Network Analysis

Industrial Engineering

Rules for drawing Network Diagram:

Rule 1: Each activity is represented by one and only one arrow in Network.
This implies that no single activity can be represented twice in the network.

Rule 2: No two activities can be identified by the same end events

For example activities ‘a’ and ‘b’ shown in figure. 1 (a) have the same end events. The
procedure is to introduce a dummy activity either between ‘a’ and one of the end events or between
‘b’ and one of the end events. Modified dummy, d are shown in figure 1 (b). As a result of using
the dummy d activities ‘a’ and ‘b’ can now be identified by unique end events.

Dummy Activity: An activity which does not consume any kind of resource but merely depicts
the technological dependence is called a dummy activity.
It is represented by dotted line.
Dummy activities can be used to maintain precedence relationships only when actually required.
Their use should be minimized in the network diagram.

Rule 3: Precedence relationship among all activities must always be maintained.

In order to ensure the correct precedence relationship in the arrow diagram, following
questions must be checked whenever any activity is added to the network.
What activity must be completed immediately before this activity can start?
What activities must follow his activity?
What activity must occur simultaneously with his activity

GH _ Class notes
Rule 4: No dangling is permitted in a network.

Dangling: To disconnect an
activity before the
completion of all activities
in a network diagram is
known as dangling.

Rule 5: No Looping (or Cycling) is permitted

Looping error is also known as

cyclic error in the network.
Drawing an endless loop in a
network diagram is known as error
of looping as shown in figure.

Rule 6: Redundancy is to be avoided

Unnecessarily inserting the dummy activity in a network logic is known as the error of
redundancy as shown in figure.

GH _ Class notes
Critical Path:
The critical path is the longest sequence of activities in a project plan which must be
completed on time for the project to complete on due date.
It is the longest path, consumes maximum resources. It is the minimum time required to
complete the project. It consists of critical activities which are no o be delayed. It also gives the
information about non critical activities which can be delayed.

Classroom Practice Questions:

1: A project plan is given below:

Activity Immediately Duration
Preceding activities (days)

A - 2

B - 2

C A 7

D A 12

E B 10

F D,E 3

G C,F 4

(i) Construct a network diagram.

(ii) Find the critical path and estimate the project duration.

GH _ Class notes
2: A project consists of seven activities. The precedence relationships and activity durations
are presented in the following table.
Activity Immediately Duration
Preceding activities (days)

A - 3

B - 5

C A,B 5

D A 4

E C,D 4

F A 4

G A,B 6

(i) Draw the network for the above project capturing the precedence relationships.
(ii) Find the critical path and its duration.

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GH _ Class notes