PROJECT SCHEDULING
QUESTION 1
Consider the following project network.
ES DUR EF
Name
LS ES ES 5 EF LS LF 7 EF TF LF
Legend
C
TF LF
ES
EF
A
LS TF
H
LS TF LF
ES START LS ES 3 EF
EF
ES
EF
D
TF LF LS
F
TF LF FINISH
B
LS TF LF ES 7 EF ES LF LS 10 EF
E
LS TF
G
TF LF
The completion times for A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H are 5, 3, 7, 6, 7, 3, 10, 8 weeks respectively. a. b. c. d. Identify the critical path How long will it take to complete this project? Can activity D be delayed without delaying the entire project? If so, how many weeks? Can activity C be delayed without delaying the entire project? If so, how many weeks
ANSWERS
ES DUR EF
Name
LS 5 0 5 5 7 5 7 12 TF LF
Legend
C
2 14
14
22
A
0 0
H
14 0 22
5 START 5 0 3 3
11
11
14
D
0 11 11
F
0 14 FINISH
B
1 1 4 3 7 10 11 11 12 10 1 G 1 22 21
E
4 1
a. b. c. d.
The critical path is ADFH. 22 weeks No. Yes, 14-12=2 weeks
QUESTION 2
Consider a project with the following diagram.
ES DUR EF
Name
LS TF LF
Legend
ES DUR EF ES DUR EF ES DUR EF
A
LS TF LF LS
C
TF LF LS
E
TF LF
START
FINISH
ES DUR
EF
ES DUR
EF
ES DUR
EF
ES DUR
EF
B
LS TF LF LS
D
TF LF LS
F
TF LF LS
G
TF LF
The crash data for this project are as follows: Task A B C D E F G Duration is Days Crash Time Saving 2 1 3 3 4 1 1 Cost in $ Crash 1400 1900 2800 2300 2800 1000 1000 Cost / Day
Original 3 2 5 5 6 2 2
Original 800 1200 2000 1500 1800 600 500
Extra
a. b. c.
Find the critical path and the expected project completion time, using normal times. What is the total project cost using the normal times? What activities should be crashed assuming that management desires a 12 day project completion time? What is the total cost for the 12-day project completion time?
d.
ANSWERS
a. The critical path is ACE
ES DUR 0 3 3 3 5 8 8 6 14 LS 14
EF
Name
TF LF
A
0 0 3 3
C
0 8 8
E
0
Legend
START
FINISH
10
10
12
B
1 1 3 3
D
1 8 10
F
2 12 12
G
2 14
b. c.
The total cost is the sum of A + B + C + D + E + F + G = $8400 Management desires a 12 day project completion time, currently the completion time is 14 days. We need to reduce project time by two days. Preference is given to reduce activities on critical path while selecting the cheapest option. We have to find out the cost/day for crashing each job: Cost in $ Crash 1400 1900 2800 2300 2800 1000 1000 Cost / Day 600 700 400 400 500 400 500
Duration is Days Original Crash Time Saving A* 3 2 1 B 2 1 1 C* 5 3 2 D 5 3 2 E* 6 4 2 F 2 1 1 G 2 1 1 The best choice is to: Task (i) (ii)
0
Original 800 1200 2000 1500 1800 600 500
Extra 600 700 800 800 1000 400 500
Initially reduce C by one day. This makes B and D critical also. Reduce E by one day.
ES DUR 3 3 3 4 7 7 5 12 LS 12 EF
Name
TF LF
A
0 0 3 3
C
0 7 7
E
0
Legend
START
FINISH
11
B
0 0 2 2
D
0 7 8
F
1 10 10
G
1 12
d.
The additional cost is 400+500=900. So the total cost is now $8400 + $900 = $ 9300.
QUESTION 3
Office Automation Ltd, has developed a proposal to introduce a new computerised office system. The proposal lists the activities that must be accomplished to carry out the project. This information is shown below.
Activity
Description
Predecessor
A B C D E F
Plan needs Order equipment Install equipment Set up training lab Conduct training course Test system
A B A D C,E
Duration in weeks Original Crash Time Saving 10 8 8 6 10 7 7 6 10 8 3 3
Cost in $ Original Crash 30 120 100 40 50 60 70 150 160 50 75 --
Extra
Cost / Day
a. b. c. d. e.
Construct the network diagram. What are the critical activities, and what is the expected project completion time? Assume the company wishes to complete the project in 26 weeks. What crashing decisions would be recommended to meet the desired completion time at least possible cost? What is the cost for the crashed project? Develop a network diagram for the crashed project.
ANSWER
a. The network diagram
ES DUR EF
Name
10 8 18 18 10 28 LS TF LF
B
0 START 0 10 10 10 0 18 18
C
0 28 28 3 31
Legend
A
0 10 10 7 17 17 10 27 28
F
0 31
FINISH
D
11 1 18 18
E
1 28
b. c.
The critical path is ABCF, the expected project completion time is 31 weeks The company wishes to complete the project in 26 weeks, currently the completion time is 31 weeks. We need to reduce project time by 5 weeks. Preference is given to reduce activities on critical path while selecting the cheapest option. We have to find out the cost/day for crashing each job: Description Predecessor Duration in weeks Original Crash Time Saving 10 8 2 8 6 2 10 7 3 7 6 1 10 8 2 3 3 0 Cost in $ Original Crash 30 120 100 40 50 60 70 150 160 50 75 -Cost / Day 20 15 20 10 12.5 --
Activity
Extra 40 30 60 10 25 --
A B C D E F
Plan needs Order equipment Install equipment Set up training lab Conduct training course Test system
A B A D C,E
Our steps of crashing are as follows: (i) Crash B by 1 wk, cost 15. The ADEF also become critical path
ES DUR
EF
Name
10 7 17 17 10 27 LS TF LF
B
0 START 0 10 10 10 0 17 17
C
0 27 27 3 30
Legend
A
0 10 10 7 17 17 10 27 27
F
0 30
FINISH
D
10 0 17 17
E
0 27
(ii) (iii) (iv)
Crash A by 2 wks, cost 2X20=40 Crash B&D each by 1, cost 15+10=25 Crash C&E each by 1 wk, cost 20+12.5=32.5 Total crashing costs 15+40+25+30=112.5 $ Original cost=30+120+100+40+50+60=400 $.
d. e.
Cost = 400 (original) + 112.5(Crash) = 512.5 in (thousand dollars) All activities are critical after crash.
ES DUR EF
Name
8 6 14 14 9 23 LS TF LF
B
0 START 0 8 8 8 0 14 14
C
0 23 23 3 26
Legend
A
0 8 8 6 14 14 9 23 23
F
0 26
FINISH
D
8 0 14 14
E
0 23
