The ability to stick to a schedule is one of the most important skills in the construction industry and it takes years to master.  Schedule delays not only cost the contractor time and money, but it can cost the owner thousands of dollars of lost sales and delay people from starting jobs.  If the owner loses money, a battle for liquidated damages is likely to occur.  As with many things, early detection and swift reaction is key to battling schedule slippage and knowing the causes of slippage makes it easier to detect.