Bethesda, Md. (Oct. 28, 2008) -- Industry studies, best practices and after-action reports have repeatedly proven that a construction schedule is a vital tool on any successful contracting project. Drawing from decades of collective experience, WPL Publishing has assembled a team of scheduling experts to present tips and advice on scheduling best practices, lessons learned, software reviews and more, in a four-part webinar conference.

Each 90-minute webinar begins at 1 p.m. (EDT) and is tailored to professionals involved in the day-to-day planning and execution of construction projects, namely program and project managers, contractors, subcontractors, vendors and suppliers, owners, consultants, engineers, architects and construction attorneys. Each session will conclude with a question and answer period. Following are the topics to be discussed:

• Project Scheduling in the 21st Century, Nov. 12 - Designed for the novice and expert alike, this first session offers a brief history of construction scheduling, followed by a look at where scheduling is going. As bar and Gantt charts make way for more sophisticated CPM schedules, the industry is looking towards a more mature process designed with success in mind, not just for multi-million dollar projects, but for smaller jobs as well. Brian Furniss, Scott Lowe and Mark Nagata, all with Trauner Consulting Services Inc., comprise the panel of experts for this session.
• CPM Scheduling Best Practices, Nov. 13 - CPM scheduling doesn't have to be confusing to all but the seasoned scheduler. This session will introduce concepts to help you implement successful CPM scheduling practices. Learn how to manage float, identify the critical path, manage work, avoid delays and handle controversial issues such as early completion schedules and sequestration of float. And, learn how to quickly measure delay using your CPM schedule. This session is presented by Brian Furniss, Scott Lowe and Mark Nagata, with Trauner Consulting Services Inc.
• Scheduling Traps, Pitfalls and Swindles: The Dark Side of Scheduling, Dec. 3 - This session is designed to help you avoid the common pitfalls and traps associated with project scheduling. Whether you are trying to avoid or pursue a delay claim, this session will help you stay on track towards a successful project without falling victim to the swindles that can plague a project. Stuart Ockman, president of Ockman & Borden Associates, and Andrew Ness, managing partner of the Thelen Washington, D.C., office will narrate this session.
• Challenges and Lessons Learned with Primavera's Project Management Software, Dec. 10 - With Primavera's software releases of versions 5.0, 6.0 and Contractor in short succession, compatibility questions abound. Now that Primavera plans to phase out P3, construction schedulers need to understand how these newer versions work. This session, which covers scheduling do's and don'ts , import and export tips, documentation and more, will be particularly helpful to project control practitioners and forensic schedule analysts. Scheduling experts Sunu Mohan and Anne Marie Tombros will lead this session.

The four-session conference and accompanying CD set (including audio and all handouts) packed with helpful information is priced at an affordable $499. Individual webinars can be purchased for $179, or $246 for the webinar and CD. There's no need to travel - you can listen to the session from the comfort of your office or conference room. And, there's no limit to the number of participants at your location. If your schedule conflicts with a session, you can pre-purchase the CD for $215 per session. 

As an added bonus to participants who enroll in all four sessions, WPL Publishing will include a free one-year subscription to Construction Project Controls & BIM Report, valued at $327. This monthly e-newsletter is filled with software reviews, industry news, best practices, case studies, editorials and more about scheduling, cost controls, building information modeling and construction technology.
For more information and to register, visit https://www.registrationheadquarters.com/events/?46d3979221bc4f5c9b1c3bb00161e2e9a

WPL Publishing Co. Inc. produces three construction-themed newsletters: Construction Project Controls & BIM Report (www.projectcontrols.com), Construction Claims Advisor (www.constructionclaims.com) and Green Building Insider (www.greenbuildinginsider.com). It also hosts webinar series on topics relevant to the construction industry.
Owner and publisher Paul Levin has published, written and contributed to numerous publications including ENR, ABC Today and Constructor. For more information about WPL Publishing and its newsletters, please visit www.projectcontrols.com. Queries may also be sent to editor@wpl.net or 301-983-4367 (fax).