Step 8: Review Resources
Before finalising the schedule, resource considerations must be reviewed in detail. Getting resources wrong is one of the most common causes of unrealistic schedules and project delays. The golden rule: determine what resources are actually available before planning their best utilisation.
Availability & Constraints
- Resource unavailability times — restricted days or hours of work.
- Consider long lead-time procurement of specialist resources or consultants.
- Are overseas resources required? Will they be working remotely? Is there sufficient on-site supervision and management?
- Check the availability and experience of local resources and contractors, particularly for controlling resources.
- Are local resources already over-committed?
- Do local (regional/remote) resources have the same productivity as metropolitan resources?
- Is there sufficient local supervision staff available?
- Do resources or supervision need to be imported to a remote location?
Specialist Resources
- Specialist resources that are in short supply and high demand — particularly for testing, commissioning, and installation.
- Testing & Commissioning by specialist contractors/consultants — plan their availability early, as they are typically on the critical path at the end of the project.
- Key client resources that may impact essential documentation — design reviews, approvals, and on-site inspections. These are frequently overlooked as resources but can have significant schedule impact.
Controlling Resources
Controlling resources are those that drive the pace of the work. Identifying them early allows the schedule to be built around realistic production rates.
- Structure crews — formworkers and reinforcement fixers — are a classic example of controlling resources on concrete-framed structures.
- The choice of installation and assembly method is influenced by the resources and supervision available. Consider installation methods that reduce labour congestion.
- Consider whether schedule logic will be resource-driven — i.e. the sequence is dictated by the movement of a crew rather than physical dependencies.
FIFO & Remote Rosters
- Will resources be on a work/time-off roster — e.g. Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO)?
- Additional resources will be required to maintain work crew sizes and production rates during changeover periods.
- Local availability of equipment, including servicing and maintenance, must be factored in for remote projects.
Industrial Relations
- Consider local Industrial Relations requirements — IR conditions vary by location, trade, and enterprise agreement and will directly affect working hours, rosters, and crew sizes in the schedule.