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Aace International Scheduling: Critical Path Method (CPM)

This document defines key scheduling terms and methods used in project management, including the critical path method (CPM). CPM is a scheduling technique that uses diagrams to determine the minimum time needed to complete a project and identify critical activities. It allows schedulers to determine the shortest completion time, identify activities that cannot be delayed, and show available float for non-critical activities. CPM is widely used in industries like construction where activity durations can be reasonably estimated.

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Sucher Eolas
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137 views

Aace International Scheduling: Critical Path Method (CPM)

This document defines key scheduling terms and methods used in project management, including the critical path method (CPM). CPM is a scheduling technique that uses diagrams to determine the minimum time needed to complete a project and identify critical activities. It allows schedulers to determine the shortest completion time, identify activities that cannot be delayed, and show available float for non-critical activities. CPM is widely used in industries like construction where activity durations can be reasonably estimated.

Uploaded by

Sucher Eolas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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AACE INTERNATIONAL SCHEDULING

diagram (as discussed in the following sections) is prepared


and the work scheduled, the display of relationships between
GLOSSARY TERMS IN THIS CHAPTER
the activities can be turned off or masked. This masking pro-
duces a bar chart, at any level of the project schedule, which
activity ◆ activity description ◆ activity identification
can be used as a communication tool for the most complex
arrow diagramming method (ADM) ◆ backward pass
and largest of projects.
bar chart ◆ calendar days ◆ constraints ◆critical path
critical path method (CPM) ◆ early finish (EF)
Critical Path Method (CPM) early start (ES) ◆ forward pass ◆ free float ◆ gantt chart
The disadvantages of manually developed bar charts, cou- late finish (LF) ◆ late start (LS) ◆ original duration (OD)
pled with other disadvantages that became evident during overlapping scheduling technique ◆ PERT diagram
the mid-1950s, set the stage for development of network- planning ◆ precedence diagramming method (PDM)
based project management methodology. One of the meth- network ◆ milestone ◆ relationships; remaining duration
ods that emerged to overcome these weaknesses was critical schedule calendar ◆ schedule update ◆ scheduling
path scheduling. The critical path method (CPM) is a sched- scheduling levels ◆ status ◆ target schedule
uling technique using arrow, precedence, or PERT diagram- time scaled network ◆ total float
ming methods to determine the length of a project and to work breakdown structure (WBS) ◆ work days (WD)
identify the activities and constraints on the critical path.

The critical path method enables a scheduler to do the fol-


lowing: opers of PERT estimated a best or shortest time, worst or
longest time, and the most probable time to accomplish the
• Determine the shortest time in which a program or proj- tasks defined. Concurrent with the PERT network develop-
ect can be completed. ment, the team also developed computer software to run a
• Identify those activities that are critical and that cannot probability analysis to arrive at a “most likely” duration for
be slipped or delayed. each activity and the overall project.
• Show the potential slippage or delay (known as float)
available for activities that are not critical. PERT is considered an indeterminate process for activity and
project durations, while CPM is considered a deterministic
The critical path method (CPM) was designed for, and is use- process.
ful on, projects where the duration of each activity can be
estimated with reasonable certainty; it predicts how long an The network of activities developed for PERT are similar to
endeavor will take to complete. It also identifies the activities the arrow diagramming method (ADM) and precedence dia-
that control the overall length of the project. CPM is widely gramming method (PDM) networks. Because of the similari-
used in the process industries, construction, single industrial ty and resemblance of a CPM network to PERT, the term
projects, prototype development, and for controlling plant PERT has been used as a synonym for CPM.
outages and shutdowns.
Discussion of CPM
CPM computer software, known also as project management The most commonly used scheduling method and the tech-
software, allows for the assignment of resources to activities. nique that will meet your project objectives is CPM incorpo-
Assigning resources to the activities and allowing the rating overlapping logic.
resources to accomplish their assigned work based on their
availability provides another variable in the overall project CPM is a scheduling technique using arrow or precedence
duration. Since the software has this capability, CPM net- diagrams (networks) to determine the length of a project and
working is also used by industries with fixed pools of to identify the activities and constraints on the critical path.
resources such as maintenance and information technology The critical path is defined as the longest chain or chains of
projects. activities, in terms of time or duration, through a network.

Project Evaluation Review Technique (PERT) Two basic methods of critical path scheduling are the following:
Project evaluation review technique (PERT) is a probabilistic
technique, used mostly by government agencies, for calculat- • the arrow diagramming method (ADM) (also called
ing the “most likely” durations for network activities. activity-on-arrow, or the “i” - “j” method), and
• the precedence diagramming method (PDM) (also called
During development of the Navy’s Polaris Missile Program activity-on-node).
in the late 1950s, the team had no historical basis to draw
upon when estimating the length of time it would take to Arrow Diagramming Method (ADM)
accomplish certain tasks. For each of the activities, the devel- In arrow diagramming, the nodes in the network are the

13.3

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