Uses of CPM and PERT in

Construction Projects
Home/ Construction Engineering & Management / Uses of CPM and PERT in Construction Projects

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CPM and PERT in construction projects are the tools used for
efficient management of activities. CPM is Critical Path Method and
PERT is Program Evaluation and Review Technique.

The Critical Path Method (CPM) was first used during the overhauling
of a chemical plant in United States in the year 1950 by Morgan R.
Walker of DuPont and James E. Kelley, Jr. of Remington Rand. By
using this technique of activity management, they substantially
reduced the time of overhauling of the chemical plant.

Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) was first used in 1957
in United States for the design and development of the Polaris
missile. With the objective of meeting a specified completion date
for the project two years in advance of the earliest possible date
predicted by traditional planning methods the U.S. Naval dept.
devised this new technique.
CPM and PERT in Construction Projects:
The difference between the CPM and PERT is that the PERT is mainly
used where the time required for completion of each of the activities
involved cannot be accurately defined nor are the resources to be
used for the activity readily available. The events could however be
readily definable.

For example, for a construction project type, which have not been
completed anywhere in the past, when it is possible to say that with
reasonable accuracy that an activity “A” has to be completed before
activity “B”, but the time required to complete the activity “A” is not
known or the completion time of activity “B” is uncertain, in that
case PERT technique is used.

This technique is based on the probabilities of completing each

activity in time. The time is not of much importance in this
technique, and completion of each event is taken care of. This
technique is therefore most suited to projects like research and
development, investigation, design etc. Also PERT because of the
large number of calculations involved is essentially a computer-
based system.

CPM technique is used in construction projects based on the

knowledge and experience of the past projects for predicting
accurately the time required for various activities during the
execution of the project. Time required for each activity is known
and defined for the project.

Hierarchy of the construction project events are well defined and

time of completion of the same is also defined. The total time
required for the given project can be estimated based on this
technique.

CPM is an activity oriented system as the times required for

construction activities are estimated more accurately. CPM is used
where activities are definable and measurable and minimum overall
cost is of the utmost importance.

Most large projects can be portrayed by a graph or network of

jobs. Characteristics of construction projects to make it amenable for
analysis by PERT or CPM are:
(a) The project must consist of a well defined collection of jobs or
activities which when completed will mark the end of the project.

(b) The jobs must be such that they can be started or stopped
independently of each other within a given sequence, (e.g. certain
continuous flow processes such as oil refining, where jobs or
operations must follow one after another with essentially no time
separation, are not amenable for analysis by PERT or CPM).

(c) The jobs are ordered i.e. they must be performed in

Technological sequence ( e.g. the foundation of a wall must be
completed before the wall can be built).
 PERT and CPM are tools used for managing the construction project
activities and if followed thoroughly, the construction project can be
completed within the time limit and within the cost. But use of these
tools does not guaranty the desired outcome due to bad
management problems, natural calamities, strikes by labors etc.

Howsoever good a tool may be, its success depends on how well the
tool is used. The CPM Network affords management with
information for taking decisions and focusing its attention to
essential operations.

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