SCHEDULING
time between a request for action and when the action takes
Overlapping Networks Techniques
The use of overlapping network techniques is common in
PDM applications. Overlapping network techniques allow
activities to be grouped together, which reduces the number
of activities in a network and can reduce the overall time of
performance.
The overlapping scheduling technique allows for the develop-
ment of a schedule, which more closely represents how a plan-
ner visualizes actual field conditions. For example, rather than
wait for an activity to complete before starting the succeeding
activity, it can be said that a successor activity can start a num-
ber of days after the start of its predecessor, or that it can finish
a number of days after the finish of its predecessor.
Overlapping consists of two parts: a relationship and a lag
value or constraint. Four types of overlapping relationships
exist:
1. finish-to-start + lag (FS + N) Where “N” is lag,
2. finish-to-finish + lag (FF + N),
3. start-to-start + lag (SS +N), and
4. start-to-finish + lag (SF + N).
In each case, a number of days (work periods) “N” are indi-
cated that define the overlapped time frame, or the lead-time,
between the activities in question. Lags can be either positive
or negative, but are assumed to be zero if not specified.
A finish-to-start + lag (FS + N) links the finish of the preceding
activity with the start of the succeeding activity and indicates
that the successor activity cannot begin until the preceding
activity is complete. A lag “N” can be placed on the relationship
to indicate that the succeeding activity cannot begin until a
given time after the preceding activity has finished. A finish-to-
start relationship with a lag value of zero is considered the
default if no other value is specified. For example, in Figure
Figure 13.6—Finish to Start + Lag Relationship
13.6, Activity 20 cannot start until “N” work periods after
Activity 10 is complete.
Typical applications include cure time between the place-
ment of concrete and the stripping of formwork, queuing
13.6
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place, and time for the approval process after a report has
been submitted and the action is taken following approval.
The alternate approach to this problem would be to include
an activity in the network called “concrete cure,” “review
request,” or “review and approval,” and assign the added
activity a duration of “N” days.
A start-to-start + lag (SS+N) relationship links the start of the
preceding activity with the start of the following or succeed-
ing activity. It indicates that the successor activity cannot
begin until the preceding activity has been started and the
specified work periods (lag) or overlap time after the start of
the preceding activity has elapsed. For example, in Figure
Figure 13.7—Start-to-Start + Lag Relationship.
13.7, Activity 20 cannot start until “N” work periods after the
start of activity 10.
Typical applications include the relationship between the
pulling wire and cable and wire terminations, or starting the
report preparation before all the research information has been
completed. These relationships assume that if the work can
begin before the preceding activities are complete, an SS + N
relationship between them can be utilized. The schedule com-
putations will indicate that the start of the succeeding activities
can begin “N” days after the preceding activity has started.
The alternate approach to this problem would be to include
additional activities in the network to show the start and fin-
ish of both the predecessor and successor activities.
A finish-to-finish + lag (FF + N) relationship links the finish
of the preceding activity with the finish of the following or
succeeding activity and indicates that the latter activity can-
not be completed until the preceding activity has been com-
pleted and the specified work periods (lag) or overlap time
has elapsed. For example, in Figure 13.8, Activity 20 cannot
finish until “N” work periods after Activity 10 is finished.
Typical finish-to-finish applications include the relationship
between the finish of wire terminations and the finish of test
equipment, or between finish of research information and
finishing the report preparation. These relationships assume
that if the successor work can finish “N” work periods after
the finish of the preceding activities, an FF + N relationship