CEP473
CONSTRUCTION METHODS AND
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
MODULE 6-TIME SCALED NETWORK AND
MANPOWER LEVELLING
By: Brian Jhay P. Guzman, CE, RMP, ME-I
The Gantt Chart
A E G
C F H
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
WEEK
The Gantt Chart
Example 1.
TIME ANALYSIS
PREDECESSORS ACTIVITY SUCESSORS DURATION (Weeks) ES EF LF LS TF Men Required
- A D,E 5 0 5 5 0 0 6
- B D,E 2 0 2 5 3 3 2
- C F 4 0 4 9 5 5 2
A,B D G 3 5 8 9 6 1 5
A,B E G 4 5 9 9 5 0 3
C F H 2 4 6 11 9 5 3
D,E G - 4 9 13 13 9 0 4
F H - 2 6 8 13 11 5 3
The Gantt Chart
Example 1.
The Gantt Chart
Example 1.
Resource Scheduling
Earlier we defined an activity as a homogeneous element
of work consuming some resources and requiring some
definite amount of time for-its completion.
Each activity will require some resources - which could be
manpower, equipment, money, space or any other thing
which is available in a limited quantity.
The cost incurred on an activity is largely due to the cost
of the resources consumed and a better resource
scheduling may be able to lower project costs or make
the project more cost-effective.
Resource Scheduling
Time analysis by itself may not produce a feasible schedule
because resource availability constraints have not been
considered. If we review the process of project planning we find
that we started with breaking up the project into its constituent
activities, listed the activity interdependencies based on
technological constraints, management policy constraints and
legal constraints and finally estimated the activity durations based
on an implicit assumption about some "normal" amount of
resources available. With the data so generated we proceeded to
carry out time analysis. Stated differently; we have not yet ensured
that the resources required for an activity are actually available in
the period when the activity is scheduled.
Resource Scheduling
For example, if activities A and B both require a crew of a
mechanic and a helper and we have only one such crew
assigned to the project, then A and B cannot be done
simultaneously, even though the ES or the LS schedule
calls for their parallel execution. This is because resource
availability constraints have not yet been considered. If,
however, the schedule is changed and the parallel
activities A and B are made sequential - i.e. one after the
other - then it becomes a feasible schedule although the
project duration may get extended due to this change.
This is the heart of resource scheduling
Resource Scheduling
In resource scheduling, we first identity resource conflicts--i.e.
periods where the current schedule requires more resources than
are available and then we try to remove the resource conflicts to
get a feasible schedule. However, the problem is not as simple as it
sounds here because the number of resources used in a project is
very large and any of these could give rise to a resource conflict.
Secondly, even if a resource conflict is identified, its removal may
have many consequences: it may increase the project duration, it
may lead to uneven resource use rate and it may affect the
resource utilisation; This, in turn, might complicate the process of
removal of resource conflict because the alternative which
minimises the increase in project duration may make the resource
use more uneven and so on.
Manpower Levelling
The consequence of employment fluctuation and
equipment utilization adds to the cost of the project. This
is a problem where the only solution is to keep
employment at an acceptable level and requires the use
of activity float to level resource requirement.
Manpower Levelling
Removing resource conflicts
Step 1 On the project schedule, locate the first period with a resource
conflict as one move forward in time from the start of the project to its
finish. If there is no such period, stop as the schedule is resource feasible -
else go to step 2.
Step 2 Among all the activities scheduled to start at this period, pick up
the one with the largest total slack (where Total Slack = Late Start -
Planned Start for the activity) and delay its start. This activity cannot be
performed along with the other conflicting activities - i.e. the remaining
activities scheduled to start at this period and the ones continuing from a
previous period. Schedule the start of this activity immediately after the
first of the other conflicting activities is finished.
Step 3 If there is no resource conflict in this period go to step 1, else go to
step 2.
The Gantt Chart
Example 1. TIME ANALYSIS
PREDECESSORS ACTIVITY SUCESSORS DURATION (Weeks) ES EF LF LS TF Men Required
For this example, - A D,E 5 0 5 5 0 0 6
determine if the -
- C
B D,E
F
2
4
0 2 5 3 3
0 4 9 5 5
2
2
schedule is feasible if the A,B D G 3 5 8 9 6 1 5
resource requirement on A,B
C
E
F
G
H
4
2
5 9 9 5 0
4 6 11 9 5
3
3
any week cannot D,E G - 4 9 13 13 9 0 4
F H - 2 6 8 13 11 5 3
exceed 8 men.
TIME ANALYSIS TIME ANALYSIS
ORS ACTIVITY SUCESSORS DURATIONPREDECESSORS
(Weeks) ES EF ACTIVITY
LF LS TF SUCESSORS
Men RequiredDURATION (Weeks) ES EF LF LS TF Men Required
Example 1.
A
B
D,E
D,E
5
2
- 0 5 5 A0 0
- 0 2 5 B3 3
D,E6
D,E2
5
2
0 5 5 0 0
0 2 5 3 3
6
2
C F 4 - 0 4 9 C5 5 F2 4 0 4 9 5 5 2
D G 3 A,B 5 8 9 D6 1 G5 3 5 8 9 6 1 5
E G 4 A,B 5 9 9 E5 0 G3 4 5 9 9 5 0 3
F H 2 C 4 6 11 F9 5 H3 2 4 6 11 9 5 3
G - 4 D,E 9 13 13 G9 0 -4 4 9 13 13 9 0 4
H - 2 F 6 8 13 H11 5 -3 2 6 8 13 11 5 3
Step 1-we find that week 1
is the first period with a
resource conflict since the
schedule requires 10
persons on that week
whereas we have only 8.
Step 2-A, B and C are
scheduled to start on that
week. Their total slacks are
0, 3 and 5 weeks
respectively and so we pick
up activity C and delay its
start. The other conflicting
activities are A and B and
the first of these to get
finished is B. So, we
schedule the start of C
immediately after the start
of B.
TIME ANALYSIS TIME ANALYSIS
ORS ACTIVITY SUCESSORS DURATIONPREDECESSORS
(Weeks) ES EF ACTIVITY
LF LS TF SUCESSORS
Men RequiredDURATION (Weeks) ES EF LF LS TF Men Required
Example 1.
A
B
D,E
D,E
5
2
- 0 5 5 A0 0
- 0 2 5 B3 3
D,E6
D,E2
5
2
0 5 5 0 0
0 2 5 3 3
6
2
C F 4 - 0 4 9 C5 5 F2 4 0 4 9 5 5 2
D G 3 A,B 5 8 9 D6 1 G5 3 5 8 9 6 1 5
E G 4 A,B 5 9 9 E5 0 G3 4 5 9 9 5 0 3
F H 2 C 4 6 11 F9 5 H3 2 4 6 11 9 5 3
G - 4 D,E 9 13 13 G9 0 -4 4 9 13 13 9 0 4
H - 2 F 6 8 13 H11 5 -3 2 6 8 13 11 5 3
Step 1-we find that week 1
is the first period with a
resource conflict since the
schedule requires 10
persons on that week
whereas we have only 8.
Step 2-A, B and C are
scheduled to start on that
week. Their total slacks are
0, 3 and 5 weeks
respectively and so we pick
up activity C and delay its
start. The other conflicting
activities are A and B and
the first of these to get
finished is B. So, we
schedule the start of C
immediately after the start
of B.
TIME ANALYSIS TIME ANALYSIS
ORS ACTIVITY SUCESSORS DURATIONPREDECESSORS
(Weeks) ES EF ACTIVITY
LF LS TF SUCESSORS
Men RequiredDURATION (Weeks) ES EF LF LS TF Men Required
Example 1.
A
B
D,E
D,E
5
2
- 0 5 5 A0 0
- 0 2 5 B3 3
D,E6
D,E2
5
2
0 5 5 0 0
0 2 5 3 3
6
2
C F 4 - 0 4 9 C5 5 F2 4 0 4 9 5 5 2
D G 3 A,B 5 8 9 D6 1 G5 3 5 8 9 6 1 5
E G 4 A,B 5 9 9 E5 0 G3 4 5 9 9 5 0 3
F H 2 C 4 6 11 F9 5 H3 2 4 6 11 9 5 3
G - 4 D,E 9 13 13 G9 0 -4 4 9 13 13 9 0 4
H - 2 F 6 8 13 H11 5 -3 2 6 8 13 11 5 3
Step 1-The first period with a
resource conflict is now week
6 and D and E are two
activities scheduled to start
on this week.
Step 2-As D has a total slack
of 1 week whereas E does
not have any slack, we pick
up D at step 2 and delay its
start. The other conflicting
activities are E - the other
activity scheduled to start at
this period - and C -
continuing from a pervious
period. Of these C is the one
scheduled to finish first and so
we schedule the start of D
immediately after the finish of
C.
TIME ANALYSIS TIME ANALYSIS
ORS ACTIVITY SUCESSORS DURATIONPREDECESSORS
(Weeks) ES EF ACTIVITY
LF LS TF SUCESSORS
Men RequiredDURATION (Weeks) ES EF LF LS TF Men Required
Example 1.
A
B
D,E
D,E
5
2
- 0 5 5 A0 0
- 0 2 5 B3 3
D,E6
D,E2
5
2
0 5 5 0 0
0 2 5 3 3
6
2
C F 4 - 0 4 9 C5 5 F2 4 0 4 9 5 5 2
D G 3 A,B 5 8 9 D6 1 G5 3 5 8 9 6 1 5
E G 4 A,B 5 9 9 E5 0 G3 4 5 9 9 5 0 3
F H 2 C 4 6 11 F9 5 H3 2 4 6 11 9 5 3
G - 4 D,E 9 13 13 G9 0 -4 4 9 13 13 9 0 4
H - 2 F 6 8 13 H11 5 -3 2 6 8 13 11 5 3
Step 1-The first period with a
resource conflict is now week
6 and D and E are two
activities scheduled to start
on this week.
Step 2-As D has a total slack
of 1 week whereas E does
not have any slack, we pick
up D at step 2 and delay its
start. The other conflicting
activities are E - the other
activity scheduled to start at
this period - and C -
continuing from a pervious
period. Of these C is the one
scheduled to finish first and so
we schedule the start of D
immediately after the finish of
C.
TIME ANALYSIS TIME ANALYSIS
ORS ACTIVITY SUCESSORS DURATIONPREDECESSORS
(Weeks) ES EF ACTIVITY
LF LS TF SUCESSORS
Men RequiredDURATION (Weeks) ES EF LF LS TF Men Required
Example 1.
A
B
D,E
D,E
5
2
- 0 5 5 A0 0
- 0 2 5 B3 3
D,E6
D,E2
5
2
0 5 5 0 0
0 2 5 3 3
6
2
C F 4 - 0 4 9 C5 5 F2 4 0 4 9 5 5 2
D G 3 A,B 5 8 9 D6 1 G5 3 5 8 9 6 1 5
E G 4 A,B 5 9 9 E5 0 G3 4 5 9 9 5 0 3
F H 2 C 4 6 11 F9 5 H3 2 4 6 11 9 5 3
G - 4 D,E 9 13 13 G9 0 -4 4 9 13 13 9 0 4
H - 2 F 6 8 13 H11 5 -3 2 6 8 13 11 5 3
Step 1-week 7 is now the
first period with a
resource conflict and
between D and F which
are scheduled to start on
this week
Step 2-we delay the start
of F as it has a total slack
of 3 weeks whereas D has
zero slack. As both the
other conflicting activities
D and E are scheduled to
finish on week 9. We
schedule the start of
activity F immediately
after this- i.e. on week 10.
TIME ANALYSIS TIME ANALYSIS
ORS ACTIVITY SUCESSORS DURATIONPREDECESSORS
(Weeks) ES EF ACTIVITY
LF LS TF SUCESSORS
Men RequiredDURATION (Weeks) ES EF LF LS TF Men Required
Example 1.
A
B
D,E
D,E
5
2
- 0 5 5 A0 0
- 0 2 5 B3 3
D,E6
D,E2
5
2
0 5 5 0 0
0 2 5 3 3
6
2
C F 4 - 0 4 9 C5 5 F2 4 0 4 9 5 5 2
D G 3 A,B 5 8 9 D6 1 G5 3 5 8 9 6 1 5
E G 4 A,B 5 9 9 E5 0 G3 4 5 9 9 5 0 3
F H 2 C 4 6 11 F9 5 H3 2 4 6 11 9 5 3
G - 4 D,E 9 13 13 G9 0 -4 4 9 13 13 9 0 4
H - 2 F 6 8 13 H11 5 -3 2 6 8 13 11 5 3
Step 1-week 7 is now the
first period with a
resource conflict and
between D and F which
are scheduled to start on
this week
Step 2-we delay the start
of F as it has a total slack
of 3 weeks whereas D has
zero slack. As both the
other conflicting activities
D and E are scheduled to
finish on week 9. We
schedule the start of
activity F immediately
after this- i.e. on week 10.
TIME ANALYSIS TIME ANALYSIS
ORS ACTIVITY SUCESSORS DURATIONPREDECESSORS
(Weeks) ES EF ACTIVITY
LF LS TF SUCESSORS
Men RequiredDURATION (Weeks) ES EF LF LS TF Men Required
Example 1.
A
B
D,E
D,E
5
2
- 0 5 5 A0 0
- 0 2 5 B3 3
D,E6
D,E2
5
2
0 5 5 0 0
0 2 5 3 3
6
2
C F 4 - 0 4 9 C5 5 F2 4 0 4 9 5 5 2
D G 3 A,B 5 8 9 D6 1 G5 3 5 8 9 6 1 5
E G 4 A,B 5 9 9 E5 0 G3 4 5 9 9 5 0 3
F H 2 C 4 6 11 F9 5 H3 2 4 6 11 9 5 3
G - 4 D,E 9 13 13 G9 0 -4 4 9 13 13 9 0 4
H - 2 F 6 8 13 H11 5 -3 2 6 8 13 11 5 3
Step 1-As there is no
resource conflict on week
7, we go back to step 1
and as there is no
resource conflict in any
period, we stop as we
have reached a resource
feasible schedule.
The manpower levelling
seems to have worked
very well since we could
get a resource feasible
schedule without any
delay in the project
completion from its
earliest completion of 13
weeks.