CRITICAL

PATH SCHEDULING - PHILOSOPHY AND EXPERIENCE

By Robert

B. Vogeler

Meissner Engineers, 300 West Washington Chicago 6, Illinois

Inc.

Presentad

At:

The 6th Annual Convention American Association of Cost Engineers June $7, 1962 Chicago, IllinOiS

L,

Introduction Meissner ning Path Engineers has realized the importance Path of thorough Scheduling evolution client completion Engineers significant manimproveplan(CrItIcal of m&nin de-

and scheduling Method)

and has accepted important

Critical instrument its

as the most

in the

agement creased dates, power ments

science. costs, Critical efficiency in related Science

We have reflected more efficient Path Scheduling direct time

advantages

to the

schedules has increased casts,

and earlier Meissner

, decreased costs

and offered

and personnel

training,

Management

Evaluation (whether assumed by the president than or by the the normal generally

The task construction tasks of the rewarding. which performance,

of management manager) engineer, is far

more broad

and challenging mathematician; account based

physicist, must

and the take Into

and is

Li

more factors past

The manager are nonlinear

many more significant such as economic and laws

relationships,

upon parameters factors, rules is

human productivity, Engineering the betterment and activities and/or the is the

human performance application of basic task

conditions, of science ate able the

etc. for

of man.

The managers for the

to coordinof marketetc., at

efforts

of engineers

production highways,

products cost.

construction

of buildings,

minimum

The arts, tant the past study were

sciences, placed

and traditional on an intellectual of management,

professions, pedestal The illusion This with

in the

not

too above

dis-

a status that

and practice lacked

arose was not but

the

study the

of management field i/ lectual reach

intellectual lacked went methods ,/

challenge. frontiers,

because the

of management opportunities of traditional

unexplored unrecognized of analysis.

because lay

intelthe

and the problems

beyond

I .

.
-2-

c/
art ture first

Management based only of principles as an art.

is moving on experience

through

a transitional

period solidly

going

from a:n

to a profession Any worthwhile before we really

based on a strucemerges The art repre-

and science. We succeed

human endeavor understand why,

practice senting

of medicine only

or of engineering of judgement sciences

began as an empirical based on experience.

the exercise underlying foundation

The develop-

ment of these understand the

was motivated the art

by the need to better rested. of management mathematics, this tool invaluable into defined

upon which of this

One of the benefits procedures and methods,

formulation

based upon classical

is Crltical technique in manageassis-

I I

Path Scheduling. has evolved ment science. LJ tance,to all into It

Known by CPM, PERT, LESS, PET, etc., the most efficient has proven its and self-educational worth utilized is not, and has offered its methodology.

who have earnestly Path it Scheduling is

Critical but for by definition scheduling

of course, discipline is defined This

a panacea and defined by order implies

of all

ills,

'an organized A plan

procedure in comparilson cost, time,

and planning." which is a calendar

to a schedule and manpower. uling, Critical

TO

timetable.

Indirectly,

we all or another,

use some form of Critical independent of project of Management Path Scheduling, must first interrelated

Path Schedsize. Functions+ its inter-

for

one purpose Scheduling stress with

Path further

- An Implementation the value of Critical function of five

relationship

the manager's consists 1. basically Planning

be exemplified, functions: ~

Good management

L,

2.
3.

Organization Direction Action Control and Follow up

4. 5.

-3-

ci
volved

A project end result. proceed *either in the Critical

always This plan

begins is

with

a plan

for

the

accomplishment of steps

of an that in-

a procedure

made up of a set

sequentially planning, Path

or simultaneously. the more precisely defines the activities

The more definition scheduling

can be impleand the is of assima

mented. completion pictorial events ilated

Scheduling (event) the

as arrows The balloon of the display is

of an activity display reflecting to achieve

as a circle. interdependencies This

chart series easily

required

an end result.

and interpreted, The planning chart at the it projects time, the complete costs means for definition, to qualifications observation job and provides that an overwill be

all

look

see

manpower, the

and scheduling staffing

needed.

Therefore, a project requirements project

provides and, with

an organization states the necessary

to complete Ld manpower

by activity respect

and number. of progress can readily can be drawn The area

As the quickly

acquires to the direction

momentum, schedule

be compared where is

and attention

to the points where directed, Follow best reports Scheduling quite well coordinate which is the action

and action defined

are necessary. and can then

essential

is well

be properly

up

is the

indispensable project. This

to provide is attained defined

the vital

control

to and Path

by observations schedule. It Critical

can be compared an instrument essential Path it

to the

and an aid requirement$ Scheduling has proven our

to management. for good

demonstrates

management. Engineers, as a scheduling lower costs, productivity, Inc. has

Use of Critical

at Meissner its worth

L/

been stressed cational lays, tool

because and it

and eduless :de-

assists

clients

through which

and creates

a formal

atmosphere

enhances

-4-

It

has been used for and design

construction, functions.

and for

large

computer Critical by its

programming Path Scheduse,

efforts uling

Each team utilizing and enthused

has been further of Critical Critical

indoctrinated Path Scheduling

Orientation

The need for been brought petition, uling barring This about

Path Scheduling necessity.

in heavy

construction

has comSched-

by sheer

The scope of the problem, has generated this dire need,

and manpower requirements contractors the and expediting of outside

materials uncontrollable

alone

is an arduous factors.

effort,

inclusion

need has been met by orientation by actual experience examples in Critical

classes

for

our personnel. in attendance. merely leads

These are implemented One individual the discussion L( as activities, writing "spark" which "start" with

known to all

Path Scheduling the symbols signs.

and begins and the within

the class

by defining

- the arrows begins by

circles a circle

as completion on a blackboard, activity "start" circle

He then

Then he acts a horizontal to another

as the arrow circle.

and suggests begins

the first

by drawing and continues be the point, completion another drawn.

at the encircled that this latter

He suggests tion entitled this

of the preparaarrow and circle of amidst before."

and release "review 'nudging'

of bids. of bids" will further "I

From this

are horizontally
the

A continuation chart,

completion and "I chart

of a balloon haven't will

such choice In no time

comments as: at all, step

can't" balloon

done this fill

a complete

the blackboard. and place T is P By this time

The second actual phase L all time

is to begin above

at the encircled representing from arrow

"start"

durations

the arrow along

the activity, to arrow.

is completed

by stepping

are enthused time,

optimum

and thisi"garage" will surely be built in the most Z. One can acquire more sophistication by adding triangular /1. -. ;

-5-

and square the take earliest

figures

below

each times

circle. for

These completion,

are slots All this

in which discussion

to place may

and latest hours. will

two to three Many questions

arise

as to methods will result

and logical in the

steps sequence then

in

the

procedure. but will to explain again are

Differences be ironed methods group is in out

in opinions by discussion,

of events, take etc. detail place These is

Additional up, phase action where

sessions starters,

of control

and follow The only balloon chart

discussions. the actual

considerable and review.

necessary Experience

construction

In actual creation

practice,

Phase chart

I of our Critical by the project

Path engineer,

Schedule the

is

the enginhas of The

of the balloon from

resident

eer and personnel i, shown the need for

our estimatincr,

department, because

Our experience of the importance involved. keep it

a team of this the

nature,

accurately ideal the

understanding is

duration a lean time

of the

activities and yet

concept bounds

to achieve

schedule,

within

of unforseen and delivery

problems, schedules. Theory

or human productivity Lean schedules

and performance best

factors, because It bring is also in

have been found with the time

of Parkinsons has been proven several essential because it of the for is

- work

expands in our during

alloted,. to and it

expeditious contractors

construction this planning This

projects phase is

verification later

at

completion.

an expedient delays

measure, are

used as a prod

when unreasonable

observed. Performance factors is later orientation are noted compared on the to actual chart as activity duration observati Path is ns. 0 and

computed, L We have is

and it found that

productivity in Critical demonstrate

of contractors then

Scheduling

extremely

valuable.

The contractors

enthusiasm

-6-

( id
a definite signatures to lessen attempt is made to keep the schedule. contractors It has been noted chart is an that aid are of the accepted delays and increase will investigate to evaluate has also the project bound," proven on the balloon

performance, several optimumly invaluable planning both in that charts, time duration which

We normally ordered differently,

and cost. of any work

Our experience in planning

omission

has virtually or normal if it it for time

been eliminated. duration, critical would be at normal This redirect invescost

The 'upper and would evaluation costs tigation costs L,

be re-evaluated would analyze

were on the a 'lower rates

path.

boundr' for

and the

increased Further the direct

such as overtime may allow and provide Meissner

and premium

deliveries. reduce

improved justification

manpower coordination, for premium rates

of material Critical time will

requisition.

Engineers! Method)

management and, therefore,

has accepted

Path Scheduling for planning

(Critical and balloon automatically

Path

the additional balloon chart

chart

drawing.

The actual by the

now be drawn

and updated the following

computer-plotter is used for

combination. the creation of the

In short, balloon 1. 2.
3.

procedure

chart: Draw a logical Discuss step by step procedure (include order performance factors)

and add the time the logic for

durations improved

Re-evaluate Number nodes

4,
5. 6.

Make a computer run for problem, hand compute) Review the projects time duration Evaluate float time

the critical critical

path path

(if

only

a small to decrease

on the paths

- attempt

L, 7.

-7-

8. 9.

Compare manpower in float path Rerun on computer Evaluate with updating accepted

paths

with

manpower

in the critical

10.

contractors of results methods: is necessary observation and is by meetings. Obserand over-all for lead impending to better

Continuous best the accomplished resident

and comparison

by a combination reports

of three

engineer,

from contractors, and also factors, an early

and periodic

The most important vation morale. delays provides

is observation, checks on performance

the most realistic. deliveries, warning

Continuous and cost

comparison

provides

increases.,

Observations "short-cuts" In addition,

and discussions and more efficient this provides engineers

knowledge for future

of construction construction, for

procedures

an educational and improved

workshop scheduling There ning

the self-betterment logic. are factors cost that cannot

of resident

be completely

analyzed

in the planwhich Ifactors

stage,

where changes

savings

and efficiency procedure,

can be acquired, Several are:

necessitate which

in the sequential personnel strike conditions delays

of these

Meissner 1. 2.
3. 4.

Engineers' Trade

have encountered

workers

Poor mobility Concrete Availability of other utilized pouring

at job

site temperatures)

(due to freezing

of equipment due to breakdown, and delays construction jobs where the equipment was being were interwoven was evaluated. into the plan as they

These unforseen and their L was revised, over-all

delays effect

In extreme

cases the

-8-

I Li
mark plays to the We have found the completed it work advantageous as the to utilize a thick red pencil This very quickly to disproject It progresses. is also

over-all

progress

at a glance. they

useful

to show

contractors,

should factors

be delinquent in methods

in their

schedule. by obserThe idea balloon designs. of

Experience vat ion, utilizing chart short

have accrued reports, to assist valuable for

of progress meetings.

from

progress

and progress in

design

engineers

the preparation reductions in

of the later

has been extremely presence for

cost

On site or just partially site

of design

engineers,

either their

as vacation design experience. procedure

substitutes, This and the is on

observation due to the

has increased comparison with

the planned

observations

of construction.

Li

Conclusions I have implementing to stress construction, Scheduling sophistication activities is the not stressed Path the use of digital computers My reasoning science technique as a means of in doing applied of Critical only the of this to Path is

Critical concept not

Scheduling.

of a management application.

a computer

The concept to computers (except use is Path

has no direct of planning extensive,

relationship

and is where

and scheduling then computer Critical - a defined science.

the number because should

required

of time be examined in

and complexity). from our its true

Therefore, perspective of management

Scheduling technique

planning

developed

evolution