Construction Manager how-to

How to Build a Three-Week Look-Ahead Schedule

Short-term schedules turn the master schedule into daily plans.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Quick answer

Short-term schedules turn the master schedule into daily plans. In short: pull; break; confirm, then complete the remaining steps below.

Step by step

  1. Pull activities for the next three weeks from the master schedule.

  2. Break them into detailed tasks by area.

  3. Confirm crew sizes, materials and inspections with foremen.

  4. Note constraints such as open RFIs or deliveries.

  5. Share the schedule and post it in the site trailer.

  6. Update weekly and track completion rates.

Safety reminders for construction managers

  • Lead daily safety briefings and enforce the site safety plan
  • Walk the site regularly to spot hazards
  • Make sure subcontractors are trained and wearing PPE
  • Investigate incidents and near-misses promptly

RFI · Submittal · Change order · CPM schedule · Critical path · Look-ahead schedule: see the full construction manager glossary.

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