We often get asked, what is the difference between the term “Planning” and “Scheduling”, when discussing projects.

The answer given can depend upon various factors, ie:

For reference here is JCA’s basic thoughts (wrong or right) on this matter.
Planning - we believe planning is the art where based on knowledge, information and experience, a planner will develop, status and maintain (with out direction from others) a programme of works from scratch.

Scheduling - we believe scheduling is the action of using data, advice and direction of others to build and/or update a programme of works.

Having said that a person who is a competent planner in building construction, may not be able to fill the title of planner on an mechancal engineering based project (and vice versa).

Some believe the term planning refers to forecasting data, whereas scheduling refers to the recording of actual data. We’re not to sure that this is reflective definition of scheduling.

With increased demand on our engineering division planners, JCA have recently added a few new planners to our team, with the following having started during July:

Kirsty Caporn - Kirsty a local Perth-ite has private sector planning and coordination experience from the Defence industry. With JCA keen to further build on our presence in Defence projects Kirsty’s arrival is a welcomed addition. Kirsty will initially be filling in JCA’s West Perth offices, helping with our in house planning projects, with a view to site based consulting roles in due course.

Ali Shirazi - Joins JCA as a highly skilled and experienced planner/controller from Iran. Having work throughout the Middle East, on major Oil and Gas Projects, Ali is also a welcomed new arrival for JCA. Ali has immediately been snapped up by one of our clients and assigned to the Alkimos Water Treatment project, and will soon be availble for on-shore Oil & Gas Projects.

JCA have also employed three other planners/schedulers this month, all will be starting in August.

JCA are currently involved with a collaborative study between Curtin University, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and CRC.

JCA has been selected to provide input to this study on Disputes in construction. Through JCA’s considerable experience consulting in time planning, JCA has been able to provide insight to the study team on the how, what, why and when delay disputes occur, and how best to deal with these dispute in relataion to Time Delays, with a view to avoidance.

JCA is proud to be involved in this important national study, and looks forward to the published results in due course.