Job planning involves sequencing operations in a logical order to complete a job successfully. A job plan may be mentally conceived for simple jobs or documented through flow charts or diagrams for more complex projects. Effective planning establishes the what, how, when, where, who, and why of all activities needed to complete a project on time and on budget. Planning reduces uncertainty and waste by helping anticipate challenges and prepare solutions.

1. Plan & Organise work
• Job planning refers to the sequencing of operations so that
the job proceeds in a logical and systematic order.
• A job plan is often carried out mentally by the
tradesperson for a small job or for larger jobs may be
documented in the form of flow charts or diagrams.

2. The basic requirements of a job plan are:
O What is to be made - Plans & specifications, extra details such as
templates, or special hardware requirements?
O How it will be made - Type of construction, by hand or machine, or
a combination of both.
O When it is to be made - Date required for delivery or installation.
Larger jobs require careful organisation so as not to “choke” the
factory with finished articles.
O Where it is to be made - Job may be constructed entirely in the
factory, sub contracted or assembled on site.

3. A simple job plan should contain the following:
O Specification - A list of details (colour finish etc.)
of all components of a single job.
O Plans - A set of detailed working drawings.
O Cutting List - A list of all components to be cut
and machined.
O Construction details - Joining methods to be
used.
O Sequence of operations - The steps and the order
in which tasks will be carried out.

4. Why do we need to plan ahead?
O Planning is a very important part of
successfully running a company, a project or
private life.
O When we plan we consider all things
concerned with a project so that we can
select the best way of completing the project
on time, within the budget and according to
the required standard.
Without careful planning there will
be waste of time, materials and
money

5. Why do you need to Plan and Organise?
O Planning provides purpose and direction for
action.
O It establishes all of the activities and sequences
which must be carried out for a project, so that
supervisors, managers and employees are
aware of:
O what is to be done,
O who is to do it,
O where it is to be done,
O when is it to be done,
O why it is to be done and
O how it is to be done.

6. Why do you need to Plan and Organise?
(cont.)
O Planning reduces uncertainty by helping us
anticipate change and prepare for it.
O It eliminates duplication of effort and expense.
Knowing what everyone should be doing and what materials and
equipment should be used will contribute to smoother
operations…………and since you know what you will be
doing, you can take steps to ensure that all of the stuff you need
such as tools, staff and materials are available and ready to go.

7. What happens if you don’t follow the plan?
O Your job will be that much more difficult.
O You may suffer the problem of unexpected
things happening at the worst time.
O Those who plan can make things happen;
those who do not have things happen to
them.
O Time is wasted and errors could be made
which cost $$$.

8. Do you need a plan for simple jobs?
O You should plan for everything you do - even the
smallest jobs because there are still things
which need to occur for the required outcome to
be achieved.
O Sometimes planning is as simple as a few pre-
determined thoughts in your head, and other
times it can be quite extensive such as written
documents detailing each precise step.
O Regardless of the size of the project, there
needs to be some form of a plan, and the benefit
of having written plans is that you can refer back
to them so you do not forget something.

9. The Planning Process
O Decide what has to be done and when it has to be done by.
O Think about all the things that might stop you getting your
job done.
O Think about all the ways that the job could be done.
O Of all the ways of doing the job, select the way that suits
your situation best and looks like giving you the least
problems.
O Make a drawing like a link chain showing the order of
things that has to be done.
O Check to make sure that everything that has to be done is
included in your plan.
O Start the plan. If things are not going right, you can make
changes to the plan but the changes must be written down.

10. Benefits of Planning
O Major decisions are made in advance.
O Your project deadlines will be met because you have put
together an order in which the tasks will be done.
O The materials, equipment and information you may need
for the project are ordered and supplied in time to be used.
O The project will be smooth running and therefore
materials, equipment and human resources will not be
wasted waiting for things to happen.
O People will know:
O what job they have to do
O when the job has to be done
O how long the job should take them
O what equipment and materials needed
O the quality standard of the job