Baselines are the backbone of effective project tracking. If you’re managing a civil engineering project—whether it’s a road, bridge, or building—it’s essential to set a solid foundation before execution begins. That foundation is your baseline schedule.
In this post, you’ll learn what a baseline is, why it’s important, and how to set one up properly in Primavera P6.
What is a Baseline?
A baseline in project scheduling is a fixed reference point that represents the original project plan. It includes start and finish dates, durations, costs, and resources. Once set, it allows project managers to compare actual performance with planned performance throughout the project lifecycle.
Baselines are critical for identifying delays, managing change, preparing reports, and keeping stakeholders informed.
Why Setting a Baseline Matters
When you start project execution, changes are inevitable. Work might be delayed, activities may be resequenced, and resource availability can shift. Without a baseline, it becomes difficult to measure how far you’ve deviated from your original plan.
Setting a baseline allows you to:
- Track schedule slippage
- Compare actual vs. planned dates
- Identify the impact of changes
- Monitor performance using earned value management
Types of Baselines in Primavera P6
Primavera P6 allows you to save multiple baselines for a single project. Here’s a quick overview:
- Primary Baseline: The main reference schedule used to measure progress and performance.
- Secondary Baseline: Optional. Can be used to compare against a revised or alternative plan.
- Tertiary Baseline: Another optional version, often used for scenario analysis.
Each of these can be assigned within the software to view and compare progress against various plans.
When Should You Set a Baseline?
The best time to set a baseline is after the project schedule has been fully developed and approved by the client or stakeholders, and just before work begins.
Make sure the following are complete before setting the baseline:
- WBS (Work Breakdown Structure)
- Activity sequencing and durations
- Resource and cost allocation
- Calendars and constraints
- Logic relationships
Once the baseline is set, changes to the schedule should be carefully documented and only made after formal approval.
How to Set a Baseline in Primavera P6
Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting a baseline in Primavera P6:
Step 1: Finalize the Schedule
Ensure the project plan is complete and approved. Lock down all durations, dependencies, and resource assignments. This version will become your performance reference.
Step 2: Open the Baseline Manager
Navigate to:
Project > Maintain Baselines
This window will show all available baselines for your project.
Step 3: Create a New Baseline
Click Add. Primavera P6 will ask if you want to:
- Save a copy of the current project as a new baseline
- Convert another project to a baseline
Choose “Save a copy of the current project as a new baseline” and click OK.
Step 4: Rename the Baseline
Give your baseline a clear, meaningful name, such as:
- Final_Baseline_Rev0
- Client_Approved_Schedule
- Baseline_May2025
This helps you stay organized, especially when dealing with multiple baseline versions.
Step 5: Assign the Baseline
Go to:
Project > Assign Baselines
Here you can:
- Assign the primary baseline (used for tracking progress)
- Assign secondary and tertiary baselines if needed
Click Close once the baselines are assigned.
Step 6: Display the Baseline on Gantt Chart
To view your baseline on the Gantt chart:
- Right-click in the Gantt area and select Bars
- Add a new bar for the “Primary Baseline”
- Set it to show Baseline Start and Baseline Finish
- Choose a color that clearly contrasts with the current schedule
This helps you visually track variance between planned and actual dates.
Best Practices for Managing Baselines
- Only baseline approved schedules: Never set a baseline for a draft or incomplete plan.
- Do not overwrite baselines: Always create a new version for changes or updates.
- Keep clear naming conventions: Include revision numbers and dates in baseline names.
- Document why a new baseline is created: For transparency and traceability.
- Use secondary and tertiary baselines for comparisons: Helpful in evaluating what-if scenarios or recovery plans.
Real-World Example: Baseline in a Road Construction Project
Consider a road-widening project with a baseline schedule showing asphalt paving to start on July 10th. Due to unexpected weather, work starts on August 15th.
By comparing actual progress to the baseline, you can identify a start variance of over a month, which may affect project milestones and the completion date. This comparison is vital for client reports, delay analysis, and potential claims.
Reporting and Monitoring Using Baselines
Once your baseline is in place, Primavera P6 enables performance monitoring through several tools:
- Start/Finish Variance Columns: Compare planned vs. actual dates.
- Earned Value Analysis: Use baseline cost and schedule data to calculate performance metrics.
- Tracking Layouts: Use predefined layouts to monitor delays and progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can I update a baseline?
No. A baseline should remain unchanged. If the plan changes significantly, create a new baseline instead of modifying the original.
Q2: What happens if I forget to set a baseline?
Without a baseline, you lose the ability to track progress against the original plan. Always baseline before execution starts.
Q3: How many baselines can I have?
You can save multiple baselines in P6. However, only one primary, one secondary, and one tertiary baseline can be assigned at a time.