The master schedule is too big to run a jobsite day to day. A three-week lookahead breaks the next few weeks into clear activities, so the team and subcontractors know exactly what is coming.
In this article
What it is
A rolling plan of the next three weeks, broken into daily or short activities by area.
Who builds it
The superintendent, with input from subcontractor foremen.
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Connect to the master schedule
Every activity should tie back to the master schedule, so delays show up early.
List constraints
Materials, inspections, RFIs, equipment and access. An activity with an open constraint is not ready.
Subcontractor input
Ask each trade how many people they will bring and what they need from others.
Weekly update
Update it every week at the coordination meeting. Compare what was planned with what got done.
Share it
Post it in the trailer and send it to every trade. Everyone should see the same plan.
Common mistakes
Copying the master schedule, ignoring constraints and updating it only when something goes wrong.
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Frequently asked questions
Who should build the lookahead schedule?
The superintendent usually builds it, with input from the project manager and each subcontractor foreman. It works best when the people doing the work help plan it.