Planning can make the difference between project success and failure. Detailed and thorough initial plans can make a project flow smoothly and eliminate destructive surprises. Regular analysis of actual progress versus schedule requirements can minimize costly delays.

Gantt charts are a visual reference to easily determine what operations are to to be done and when they must be completed. The Gantt chart consists of:
 
The X axis- The X axis shows time. It may be calibrated in hours, work days, calendar days, or any other convenient method of monitoring time.
 
The Y axis- The Y axis shows the operations that are to be performed. Additionally, operations can list prerequisite steps that must be completed before the listed operation can begin. This is useful to quickly determine the effect of slippage of one operation on the operations which follow.
 
Time Bars- Time bars show the earliest start and latest end dates of an operation to meet the project completion date.
 

PROCEDURE

• List all operations that must be performed to complete the project.
• Order the list and determine sequences of operations that must be performed in a specific order.
• Estimate time requirements for each operation.
• Determine the end date of the project.
• Layout the time line on the X axis.
• List the operations on the Y axis.
• Layout the time bars on the chart.
• Regularly (at least weekly) compare progress to the plan. Revise the plan based on current information. This may include, but not be limited to, re-allocating people, putting in extra time, or changing the operation sequense to fit the available time.