SCHEDULE QUALITY AND EVALUATION METRICS: EMPOWERING QUANTITY SURVEYORS WITH CONFORMANCE SCORING

Abstract

This paper surveys the literature on the quality of construction schedules, focusing on those that conform to contractual requirements. Contractors typically prepare detailed schedules either before or after contract award, submitting them to building owners or their representatives for assessment and approval. The success of construction projects heavily depends on the quality of these schedules. However, while assessing schedule quality is crucial, construction contracts often provide only vague guidelines for evaluation, lacking clear procedures or criteria. This research aims to catalogue the procedure and content of schedule evaluation, preparing Quantity Surveyors to perform this critical role—particularly within traditional procurement frameworks. Although extensive literature exists on cost analysis, few comparable resources address construction schedule evaluation. Recently, thirty-four conceptual provisions have been identified in literature to critique initial and ongoing project schedules. This paper reviews two practical methods for evaluating construction schedule quality to ensure contractual compliance: the computerized CRITEX system, designed for critiquing mid-rise commercial building schedules, and the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) method for evaluating initial and in-progress schedules. The study concludes that as construction schedules increasingly become formal contract documents in Nigeria, Quantity Surveyors should develop the necessary skills to evaluate these schedules effectively and recommend suitable contractors for award, similar to their established role in tender analysis and evaluation