When a project falls behind, a recovery schedule lays out a realistic path to get back on track—or to document why the original completion date is no longer achievable.
What Is a Recovery Schedule?
A recovery schedule is an updated CPM schedule that incorporates actual progress and any approved changes, then revises remaining work and logic to show a feasible path to a target completion date. It often includes acceleration (e.g., more crews, overtime, resequencing) to recover float or compress the remaining critical path.
When It’s Used
- Contractors use recovery schedules to plan and justify acceleration and to show the owner a path to milestone or completion dates.
- Owners use them to evaluate whether the contractor’s plan is credible and to track recovery.
- In disputes, recovery schedules can support or rebut claims that delay was mitigated or that acceleration was necessary.
Key Elements
A solid recovery schedule typically:
- Uses the current updated schedule as the starting point.
- Applies only realistic acceleration (resources, sequencing) with supporting assumptions.
- Documents the baseline, the delay, and the recovery plan so the story is clear.
Zeconic develops recovery schedules and acceleration plans that are defensible and aligned with your project’s constraints and contract requirements.