In the construction field, the elaboration and management of construction schedules plays an important role in helping contractors, engineers and project management units control time, allocate resources and ensure the completion of works according to plans.
In the past, many engineers used Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Project to make progress tables. However, Excel has limitations when managing dependent tasks, while Microsoft Project requires users to install software and can incur royalties.
Today, with the development of online tools, it has become simpler and more convenient to keep a progress sheet.
ganttfree.com is a free online project progress management and planning platform that makes it easy for construction engineers, contractors, and project managers to plan and track their work using a visual Gantt chart in a web browser.
1. What is the progress sheet?
The construction progress table is a tool showing the plan to perform the work in a construction project in chronological order.
A construction progress table usually includes:
- List of items and tasks to be done.
- The beginning and end of each task.
- Planned time for performance.
- Dependency relationships between jobs.
- Important milestones.
- The rate of completion of each job.
- - The overall plan of the entire project.
In practice, progress sheets are often presented as Gantt chart (Gantt Chart), makes it easy for the manager to observe the entire construction plan on one time axis.
For example, for a housing project, the construction schedule can be divided into the following stages:
- Site preparation.
- Construction of the foundation and underground structure.
- Build the body structure.
- Electrical, water and mechanical electrical system construction (MEP).
- - Construction and completion.
- Assemble your equipment.
- - Inspection, pre-acceptance test and hand-over.
Each stage may involve several small tasks with different time and dependencies.
2. Why should the construction progress be made using Gantt charts?
Compared to a regular job list, Gantt charts help visualize the construction plan, thus assisting in more efficient project management.
Project Overview
The tasks are represented by horizontal bars on the time axis, which allows the manager to quickly identify which tasks are being performed, which are about to start, and which items are at risk of delay.
Manage the relationships between jobs
In construction, many work can only begin when the previous work has been completed.
For example, the construction of a formwork and reinforcement should be done before the concrete is poured. Establishing dependencies helps the construction plan to be formulated reasonably and to limit conflicts between items.
Track actual progress
When updating the work completion rate, the manager can compare the performance status to the original plan, thereby detecting early the risks of slow progress.
Ease of planning adjustments
During the construction, the progress must often be changed due to weather, supplies, labor or investor's requirements.
Gantt charts make it much more intuitive to adjust start, end, and order than a manual Excel method.
3.ganttfree.com – A free online construction progress tool
ganttfree.com It is intended to be developed into an online Gantt charting and management tool, serving a wide range of fields such as construction, engineering, manufacturing, technology and project management.
In particular, for engineers and construction contractors, the platform is geared toward helping users to create a progress table without investing expensive project management software.
Free to use
One of the notable advantages of ganttfree.com is its orientation towards providing free of charge both basic and advanced functions.
Users can plan projects without having to purchase a software license or pay a subscription fee to unlock progress management functions.
Use directly on the browser
Instead of installing the software into the computer, users can access the website: https://ganttfree.com. Online tools are convenient for making and updating progress sheets when using different computers.
Visual Gantt Chart
The tasks are presented in a list structure in conjunction with a time chart, which assists users in observing the overall plan and project implementation stages.
Fitting different scale of works
From civil housing, workshops, office buildings to multi-stakeholder construction projects, Gantt charts can be used to organize work by stages and levels of detail.
Targeted at Vietnamese and international users
ganttfree.com is oriented to serve users in Vietnam and around the world, in line with the progress management needs of technical teams, contractors and businesses.
4. Instructions for online construction progress tables with ganttfree.com
To make a progress table, users can follow the following basic process.
Step 1: Go to the website
Open the browser and browse: https://ganttfree.com. Here, users start creating a new progress project through the Gantt chart tool.
Step 2: Initiating the construction project
Name the project and determine the intended time of commencement.
For example:
- Project name: Construction of office building 5 floor.
- Commencement Date: 01/12/2026.
- Expected time: 180 days.
- Implementing unit: Construction contractor.
Identifying the initial information will help organize the construction plan more clearly.
Step 3: Enter the job list
Then, make a list of tasks in the order of execution.
Step 4: Dependency setting
After entering the job, determine the relationships between the items.
For example:
- The foundation work begins after the site is completely prepared.
- The construction of the body shall be carried out according to the schedule for completion of the foundation.
- The MEP may be coordinated and implemented in parallel with the construction of structures and construction of motorbikes in appropriate areas.
- Acceptance and handover are carried out after the relevant work is completed.
The organization of a rational dependability relation helps the progress table reflect more closely the actual construction process.
Step 5: View and adjust Gantt chart
After planning, the Gantt chart shows the tasks in time.
The progress maker can review the sequence of execution, workload, and overlap between items to adjust the plan.
Calendars & progress previews. Modifications to date format, calendar for weekdays, holidays
Provide your project information so that the PDF sheet can be displayed at will.
Step 6: Track and update progress
During the implementation, it is necessary to update regularly the performance status of each work.
For example:
- Foundation work: Completed 100%.
- Layer Structure 1: Completed 100%.
- Layer Structure 2: Completed 70%.
- Installation of floor electronegativity 2: Completed 50%.
Regular updates will help project management units have data for briefings on progress, evaluation of results and propose handling measures upon occurrence of delays.
6. Who should use ganttfree.com?
Online progress engines can meet the needs of many user groups.
- Construction engineer: Make general or detailed progress of each work item, floor and construction area.
- Work commander: - To monitor the implementation plans, control the time and coordination among the construction teams and teams.
- Contractor: To work out construction plans in service of bidding, contract performance and report thereon to investors.
- MEP: Engineer: Set the schedule of power system construction, air conditioning- Water supply and drainage, fire prevention and fighting and other technical systems.
- The project management unit: Keep track of milestones and assess progress between implementation stages.
- Construction students: Practice making progress charts, learning the methods of organizing work and familiarizing yourself with Gantt charts.
Outside the construction industry, the tool can also be applied to information technology project management, production, research, and tasks that need planning over time.
7. Some experience with effective construction progress
For a progress sheet to be truly useful, the planner should keep in mind some rules.
- Break down tasks rationally: General items should not be set up. Important tasks should be divided into enough detail to allow progress to be monitored and assessed.
- Correctly define the dependencies: The establishment of the work before and after must be in accordance with the construction methods, the field conditions and technical requirements.
- Taking into account the possibility of parallel deployment: Some construction and MEP work can be done simultaneously in different areas, which helps to optimize the total project time.
- Risk provisions: Factors such as weather, material supply schedule, labor capacity, approval time and pre-acceptance test requirements should be considered.
- Regular updates: A progress sheet is only of management value when reflecting relatively accurately the actual condition of the construction site.
Storing original plans: When conditions permit, the baseline progress should be recorded to compare it with the actual progress and determine the cause of the delay.
Conclusion
The application of technology to the establishment and management of construction progress is becoming a practical demand in the construction industry.
Rather than just using the traditional Excel table, engineers and contractors can apply Gantt charts online to organize work more visually, assist in dependency management, and adjust construction plans conveniently.
With Orientation provide free online Gantt charting toolsganttfree.com aims to make modern project progress management more accessible to people without software cost barriers.
Access https://ganttfree.com to learn more about and start making a free online progress chart.
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