Short Interval Production Scheduling (SIPS) at Williamsburg Landing’s Anchor Cove

One of the key aspects of Construction Management is effective resource management and scheduling. Time management is critical to ensuring projects are completed on schedule, and on or under budget. One method that has proven to be highly effective is Short Interval Production Scheduling (SIPS). This technique involves breaking down the construction project into smaller, manageable areas, and then working with each trade to determine the manpower level that will complete their work for that area in a specific time interval.

The idea behind SIPS is to break larger tasks or projects down into more manageable, bite sized goals.  Implementing SIPS on a jobsite involves working with the project team and trade partners to determine how many people a trade needs to complete their scope in each area in a pre-determined amount of time; usually one or two weeks.  This allows W. M. Jordan Company to set up an assembly line of trades, efficiently sequencing trade partner’s schedule on a job, ensuring no time is wasted.

SIPS offers many benefits on a construction project:

1. Consistent Scheduling: Working with trade partners to determine manpower needs based off a pre-determined area and time interval (one to two weeks) allows trade partners to easily plan when and where their crews need to be.
2. Better Resource Management: With short intervals, teams can assess whether resources (personnel, equipment, materials) are being utilized optimally and adjust as needed. This prevents bottlenecks and ensures the project stays on track.
3. Improved Communication: SIPS requires more frequent coordination and communication between the project team and trade partners. This leads to faster identification of problems and quicker resolutions, keeping the project on schedule.
4. Enhanced Monitoring and Control: Project managers can more closely monitor progress by measuring performance at the end of each short time interval. This proactive approach reduces the risk of falling behind schedule and allows for better forecasting.

W. M. Jordan’s Achor Cove project at Williamsburg Landing is a perfect example of SIPS in action. This project includes the construction of nine terrace style homes that will make up The Landing’s newest neighborhood. Using SIPS on this project allows W. M. Jordan to schedule our trade partners in an assembly line fashion: Trades schedule and complete their work on the first terrace home, then they move to the next home and complete the same task there before moving on to the next. This allows for a standardized process where consistency in construction is achieved.

Working in this manner allows trade partners to break down the project into smaller chunks, focusing on each home as they progress through the jobsite.  Working in this way enhances collaboration between trade partners, W. M. Jordan, and the client, while also maximizing time and efficiency.