W3.1_Livinus_Use of CPM on Fabrication of Pressure vessel

1.    PROBLEM RECOGNITION

All construction projects consist of detailed scope of work that must be performed within a specified duration for an agreed amount of compensation.  Failure to complete the project in the mandated time period can result in financial losses and penalties. Hence, the use of properly prepared construction schedule is a necessity to satisfactorily complete projects and maintain profitability.

2.    ALTERNATIVE

The following are some of the construction schedule methods that could be deployed to satisfactorily complete a project as planned;

i.               GANTT CHART: A Gantt chart is a specialized bar chart that is designed to illustrate a project schedule. It defines the relationships between various project tasks and the estimated time duration for each.

ii.            PERT: PERT is a popular activity network, and PERT charts, or Program/Project Evaluation and Review Technique, are specialized project monitoring and scheduling tools that graphically represent all elements of a project, display their sequence from initiation to end, highlight all task and event dependencies, and specify the project's critical path. PERT charts make it easier for managers to conceptualize project details.

iii.            CPM: Another activity network that is closely related to the Project Evaluation and Review Technique is CPM, or "critical path method," which is an effective project scheduling tool that provides: an easy-to-understand, graphical view of a project and its activities; the estimated time required to complete the project; and details which tasks are critical and which are not.

3.    DEVELOP THE OUTCOME OF THE ALTERNATIVE

Having done my force field analysis by listing all of the factors (forces) for and against my decision or change for CPM in my project, I can now encourage project team to graphically draw and identify various activities that need to be accomplished for project completion using CPM, and also evaluate and identify the requirements of the project in a critical and logical fashion.

4.    SELECTION OF CRITERIA

In order to determine what criteria should be used, the followings should be considered:

-          Identify the critical path

-          Optimize the time-cost relationship

-          Identify slack and float time in the project

5.    ANALYSIS FOR THE ALTERNATIVES

-          It determines the start and end of the project and  the path may change during the project

-          Task start  and finishes are carefully  tracked

-          People are evaluated in terms of whether their tasks are late relative to their committed calendar date for task completion.

6.    SELECT THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVES

Based on the above, CPM is the best alternatives for critical projects.

7.    PERFORMANCE MONITORING & EVALUATION

Increase monitoring to ensure compliance

8.    REFERENCES

Humphreys, G.C(2011)Definition of CPM, Project Management Using Earned Value(2^nd ed) CA, Humphreys & Associates

Davis, James B. Why not PERT your next resources management problem?

J. for.66(5): 405-408; 1968 May

Project Scheduling & cost control, James C. Taylor; 2007