A New Buffer Setting Method Based on Activity Attributes in Construction Engineering

2012 ◽  
Vol 174-177 ◽  
pp. 3274-3281 ◽  
Author(s):  
De Yin Liu ◽  
Jian Guo Chen ◽  
Wei Peng
Keyword(s):  
Buffer Management ◽  
Theory Of Constraints ◽  
Simulation Test ◽  
Construction Engineering ◽  
Schedule Management ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Critical Chain ◽  
Schedule Network ◽  
Activity Attributes

The direct application of the Theory of Constraints (TOC) to construction engineering, known as Critical Chain Management and Buffer Management (CCM/BM), has recently emerged as one of the most popular approaches to schedule management. However, the existing buffer setting techniques have less aken the activity attributes into account. In this paper, we introduce the concept of structure entropy to reflect the complexity of schedule network of construction project and propose a novel method for buffer sizing based on an in-depth analysis of activity attributes. After simulation test and comparison with classical methods, the proposed method is proved to have better accuracy and effectiveness.

scholarly journals Critical Chain Project Scheduling: Do Not Oversimplify

2002 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 48-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Willy Herroelen ◽  
Roel Leus ◽  
Erik Demeulemeester
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Project Scheduling ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
Buffer Management ◽  
Direct Application ◽  
Theory Of Constraints ◽  
Management Literature ◽  
Critical Chain

Critical chain scheduling/Buffer management (CCS/BM)—the direct application of the theory of constraints (TOC) to project management—has received much attention in project management literature. There still is controversy over the merits and pitfalls of the CCS/BM methodology. This paper focuses on the fundamental elements of CCS/BM logic and pinpoints some intricacies that are not commonly referred to in the available literature. The authors’ analysis is based on a critical review of the relevant sources and experimentation with both commercial CCS/BM software and an internally developed CCS/BM-based tool.

scholarly journals A Critical Design Structure Method for Project Schedule Development under Rework Risks

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 7229
Author(s):  
Guofeng Ma ◽  
Jianyao Jia ◽  
Tiancheng Zhu ◽  
Shan Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Project Schedule ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Simulation Methodology ◽  
Schedule Management ◽  
Critical Design ◽  
Design Structure ◽  
Activity Sequence ◽  
Impact Area ◽  
Critical Chain

In order to overcome the difficulty in quantifying rework by traditional project schedule management tools, this study proposes an innovative method, namely improved Critical Chain Design Structure Matrix (ICCDSM). From the perspective of information flow, the authors firstly make assumptions on activity parameters and interactions between activities. After that, a genetic algorithm is employed to reorder the activity sequence, and a banding algorithm with consideration of resource constraints is used to identify concurrent activities. Then potential criticality is proposed to measure the importance of each activity, and the rework impact area is implicated to indicate potential rework windows. Next, two methods for calculating project buffer are employed. A simulation methodology is used to verify the proposed method. The simulation results illustrate that the ICCDSM method is capable of quantifying and visualizing rework and its impact, decreases iterations, and improves the completion probability. In this vein, this study provides a novel framework for rework management, which offers some insights for researchers and managers.

Offshore Platform Turn Around Using the Critical Chain Project Management Method (CCPM)

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Finocchio Junior ◽  
Marcelo Ramos Martins
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Critical Path ◽  
Theory Of Constraints ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Oil Platforms ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Critical Chain Project Management ◽  
Management Method ◽  
Critical Chain

The present study discusses the adequacy of the Critical Chain Project Management Method (CCPM) — also known as the Critical Chain Method — for scheduling projects involving shutdowns on oil platforms, as such projects involve decision-making processes under risk conditions. The CCPM is based on the Theory of Constraints and aims at providing more precise and more clearly focused control instruments than those traditionally used in the Critical Path Method (CPM). The CCPM also indicates the best moments to act and where and how the action should be directed. The hypothesis underlying the research is that the CCPM portrays, more adequately than the CPM, the uncertainty that exists in a platform shutdown. This characteristic also makes it possible to draw up a schedule that is both more realistic and more challenging, as it addresses the goal of causing less interruption of production. On the basis of this hypothesis, the two main questions that oriented the entire investigation were: 1) Is the CCPM suitable for scheduling the shutdown of an offshore oil platform and, 2) What advantages might it have over the traditional methods in use? To answer these questions the authors reviewed the existing bibliography on the topic and made direct on-site observations during an actual shutdown. In addition, interviews were held with a number of specialists in the area using qualitative approaches, namely, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and action research.

scholarly journals Theory of Constraints and Its Application in a Specific Company

2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 1343-1352
Author(s):  
Jakub Linhart ◽  
Jaromír Skorkovský
Keyword(s):  
Project Managers ◽  
Theory Of Constraints ◽  
First Year ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Delivery Time ◽  
Practical Utilization ◽  
Critical Chain Project Management ◽  
Project Data ◽  
Time Frames ◽  
Critical Chain

This article analyses the possibilities of the practical utilization of Critical Chain Project Management methodology. Our study analyzed key processes related to the implementation and utilization of such a tool in a concrete company. For this purpose an original program was created. The logic of this program is based on the fundamental principles of the CCPM methodology. The impetus for the design and creation of such a program stemmed from the almost non-existence of such a tool on the Czech market. The theoretical part of the article focuses concisely on the Theory of Constraints and Critical Chain principles, which the conceptual ideas of all algorithms included in the new program come from.The system was used for two years and it enabled the processing of requests significantly faster than before. The evaluation of economical and practical benefits based on real project data demonstrates that after implementation of the Appello system and corresponding rules of usage, project managers completed more tasks in the first year than in the previous two years in which the CCPM was not applied and nearly 85% of planned requests were either on time or delayed up to 30 days in comparison with the amount of work from the preceding two years.Currently, a significant number of project oriented companies are looking for competitive advantages which, allow for the mastering of the largest number of projects that have a delivery time specified within agreed time frames. The use of our system or similar ones designed according to CCMP rules fully ensures the fulfilment of such requirements.

scholarly journals A Novel Method of Developing Construction Projects Schedule under Rework Scenarios

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (20) ◽  
pp. 5710
Author(s):  
Guofeng Ma ◽  
Shan Jiang ◽  
Tiancheng Zhu ◽  
Jianyao Jia
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Real Estate Development ◽  
Design Structure Matrix ◽  
Project Duration ◽  
Project Completion ◽  
Design Structure ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Critical Chain

Construction projects have faced serious schedule delays caused by rework risks. However, it appears that traditional methods are of limited value in developing applicable project schedules. This study presents an analysis on construction projects schedule development under rework scenarios by a novel method named the improved critical chain design structure matrix (CCDSM). Research data are collected from a real estate development project in China. As a result, predictions of project completion duration and probability have been made. A reliable schedule considering information interactions has been developed and visualized. Rework impact areas of activities have been examined to quantitatively record the impact on project duration. To meet different demands, the method generates two more schedules setting different rework buffers. Furthermore, these activities have the potential of causing rework and have been quantified based on the calculation of two criticalities, providing an identification of rework-intensive works that should be payed close importance to, which have not be realized by previous methods. The results proved the feasibility and effectiveness of this method in developing a schedule for construction projects disturbed by rework, helping practitioners adopt measures to avoid rework-caused schedule delays and achieve sustainable development of such projects.

Linking the Critical Chain Project Management literature

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 423-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Octaviano Rojas Luiz ◽  
Fernando Bernardi de Souza ◽  
João Victor Rojas Luiz ◽  
Daniel Jugend
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Theory Of Constraints ◽  
Central Position ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Theme ◽  
Critical Chain Project Management ◽  
Three Stages ◽  
New Research ◽  
Critical Chain

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the state of the art in Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM), outlining the CCPM literature to date, in an effort to guide future studies.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on a bibliometric analysis using Scopus and Web of Science databases. The authors identified the principal journals, articles and authors regarding the research theme, as well as the authors elaborated co-citation and co-occurrence network maps to support the analysis.FindingsThe authors described five co-citation clusters: Fundamentals of Critical Chain, Scheduling, Operations Research, Multi-project and Network, and General Project Management. The most frequently occurring keywords were: “project management,” “critical chain,” “scheduling” and “theory of constraints.” Observing the distribution, the expression “project management” occupied a central position, connecting two other clusters, represented by the keywords “scheduling” and “critical chain.” The authors proposed an evolutive framework for the CCPM state of the art in three stages, according to the most frequent topics identified: Conceptual, Deepening of Applications and Methodological Maturity.Originality/valueThis research adopts a systematic approach based on bibliometric tools, which allows a more rigorous organization of the literature. Co-citation and keyword co-occurrence maps provide evidence of how the main themes in CCPM relate. Besides, the presented historical framework allows new research in CCPM to be directed to the most recent topics of interest that have gaps to be explored.

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