construction sequencing

Topics:

• FS, SS, FF, SF relationships
• Leads and lags (when to use and avoid)
• Common logic mistakes in MS Project
• Automatic scheduling vs manual scheduling
• Identifying the critical path
• Float interpretation

🛠 Hands-on Exercise:

• Link activities
• Run CPM calculation
• Identify critical path and float

DAY 2 – Optimization, Reporting & Mini Project (8 Hours)

MODULE 5 – Calendars, Constraints & Schedule Control (2 hrs)

Purpose: Make the schedule realistic and controllable

Topics:

• 5-day, 6-day, 7-day calendars
• Assigning calendars correctly
• Holidays and non-working days
• Constraints:
  • When they are valid
  • When they distort schedules
• Introduction to schedule compression

🛠 Hands-on Exercise:

• Apply calendar changes and observe critical path impact

MODULE 6 – Updating, Monitoring & Progress Control (2 hrs)

Purpose: Use MS Project as a control tool, not just a planning tool

Topics:

• Baseline creation
• Updating actual start/finish dates
• Percent complete methods
• Tracking Gantt view
• Common updating mistakes

🛠 Hands-on Exercise:

• Update a project with sample progress data

MODULE 7 – Layouts, Reporting & Presentation (1.5 hrs)

Purpose: Make schedules readable and management-ready

Topics:

• Gantt chart formatting best practices
• Filters (critical, ongoing, delayed)
• Grouping and sorting
• Printing and page setup
• Exporting schedules to PDF and Excel

🛠 Hands-on Exercise:

• One management Gantt
• One site progress Gantt

MODULE 8 – Mini Project Workshop (2.5 hrs)

Purpose: Apply everything learned in one guided exercise

Workshop Flow:

• Create project from scratch
• Build WBS
• Create activities
• Assign logic and calendars
• Run CPM
• Review critical path
• Clean up schedule
• Prepare final output

🛠 Output:

✔ Complete construction schedule
✔ Management-ready Gantt chart
✔ Printable and exportable reports

🎁 BONUS MODULE – Planner’s Best Practices & Career Guidance (1 hr)

Purpose: Add real-world value beyond software skills

Topics:

• Common mistakes of beginner planners
• How planners support Project Managers
• How to explain schedules to site engineers
• Red flags in contractor schedules
• Career path: Planner → Senior Planner → Planning Manager
• Interview and planning test tips

References:

1. Microsoft – Microsoft Project User Guide
2. PMI – Practice Standard for Scheduling
3. PMI – PMBOK® Guide
4. AACE International – Recommended Practices on Planning & Scheduling