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Critical Path Method

CPM and PERT are network analysis techniques used to plan, manage, and control projects. [1] CPM was developed by DuPont for chemical plants and focuses on cost-schedule tradeoffs, while PERT was developed by the US Navy for missile programs and handles uncertain activity times. [2] Both techniques represent projects as networks of activities connected by arrows to show precedence relationships. CPM uses deterministic times while PERT uses probabilistic times. [3] Analyzing the network provides the critical path and slack times to determine a project's minimum duration and which activities need focus.

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Ratnesh Singh
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276 views

Critical Path Method

CPM and PERT are network analysis techniques used to plan, manage, and control projects. [1] CPM was developed by DuPont for chemical plants and focuses on cost-schedule tradeoffs, while PERT was developed by the US Navy for missile programs and handles uncertain activity times. [2] Both techniques represent projects as networks of activities connected by arrows to show precedence relationships. CPM uses deterministic times while PERT uses probabilistic times. [3] Analyzing the network provides the critical path and slack times to determine a project's minimum duration and which activities need focus.

Uploaded by

Ratnesh Singh
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PROJECT MANAGEMENT

CPM/PERT

RATNESH KUMAR SINGH

Project

A project is a series of activities directed to accomplishment of a desired objective.

Plan your work first..then work your plan

Network analysis Introduction Network analysis is the general name given to certain specific techniques which can be used for the planning, management and control of projects. One definition of a project:
A project is a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a "unique" product or service

History

Developed in 1950s CPM by DuPont for chemical plants PERT by U.S. Navy for Polaris missile

CPM was developed by Du Pont and the emphasis was on the


trade-off between the cost of the project and its overall completion time (e.g. for certain activities it may be possible to decrease their completion times by spending more money how does this affect the overall completion time of the project?)

PERT was developed by the US Navy for the planning and control of
the Polaris missile program and the emphasis was on completing the program in the shortest possible time. In addition PERT had the ability to cope with uncertain activity completion times (e.g. for a particular activity the most likely completion time is 4 weeks but it could be anywhere between 3 weeks and 8 weeks).

CPM - Critical Path Method

Definition: In CPM activities are shown as a network of precedence relationships using activity-on-node network construction Single estimate of activity time Deterministic activity times

USED IN : Production management - for the jobs of repetitive in nature where the activity time estimates can be predicted with considerable certainty due to the existence of past experience.

PERT Project Evaluation & Review Techniques

Definition: In PERT activities are shown as a network of precedence relationships using activity-on-arrow network construction Multiple time estimates Probabilistic activity times

USED IN : Project management - for non-repetitive jobs (research and development work), where the time and cost estimates tend to be quite uncertain. This technique uses probabilistic time estimates.

Gantt chart

Originated by H.L.Gantt in 1918

Advantages

Limitations

- Gantt charts are quite commonly used. They provide an easy graphical representation of when activities (might) take place.

- Do not clearly indicate details regarding the progress of activities


- Do not give a clear indication of interrelation ship between the separate activities

CPM/PERT
These deficiencies can be eliminated to a large extent by showing the interdependence of various activities by means of connecting arrows called network technique.

Overtime CPM and PERT became one technique ADVANTAGES: Precedence relationships large projects more efficient

The Project Network

Use of nodes and arrows


An arrow leads from tail to head directionally Indicate ACTIVITY, a time consuming effort that is required to perform a part of the work.

Arrows

A node is represented by a circle - Indicate EVENT, a point in time where one or more activities start and/or finish.

Nodes

Activity on Node & Activity on Arrow


Activity on Node
- A completion of an activity is represented by a node

Activity on Arrow
- An arrow represents a task, while a node is the completion of a task - Arrows represent order of events

Activity Slack
Each event has two important times associated with it : - Earliest time , Te , which is a calendar time when a event can
occur when all the predecessor events completed at the earliest possible times
-

Latest time , TL , which is the latest time the event can occur with
out delaying the subsequent events and completion of project. Difference between the latest time and the earliest time of an event is the slack time for that event

Positive slack : Slack is the amount of time an event can be delayed


without delaying the project completion

Critical Path

Is that the sequence of activities and events where there is no slack i.e.. Zero slack

Longest path through a network minimum project completion time

Benefits of CPM/PERT

Useful at many stages of project management Mathematically simple Give critical path and slack time Provide project documentation Useful in monitoring costs

Questions Answered by CPM & PERT

Completion date? On Schedule? Within Budget? Critical Activities? How can the project be finished early at the least cost?

example
Illustration of network analysis of a minor redesign of a product and its associated packaging.

The key question is: How long will it take to complete this project ?

For clarity, this list is kept to a minimum by specifying only immediate relationships, that is relationships involving activities
that "occur near to each other in time".

Before starting any of the above activity, the questions asked would be

"What activities must be finished before this activity can start" could we complete this project in 30 weeks? could we complete this project in 2 weeks?

One answer could be, if we first do activity 1, then activity 2, then activity 3, ...., then activity 10, then activity 11 and the project would then take the sum of the activity completion times, 30 weeks. What is the minimum possible time in which we can complete this project ?

We shall see below how the network analysis diagram/picture we construct helps us to answer this question.

CRITICAL PATH TAKES 24 WEEKS FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT

Packages are available to determine the shortest path and other relevant information.

Data entry window

Output of the package

Limitations to CPM/PERT

Clearly defined, independent and stable activities Specified precedence relationships Over emphasis on critical paths

Thank you

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