The construction managers have fairly accurate ideas of time taken by various tasks. They also have fairly good idea regarding the budget for these tasks. Why do you think a project plan and a planning manager is still necessary?

I agree that construction manager is knowledgable on any work at site. He can manage this work to be fast but we need the planning manager to give him the work schedules to be done in order that the project will be finished on or within the duration period.

Project Planning is not only about how much time or budget it will take to perform tasks based on experience judgment. not only time schedule or cost estimate, Project Planning is a strategic process to reach the maximum efficiency of overall project resources and time.   

A Planning Manager is required for the following,

1. To prepare a basic plan, based on the base line Programme.

2. To prepare and update the Projects teams on a Weekly basis about the Weekly plan to    

     achieve more result and to plan the  material required to follow-up with the Purchase team

     & to keep the area ready for action.

3. To prepare a mitigation plan if there is any delay identified.

4. To prepare the delay impact based on the actual plan while submitting the EOT etc...

A Planning manager is required to prepare or to guide the Planning engineers to prepare all the above & to cross-check their prepared documents are OK.

A project plan is required to capture the delays and a planning manager is required to monitor the plan and ensure no delays are occurred and in case of delay immediate remedy or action is initiated or the concern is highlighted to the project manager or construction manager.