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Technical Interview Q&A For Planning Engineer

This document is a compilation of frequently asked technical questions and model answers for Planning Engineers in construction projects, covering topics such as baseline scheduling, time impact analysis, earned value management, and critical path identification. It also addresses challenges faced on-site, reporting requirements, and tools for effective project management. The content serves as a guide for engineers preparing for interviews in construction and project control roles.

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20 views11 pages

Technical Interview Q&A For Planning Engineer

This document is a compilation of frequently asked technical questions and model answers for Planning Engineers in construction projects, covering topics such as baseline scheduling, time impact analysis, earned value management, and critical path identification. It also addresses challenges faced on-site, reporting requirements, and tools for effective project management. The content serves as a guide for engineers preparing for interviews in construction and project control roles.

Uploaded by

wasihunhailu727
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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📘 Technical Interview Q&A for Planning

Engineers in Construction Projects


A compilation of frequently asked technical questions and model answers for Planning
Engineers preparing for interviews in construction and project control roles.

🧠 1. What are the key steps to develop a baseline


project schedule in Primavera P6?
Answer:

1. Define the project calendar (working hours, holidays).


2. Create WBS (Work Breakdown Structure).
3. Define activities under each WBS element.
4. Assign durations to activities.
5. Set logical relationships (FS, SS, FF, etc.).
6. Assign resources (manpower, equipment, materials).
7. Apply activity constraints (if needed).
8. Run schedule (F9) and review critical path.
9. Adjust based on float and resource loading.
10. Finalize and set baseline through "Maintain Baseline."

📊 2. What is the difference between Total Float and


Free Float?
Answer:

• Total Float: The amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the
project’s completion date.
• Free Float: The amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the
early start of its successor activity.
• Total Float affects the project timeline; Free Float affects only the immediate
activity chain.
📅 3. How do you perform a Time Impact Analysis
(TIA)?
Answer:

1. Identify delay event and its date.


2. Insert a new activity representing the delay in the baseline program.
3. Link it logically to affected activities.
4. Re-schedule the program and observe the change in project completion date.
5. The difference gives the time impact of the delay.
This is a common method used for EOT (Extension of Time) claims.

📈 4. What is Earned Value Management (EVM)?


Explain key formulas.
Answer:

• Planned Value (PV) = Budgeted cost of planned work.


• Earned Value (EV) = Budgeted cost of actual completed work.
• Actual Cost (AC) = Actual cost incurred for the work performed.

Formulas:

• SPI (Schedule Performance Index) = EV / PV


• CPI (Cost Performance Index) = EV / AC
• SV (Schedule Variance) = EV - PV
• CV (Cost Variance) = EV - AC

EVM helps evaluate project health in terms of time and cost performance.
⏳ 5. What is a critical path? How do you identify it in
Primavera P6?
Answer:
The Critical Path is the longest path through the project with zero total float. Any delay
in this path will delay the project.
In Primavera P6:

• Schedule the project (F9).


• Go to "Layout Options" → Filters → Show Critical Activities.
• Activities with zero float are part of the critical path.

🧩 6. How do you monitor and update progress in a live


project?
Answer:

• Collect actual progress data from site (dates, quantities, resource usage).
• Update activity % complete in Primavera using Physical %, Duration %, or
Units %.
• Enter actual start/finish dates.
• Recalculate the schedule (F9).
• Compare with the baseline to identify slippages.
• Generate reports (S-Curve, lookahead, variance).

📉 7. What reports should a Planning Engineer submit


weekly/monthly?
Answer:

• 2-week/4-week lookahead schedule


• Updated Primavera schedule
• Planned vs. Actual Progress chart
• Critical path report
• S-Curve (Progress & Cost)
• Manpower histogram
• Productivity reports
• Delay analysis (if applicable)
• Procurement status (if part of scope)
• Cash flow forecast (monthly)

📋 8. What constraints are used in Primavera P6 and


why?
Answer:

Common constraints:

• Start on/after
• Finish on/before
• Mandatory Start/Finish
• As Late As Possible
• Expected Finish

Constraints control activity timing, but excessive use can distort the critical path. Use
them only when contractually or practically required.

📦 9. How do you link engineering, procurement, and


construction activities in the schedule?
Answer:

• Engineering activities precede procurement (e.g., IFC drawings → material


submittal → approval).
• Procurement activities precede construction (e.g., delivery of steel → steel
erection).
• Logical ties must be added to ensure sequence integrity.
Example:
"Reinforcement Shop Drawing Approved" → "Rebar Delivery" → "Rebar Fixing"

📑 10. What is the importance of a Lookahead


Schedule, and how is it prepared?
Answer:
Lookahead Schedule (2 to 4 weeks) focuses on short-term planning. It allows
engineers and site teams to prepare for immediate tasks in detail.

Prepared by:

• Filtering activities from the master schedule using planned dates.


• Adding additional details like required approvals, material delivery, or access
constraints.
• Sharing with site team in a simple format (bar chart, tabular).

🧠 11. How do you handle delay claims and Extension


of Time (EOT)?
Answer:

1. Identify delay event (contractor, client, force majeure).


2. Record notification as per contract clauses (FIDIC/Aramco/NEC, etc.).
3. Perform TIA or As-Planned vs As-Built analysis.
4. Prepare impact report with supporting documents (logs, correspondence,
photos).
5. Submit EOT request with proper justification.

⚙️ 12. What’s the difference between Physical %


Complete and Duration % Complete?
Answer:
• Physical % Complete: Based on actual quantity or scope of work done (more
accurate).
• Duration % Complete: Based on time spent vs. total duration (can be
misleading if work is not aligned with time).
Primavera calculations like Earned Value depend heavily on correct usage of
these fields.

📘 13. What is the difference between a Baseline and a


Revised Baseline?
Answer:

• Baseline: Original approved schedule submitted at project start.


• Revised Baseline: Updated schedule after significant change or delay approved
by client.
It becomes the new benchmark for progress and delay analysis.

⚠️ 14. What are typical challenges a Planning Engineer


faces on-site?
Answer:

• Inaccurate data from the site


• Frequent scope changes without formal variation orders
• Delay in material approvals/procurement
• Lack of coordination between departments
• Misunderstanding of the schedule by site teams
• Pressure to manipulate progress numbers (ethics concern)

🧾 15. How do you ensure alignment between


schedule and budget (cost-loaded schedule)?
Answer:
• Assign cost to each activity (manpower, material, subcontract, etc.).
• Use Resource or Activity-Based costing in Primavera.
• Track actual cost and compare to Earned Value.
• Use this to generate cash flow forecasts and align with finance.

📈 16. What is an S-Curve in project management, and


why is it important?
Answer:
An S-Curve is a graphical representation of cumulative progress (or cost) over time. It
typically starts slow (mobilization), rises steeply during peak activity, and flattens as the
project nears completion — forming an "S" shape.

🔍 Types of S-Curves:

• Planned S-Curve: Based on baseline schedule (forecasted progress).


• Actual S-Curve: Based on real on-site data.
• Earned Value S-Curve: Shows value of actual work done over time.

📊 Uses:

• Compare Planned vs Actual progress visually.


• Detect delays or cost overruns early.
• Forecast remaining work and completion trends.
• Communicate progress clearly to stakeholders.

Example Insight:
If the Actual curve is below the Planned, the project is behind schedule.

📅 17. What is a Gantt Chart and how is it used in


project planning?
Answer:
A Gantt Chart is a bar chart that shows project activities along a timeline.

• Horizontal axis: Time


• Vertical axis: Activities
• Each bar represents the start, duration, and end of an activity
• Dependencies and milestones can be shown

Gantt Charts are used for:

• Visualizing activity sequences


• Monitoring overlapping tasks
• Communicating schedules to site teams and clients
• Tracking progress using shaded/completed bars

Primavera P6 and MS Project both generate Gantt charts.

📊 18. What is a Manpower Histogram?


Answer:
A Manpower Histogram is a bar graph showing the number of workers (or resource
usage) across the project duration.

• X-axis: Time (weeks/months)


• Y-axis: Number of workers

It helps in:

• Identifying peak labor demand


• Avoiding over-allocation or under-utilization
• Planning recruitment and demobilization
• Aligning with cost and cash flow

Tip: Use histograms to coordinate with HR and subcontractors on labor planning.

🧠 19. What is Critical Path Method (CPM)? How does it


impact project control?
Answer:
The Critical Path Method (CPM) is a scheduling technique to determine the longest
path of dependent activities in a project. This path defines the minimum project
duration.
Characteristics:

• Activities with zero Total Float lie on the Critical Path.


• Delays in Critical Path activities will directly delay the project.
• Helps prioritize activities and manage resources effectively.

In Primavera P6, you can highlight Critical Path by applying the “Critical” filter.

📐 20. How do you measure progress on-site for


scheduling updates?
Answer:
There are 3 common methods for Progress Measurement:

1. Quantity-Based:
Example: If 50m³ of concrete poured out of planned 100m³ → 50% complete.
2. Rule of Credit (Milestone Weighting):
Example for an activity like “Column Casting”:
a. Shuttering: 25%
b. Steel Fixing: 25%
c. Concreting: 50%
3. Physical Observation:
a. Used for lump-sum works like landscaping, plastering, etc.

Choose the method that reflects actual physical completion, not just effort or time
spent.

📉 21. What is a Delay Register, and why is it


important?
Answer:
A Delay Register is a live document used to record, track, and analyze delays during
project execution.
It includes:

• Description of delay event


• Responsible party (Client/Contractor/Subcontractor)
• Impacted activities
• Duration of impact
• Mitigation measures
• Supporting documentation references

It helps in preparing EOT claims, internal analysis, and for management escalation.

🗂 22. What is a 3-Week Lookahead Schedule and how


is it used?
Answer:
A 3-Week Lookahead Schedule is a short-term plan extracted from the main
schedule. It focuses on tasks expected to be executed in the next 2–4 weeks.

It includes:

• Activity names
• Start/End dates
• Resources required
• Constraints or prerequisites
• Dependencies (submittals, material deliveries)

Shared with site teams during weekly planning meetings to keep everyone aligned.

📈 Summary of Key Planning Tools:

Tool/Concept Purpose
Primavera P6 Master scheduling, critical path, resource planning
MS Excel + Power BI Reporting, dashboards, visual analytics
S-Curve Track cumulative progress vs. plan
Gantt Chart Timeline overview of activities
Histogram Resource planning (manpower, equipment)
Critical Path Identify activities impacting project duration
Lookahead Plan Site execution roadmap for short-term control
Delay Register Log and analyze project delays systematically

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