Resource Analysis

TNEB wanted to know as to how many engineers they should post for this project.
Ezhumathur engineers and consultants estimated the requirement of engineers to manage
each of the activities as per Table 3 given below.

Table: 3

Activity Activity Required Number

Name Description of Engineers for
the Activity

(1,2) Survey 1
(2,3) Estimate and Sanction 3
(2,4) Tree Cutting Schedule 2
(3,5) Procure Stubs and Tower Parts 3
(3,6) Award Contract for Stub Setting 2
(3,7) Award Contract for Tower Erection 2
(4,7) Stub Cutting 1
(6,7) Tree Setting 1
(7,8) Tower Erection and Stringing 3
(8,9) Energizing 3

(a) Draw the network diagram to time-scale.

(b) Compute the requirement of engineers*, during different periods. For this purpose
allow all activities to start at their respective earliest start times. Draw a bar-chart
profile of the requirement o1f engineers with respect to time)
(c) If all activities could start at their respective late start times, what would the
requirement profile* look like?
(d) The Chief Engineer, TNEB wants the project in charge to work with as few engineers
as possible, preferably to five, work out a suitable schedule. Similarly, work out
schedules for engineers availabilities of 4 and 3*. Do the Chief Engineers stipulations
have any effect on the project characteristics such as (i) completion times of the
project, (ii) start times of activities, (iii) slacks of activities and (iv) criticality
complexion of the project?
(e) Now assume that other than the ‘Procurement’ activity, all other activities can be
interrupted and restarted. With this flexibility, what does the schedule look like for a
maximum availability of five engineers?
(f) Let us express the requirement of engineers for an activity in terms of so many
engineer-weeks. For instance, activity (2,3) takes four weeks and needs three
engineers; hence, we can say that the activity (2,3) takes 3 X 4 = 12 engineer-weeks.
Thus, the work content of activity (2,3) may be said to be 12 engineer-weeks. So, if
six engineers are provided for the activity, it could be done in two weeks.

An assumption, such as the above, is not always valid unless the activity is totally and
singly dependent on that particular resource. Taking (2,3) itself, the activity involves
1*
For all these assume that activities cannot be ‘split’, i.e. they cannot be stopped once started. Also assume that
the activities can neither be expedited nor delayed by giving additional engineers or reducing the number of
engineers.
 ‘sanction’, which cannot be speeded up by increases in the number of engineers to carry
out the activity, because the ‘sanction’ is to be given by somebody else.

Let us, for a moment, assume that such assumptions are valid. Now, if four engineers are
given for this project, and if the activities cannot be split find.

(i) the schedule of activities;

(ii) the critical path and
(iii) the resource requirement profile for engineers

Find all of the above, if all the activities could be split.