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Schedule Acceleration Practice Problem
Schedule Acceleration Practice Problem
Schedule Acceleration Practice Problem
Example 8.1
Calculate the normal, least-cost, and crash durations for the following project.
Calculate the cost associated with each duration. Indirect (overhead) costs
are $120 per day.
A – 5 4 500 600
B A 7 5 350 500
C A 8 5 800 920
D A 11 7 1,200 1,400
E B, C 6 4 600 700
F C 4 4 500 500
G D, F 7 5 700 1,000
H E, F 6 5 300 420
Solution
This simple project has five paths (see Figure 8.11). They are listed next, along
with their lengths in days:
5,12
B 13,19 19,25
7 E H
6,13 6 6
13,19 19,25 25
0,5 5,13
A C PF
5 8
0.5 5,13 13,17 17,24 25
F G
4 7
14,18 18,25
5,16
D
11
7,18
Figure 8.11 Precedence network for project in example 8.1—PF, project finish
Recovery Schedules 233
ABEH 24
ACEH 25
ACFH 23
ACFG 24
ADG 23
a When the letter representing an activity is crossed, e.g., F, it
means this activity cannot be crashed (such as activity F) or has
reached its minimum/crash duration
Cycle 1
Path Duration (days)
ABEH 24 24
ACEH
2 5 24
ACFH
2 3 22
ACFG
24 23
ADG 23 23
234 Chapter 8 Schedule Compression and Time-Cost Trade-Off
This action increased the direct costs by $40 and decreased the indirect
costs by $120. The total impact on the cost is a net savings of $80.
We now have two paths that tie at 24 days’ duration: ABEH and ACEH.
We can compress a shared activity (A, E, or H) or a combination of unshared
activities (B and C). We choose activity E and compress it from 6 days to 5 days
at a cost of $50.
Cycle 2
Path Duration (days)
ABEH 24
24 23
ACEH
25
24 23
ACFH
23 22 22
ACFG
24 23 23
ADG 23 23 23
The direct costs increase by $50, and the indirect costs decrease by
$120. This results in a net decrease of $70 in the total cost.
Now we have four paths that tie at 23 days’ duration: all but ACFH. We can
compress a shared activity (A) or a combination of unshared activities (plenty
of options exist). We choose activity A and compress it from 5 days to 4 at a
cost of $10011 . Activity A is now completely crashed.
Cycle 3
Path Duration (days)
ABEH 24
24
23 22
ACEH
25
24
23 22
ACFH
23 22
22 21
ACFG
24 23
23 22
ADG 23 23
23 22
With this action, we spent an extra $100 in direct costs and saved $120
in indirect costs. The total cost decreased by $20 (we are still saving money,
but the rate is decreasing).
Now we need to compress the same four paths using the least-cost com-
bination. After a simple mathematical inspection of the table, we find the
best combination to be C, D, and E, with a total combined cost of $140.
11
If activity A could be crashed by more than 1 day, we could have crashed it to the limit, since it is part of
any path on the network. This means any day cut from activity A would automatically mean a day cut from
the entire schedule.
Recovery Schedules 235
ABEH 24
24
23
22 21
ACEH
25
24
23
22 20
ACFH
23 22
22
21 20
ACFG
24 23
23
22 21
ADG 23 23
23
22 21
Note that path ACEH was cut by 2 days because it contains both C and E.
Now the total cost has increased by $20 ($140 increase in direct costs and
$120 decrease in indirect costs). The next step is to find an alternative to
activity E because it is completely crashed. The next least-cost combination is
B, C, and D, at a total cost of $165. In this case, the total cost has increased
by $45.
Cycle 5
Path Duration (days)
ABEH 24
24
23
22
21 20
ACEH
25
24
23
22
20 19
ACFH
23 22
22
21
20 19
ACFG
24 23
23
22
21 20
ADG 23 23
23
22
21 20
Note that the critical paths may change in every round. Now, activity C is
also completely crashed. Our next choice is the combination of B and G at a
combined cost of $225, with a net increase of $105 in the total cost.
Cycle 6
Path Duration (days)
ABEH 24
24
23
22
21
20 19
ACEH
25
24
23
22
20 19 19
ACFH
23 22
22
21
20 19 19
ACFG
24 23
23
22
21
20 19
ADG 23 23
23
22
21
20 19
Activity B is now completely crashed. All paths are tied at 19 days. The
only remaining option is to combine activities G and H at a cost of $270, with
an increase of $150 in the total cost.
236 Chapter 8 Schedule Compression and Time-Cost Trade-Off
Cycle 7
Path Duration (days)
ABEH 24
24
23
22
21
20
19 18
ACEH
25
24
23
22
20 19
19 18
ACFH
23 22
22
21
20 19
19 18
ACFG
24 23
23
22
21
20
19 18
ADG 23 23
23
22
21
20
19 18
Notes
1. Always make a backup copy of the schedule before you make any changes.
2. Focus on the critical path. A good idea is to sort activities by total float (first
criterion) and start date (second criterion), in ascending order. You may also