Professional Reports, Better Client Trust: How XER Schedule Toolkit Boosted Planning at John Graham Construction
Professional Reports, Better Client Trust: How XER Schedule Toolkit Boosted Planning at John Graham Construction
About Mark Catterick & John Graham Construction
Name: Mark Catterick
Job Title & Company: Director of Planning at John Graham Construction
Industry: Civil Engineering
My team and I use P6 daily to manage all our projects across both the Preconstruction and Construction phases. Scheduling and project planning are integral to ensuring we meet project milestones, optimise resources, and maintain clear communication with clients throughout the project’s lifecycle.
Before Using XER Schedule Toolkit
Challenges & Limitations
Before adopting XER Schedule Toolkit, we were frequently tasked with schedule integrity checks by clients. We were using Excel to carry out these checks, specifically the 14-Point DCMA version. While Excel was an acceptable tool for this purpose, it was time-consuming and required complex formulas and calculations. Furthermore, the output generated was often not concise or easy to present to clients.
Existing Solutions
Excel, although functional, posed several challenges. It lacked automation and produced cumbersome reports. This made it difficult to consistently deliver reliable, professional results within tight deadlines. The manual nature of the process also left room for human error, which is particularly risky when dealing with complex project schedules.
Your Experience with XER Schedule Toolkit
How We Discovered XER Schedule Toolkit
I was introduced to XER Schedule Toolkit in early 2022 through a meeting with Nick Halksworth, who provided a demonstration of the tool.
Why We Chose XER Schedule Toolkit
Following the demonstration, I invited Nick to present the Toolkit at our Planners Forum in Spring 2022. After seeing its capabilities, we decided to trial it with six members of my team over 2 to 3 months. The feedback we received was positive, and we decided to purchase the Toolkit in August 2022.
Getting Started
Getting started with the Toolkit was straightforward. The process was easy to implement, and I was quickly able to run the checks. The reports generated were concise and easy to understand, which was a major improvement over our previous process in Excel.
Favourite Features
The main benefit for me is the speed with which I can run the Toolkit. It generates reports quickly, saving significant time compared to our old method. Additionally, the presentation of the report is user-friendly and professional, making it easy for our clients to trust the output during the programme acceptance process.
The Impact & Results
Improvements Noticed
Since adopting XER Schedule Toolkit, we’ve noticed continuous improvements in its functionality, including new checks and the addition of the comparison function. These features have enhanced the overall reliability of our schedule checks.
Efficiency Gains
Using XER Schedule Toolkit has saved us a considerable amount of time on each project. I estimate that we save 1 to 2 hours for every project we run through the Toolkit, compared to the time we previously spent in Excel. This efficiency gain has allowed us to focus on other critical aspects of project planning and management.
Measurable Results
Our clients have expressed their appreciation for the clear, professional reports generated by the Toolkit. They are now more comfortable trusting the output, which has improved our client relationships and streamlined the programme acceptance process.
Recommendation
Would You Recommend XER Schedule Toolkit?
Absolutely. While P6 now includes a Schedule Check function, the outputs from XER Schedule Toolkit are far more user-friendly and efficient. Given that our clients are increasingly requesting schedule checks as part of their programme reviews, the Toolkit has become the most effective and professional way for us to meet these demands.
Advice for Those Considering It
If you are considering XER Schedule Toolkit but are unsure, I would encourage you to go ahead and trial it. For a relatively small cost, you gain an efficient, reliable, and professional solution that will not only save you time but also provide high-quality information to your clients. The Toolkit is an invaluable resource for any company needing to carry out schedule integrity checks quickly and accurately.
Final Thoughts
XER Schedule Toolkit has significantly improved the scheduling and project planning process for Mark Catterick and his team at John Graham Construction. Prior to using the Toolkit, they faced challenges with time-consuming Excel-based schedule integrity checks, which lacked efficiency and produced cumbersome reports. Since adopting the Toolkit in 2022, they have saved 1-2 hours per project, with clients appreciating the clear, professional reports generated. Mark highly recommends the Toolkit for its user-friendly interface, time-saving capabilities, and ability to provide reliable, professional results for schedule checks, ultimately enhancing client trust and project efficiency.