Miles-McClellan Improves Field Scheduling with Planera on iPad

Company Overview

Miles-McClellan Construction is a general contractor with decades of experience delivering high-quality construction projects across Ohio and beyond. Known for its strong client relationships and commitment to detail, Miles-McClellan executes projects ranging from healthcare facilities to educational institutions, with an emphasis on innovation, collaboration, and efficiency.

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Challenge: Complex Scheduling with Traditional Tools

Like many contractors, Miles-McClellan historically relied on Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project for scheduling. While effective for meeting contract requirements, these platforms were difficult for many team members to adopt. Field teams in particular found it challenging to access, update, and collaborate on schedules in real time. As a result:

• Limited Field Engagement: Updating schedules required laptops and dedicated time in the office.
• Manual Alternatives: Teams often used sticky notes, Excel, or ad-hoc methods to manage tasks.
• Resistance to Change: Many experienced staff were accustomed to legacy platforms, slowing adoption of newer approaches.

Miles-McClellan needed a solution that would make scheduling more accessible to field staff while maintaining rigor and reliability.

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Solution: Embracing Planera - with iPad Emphasis

Assistant Superintendent John Karam first encountered Planera while working as a Project Engineer. As he transitioned into field leadership roles, he began using the platform extensively. The turning point came with the release of Planera’s iPad application, which allowed him and other superintendents to manage and update schedules directly on the jobsite.

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Key Benefits of Planera on iPad

• Real-Time Updates in the Field: Instead of waiting to return to a laptop, John can walk the site, identify schedule risks, and immediately adjust tasks, start dates, or logic as needed.
• Ease of Use: The touch interface made it simple to scroll, review float, and update progress with just a finger swipe.
• Flexibility: While John preferred building schedules on his laptop, he relied on the iPad for ongoing updates, analysis, and communication with project managers.
• Improved Collaboration: The ability for multiple users to view or interact with the schedule—whether in the field or office—enhanced transparency and team alignment.
• Broader Access: With Planera for iPad, access to Planera is no longer limited to those with laptops. The iPad solution makes Planera available to a broader user base, including trade partners.

Results: Greater Accessibility and Adoption

By integrating Planera, Miles-McClellan improved both the usability and adoption of scheduling practices across projects:

• Field-Friendly Scheduling: Superintendents could update and analyze schedules in real time, without leaving the jobsite.
• Simplified Workflows: Planera replaced sticky notes and Excel workarounds with an all-in-one platform.
• User-Friendly Learning Curve: Even with limited prior scheduling experience, John was able to quickly build and manage effective schedules.

Encouraging Adoption: Team members previously resistant to new methods grew more open once they experienced Planera’s usability and flexibility.

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Looking Ahead

Miles-McClellan is continuing to transition staff into Planera, with the iPad application now playing a central role in making scheduling accessible to field leaders. By enabling superintendents like John Karam to stay mobile, engaged, and collaborative, the company is building momentum toward company-wide standardization.

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Conclusion

Planera’s iPad application has given Miles-McClellan a powerful way to bring scheduling out of the office and into the field. The result: real-time updates, more engaged superintendents, and greater transparency between project managers and field staff.