LECTURE 10 – LINE OF

BALANCE

Prepared by:
Sr SHAHELA MAMTER, PQS
Programme of Quantity Surveying
Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying
UiTM Perak, Seri Iskandar Campus
32610 Bandar Baru Seri Iskandar
Perak Darul Ridzuan

DQS 360/390
CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
PLANNING TECHNIQUES

LINE OF BALANCE
Introduction

A technique for assembling, selecting, interpreting and

presenting in graphic form the essential factors involved in
a production process from raw materials to completion of
the end product, against a background of time.
 Originated by the Goodyear Company in the early
1940's and was developed by the U.S. Navy in the early
1950's
 Was first applied to industrial manufacturing and
production control, where the objective was to attain or
evaluate a production line flow rate of finished products.
Introduction
 Planning technique developed for repetitive
construction works e.g. house building, Jetties,
pylons, etc.
 Method is based on establishing a required
delivery programme for the completed unit
and the determining the gangs of labour
resources to meet the delivery schedule.
Introduction
 It is essentially a management-type tool,
utilizing the principle of exception to show only
the most important facts to the audience.
 It is a means of integrating the flow of
materials and components into manufacture of
end items in accordance with phased delivery
requirements.
 It relates actual status of the element of a
production programme to planned programme.
Introduction
 It identify those elements which are lagging
prior to delay in delivery of the end items.
 It basic use is to measure the current

relationship of production progress to schedule

performance and to predict the feasibility of
accomplishing timely deliveries.
 It can be used in conjuction with Arrow or
Precedence Diagram.
Introduction
 In the Line-of-Balance diagram, the x-axis represents
(as in the bar chart) the timeline of the project.
 The y-axis identifies the work areas that define the
project. The blank chart below is the starting point for
the Line-of-Balance schedule.
 As crews arrive on the project, they begin at the first
work area and move through the project. In the figure
below, Activity A has a total duration of 10 weeks.
Spread across each of the work areas the
productivity of Activity A can be shown to be 2 weeks
per floor.
 Blank chart for LOB Schedule starting point.
 Introduction

(Source: http://www.cpmtutor.com/c02/img/gif_22a.gif
Introduction
 As crews arrive on the project, they begin at the
first work area and move through the project.
 In the previous figure, Activity A has a total duration
of 10 weeks.
 Spread across each of the work areas the
productivity of Activity A can be shown to be 2
weeks per floor.
Introduction
❑ Now consider the implication of an Activity B that has a productivity of
one week per floor. If we try to start Activity B as soon as possible, then
the start of activity B on the first floor can occur at the end of week 2.
 Introduction
• Diagram below shows that as we continue to add Activity B throughout the
remaining work areas we can see that Activity B starts on the second floor, at
the end of week 4; on the third floor, at the end of week 6 and so on.
• The red dashed lines mean that the worker has to wait around for Activity A to
clear out before it can start.
• This will result in a lost productivity of 4 worker weeks.
Introduction
 To avoid this situation, the diagram below shows
that we should delay starting Activity B for four
weeks.
 If we do that, then we will keep the worker
productive for their entire stay on your project.
 If we were running a real project, we might include
a bit extra time in case things backup, but we would
likely not start Activity B as soon as it could start!
 Use of graphical methods, such as the Line-of-
Balance method result in a common understanding
of how crews follow one another through the job
work areas.
 Such an immediate, intuitive understanding of the
project is often not possible with the output
provided by commonly used software products.
Advantages Of Application Line Of
Balance
 It can be used to monitor:

▪ Construction progress
▪ Material orders and delivery
▪ Labour supply requirements.
Procedures For Preparing The Line of
Balance Schedule
1. Establish the logic for the construction.
2. Estimate the man hours to complete each
operation.
3. Select buffer time that do not result in the
interference of one operation with another.
4. Calculate the required output rate to meet
the required completion data for the work.
Procedures For Preparing The Line of
Balance Schedule

5. Completion the table of calculations

6. Draw the line of balance schedule
7. Review the schedule and assess alternative.
 Typical Calculation Sheet For Line of
Balance Preparation.
Operation Manhours Theoretical Men per Actual Natural Time per Elapsed
(M) Gang Size Operation Gang Size Rate of Operation time
(in multiples build (days) between
of Q) start on first
unit and last
unit

RxM g= G x Q g ((n – 1) x d)
M G= H Q M 1
Q U= G xR S= U
T= h xQ

U 120 9 3 9 3 5.00 48.33

5 48
V 300 22.50 6 24 3.2 6.25 45.31
6 45
W 250 18.75 4 20 3.20 7.81 45.31
8 45
Explanation of symbols

d = The number of working days per week

B = The buffer time between activities
n = The number of units to be constructed
R = The target rate of build
H = The hours worked per week
h = The hours worked per day
Assignment
 The construction plan for a bunker is shown in the
network below. The table gives the manhours
required and the team size for each operation.

 Prepare a Line of Balance Schedule for a contract

of 30 bunkers using a target rate of build of three
bunkers per week and each team working at their
natural rate of build. Assume a minimum buffer time
of two days between operation and 5 days at 8
hours per day.
Table of Estimated man-hours and
Optimum gang sizes.
Operation Man-hours Optimum Gang Size
F Site preparation 150 6
G Excavation work 330 9
H Concrete work 280 7
I Finishes 70 6
J Fittings 60 5
K External work 250 8
The Question
1. Calculate using the Table of Calculation the Time
per Operation and Elapsed Time Between Start on
First unit and Last unit.
2. Plot a Line of Balance based on the above
calculation.
3. Identify the project completion date.
Thank you