Schedule compression refers to the process of shortening the duration of a project or a specific task within a project without sacrificing its quality or objectives. It’s often employed when there are time constraints or unexpected delays that need to be compensated for in order to meet deadlines.

There are various techniques for schedule compression, including:

Crashing: this involves adding extra resources to critical path tasks to reduce their duration. For example, assigning more workers to a task or working overtime.

Fast tracking: this involves overlapping tasks that would normally be done in sequence. For instance, starting the design phase of a project before the requirements phase is fully completed.

Scope reduction: adjusting the project scope to simplify or eliminate certain tasks, thus reducing the overall time needed to complete the project.

Negotiation: sometimes delays are caused by external dependencies or stakeholders. Negotiating with these parties to expedite processes or approvals can help compress the schedule.

Risk management: identifying and mitigating potential risks early on can prevent delays and schedule overruns.

Each of these techniques has its own advantages and considerations, and the choice of which to use depends on the specific circumstances of the project. Effective schedule compression requires careful planning, communication, and coordination among all stakeholders involved.

Our team in PCSS has an extensive experience in identifying which technique will suite your project, customize, and implement it to your project,