Project Scheduling

Finding the Critical Path: Illustrative Case

Given:
Activity A B C D E F G
Predecessors - - A A,B D C.E E
Expected time (Weeks) 7 9 12 8 9 6 5

Earliest Start
Earliest Finish
Activity
Activity A ES EF
t LS LF
Activity time
Activity
Latest Start Latest Finish

1. Construct a project network

A C F
START
B D E

2. Perform a forward and backw

4 Calculate slack value

5. Determine the critical path

 To do:
* Construct a project network
*Perform a forward and backward passes
*Determine project completion time
* Calculate slack value
* Determine the critical path

A C
7 12

FINISH START
G
B D
9 8

EF = ES + t

FORWARD PASS A 0 7 C
7 12

START
(highest)
B 0 9 D
9 8

orward and backward passes

BACKWARD PASS A 0 7 C
7 2 9 12

START
(highest if forward)
 B 0 9 D
9 0 9 8

Slack = LS-ES or LF-EF

2
ack value A 0 7 C
7 2 9 12

START
0
B 0 9 D
9 0 9 8

Slack = 0 = CRITICAL ACTIVITY

the critical path
CRITICAL PATH = B, D, E, F
 F
6

FINISH

E G
9 5

7 19 F 26 32
6
32
FINISH
(highest)
9 17 E 17 26 G 26 31
9 5

7 19 F 26 32
14 26 6 26 32
32
FINISH
highest if forward) (lowest if backward)
9 17 E 17 26 G 26 31
9 17 9 17 26 5 27 32

FOR BACKWARD PASS, WE START

7 0
7 19 F 26 32
14 26 6 26 32
32
FINISH
0 0 1
9 17 E 17 26 G 26 31
9 17 9 17 26 5 27 32
3. Determine project completion time
KWARD PASS, WE START HERE!
LS = LF - t
Project Scheduling
Finding the Critical Path
TRY THIS!
Given:
Activity 1-2 1-3 2-4 2-5 3-5 4-5 5-6
Predecessors - - 1-2 2-4 1-3 2-4 3-5; 4-5
Expected time (Weeks) 8 4 6 11 9 3 1

Requirements:
1. Construct a project network
2.Perform a forward and backward passes
3.Determine project completion time
4. Calculate slack value
5. Determine the critical path

Earliest Start
Earliest Finish
Activity
Activity A ES EF
t LS LF
ActivityActivity
time

Latest Start Latest Finish

1. Construct a project network

1-2 2-4 4-5

START
1-3 2-5 3-5
2. Perform a forward and backwa

4 Calculate slack value

5. Determine the critical path

 1-2
8

FINISH START
5-6
1-3
4

EF = ES + t

FORWARD PASS 1-2 0

8

START

1-3 0
4
orward and backward passes

BACKWARD PASS 1-2 0

8 0

START

1-3 0
4 4

Slack = LS-ES or LF-EF

ack value 1-2 0

8 -4

START

1-3 0
4 0

Slack = 0 = CRITICAL ACTIVITY

the critical path
CRITICAL PATH = 1-3, 2-5, 3-5, 4-5
 2-4 4-5
6 3

2-5 3-5
11 9

8 2-4 8 14
6

(highest)
4 2-5 8 19 3-5 19
11 9
 8 2-4 8 14
8 6 22 28

(highest if forward)
4 2-5 8 19 3-5 19
8 11 8 19 9 19

-4 10
8 2-4 8 14
4 6 18 24

0 0
4 2-5 4 15 3-5 15
4 11 4 15 9 15

1-3, 2-5, 3-5, 4-5

 5-6
1

4-5 28 31
3

31
28 5-6 28 29 FINISH
1
4-5 28 31
3 28 31

(lowest if backward) 31
28 5-6 28 29 FINISH
28 1 30 31

FOR BACKWARD PASS, WE START HERE!

LS = LF - t

0
4-5 24 27
3 24 27

0 2 27
24 5-6 24 25 FINISH
24 1 26 27
 3. Determine project completion time

D PASS, WE START HERE!