Find the activity that controls the completion date
Break each programme into design approval, material procurement, manufacture, dispatch, transport, site installation and acceptance. Ask which stages can overlap and which depend on a confirmed decision or completed task.
Use the same starting assumption when comparing offers. One supplier may measure from deposit while another measures from approved drawings. Similarly, shipment, arrival and readiness for use are different completion points.
Review the long-lead interfaces and the owner's decisions. Special hardware, unresolved equipment dimensions or an unready site can control the result. Keep a dated decision schedule and ask for the impact of changes before issuing them.
Configuration decisions
| Decision | What to define |
|---|---|
| Start point | Define when the quoted programme begins. |
| Dependencies | Identify approvals, information and site conditions needed at each stage. |
| Logistics | Separate dispatch, transport and receiving time. |
| Finish point | State whether completion means delivery, assembly or agreed acceptance. |
Why can a shorter factory lead time produce a later project handover?
Transport, local works, integration and acceptance may control the end date. Compare the whole programme rather than treating manufacture as the only activity.