PROJECT MANAGEMENT & ECONOMICS

SESSIONS 24 & 25 Resource Aggregation and Levelling

RESOURCE SCHEDULING
One of the most important uses of the technique.
The programme itself is used for forecasting the resources required to undertake the works, or to help to find the minimum resources required to complete the project. CPM offers the facility, when computerised to analyse the effects of alternative allocations at high speed.
DR ASSEM AL-HAJJ, Univation, RGU Project Management and Economics. SITP-SPDC, NIGERIA

RESOURCE AGGREGATION
Resource aggregation is a summation on a time-period basis, in the form of a bar chart, of the resources which are used in order to carry out the programme. The quantity of a resource required in each time unit is written above each bar, and the results aggregated at the foot of the chart. The chart takes the form of a histogram. Resource aggregation can be obtained for the total labour force or for any particular trade (carpenters, steel fixers, ..). Also used for plant and material allocation required to complete each activity.
DR ASSEM AL-HAJJ, Univation, RGU Project Management and Economics. SITP-SPDC, NIGERIA

RESOURCE LEVELLING
Histograms obtained from the resource aggregation process may highlight unacceptable discontinuities and undesirable peaks. Could provide a guide into rearranging certain activities so that time can be saved to complete them. Usually faced with two problems:
Time-limited: minimise the peak resource requirement Resource limited: resources availability is fixed, and the objective is to complete activities in earliest and minimum time.

Resource levelling or smoothing should continue until we get the best acceptable histogram of resources.
DR ASSEM AL-HAJJ, Univation, RGU Project Management and Economics. SITP-SPDC, NIGERIA

AN EXAMPLE
Activity Dependencies Duration Resource in days s

A B C D E F G H J

B A A,D B,C B,C E,F,G

2 6 3 1 4 3 4 13 8

2L 1S,3L 1S,1L 1L 1S,2L 1S,1L 1S,2L 2S,6L 2S,4L

DR ASSEM AL-HAJJ, Univation, RGU Project Management and Economics. SITP-SPDC, NIGERIA

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

FLOAT

A B

2L
1S 3L

2L
1S 3L 1S 3L 1S 3L 1S 3L 1S 3L FLOAT

1S 1L

1S 1L

1S 1L

FLOAT

D
E
1S 2L 1S 2L 1S 2L

1L
FLOAT 1S 2L

FLOAT 1S 1L 1S 1L 1S 1L FLOAT

F
G H
1S 2L

1S 2L

1S 2L

1S 2L

2S 6L

2S 6L

2S 6L

2S 6L

2S 6L

2S 6L

2S 6L

2S 6L

2S 6L

2S 6L

2S 6L

2S 6L

2S 6L FLOAT

2S 4L

2S 4L

2S 4L

2S 4L

2S 4L

2S 4L

2S 4L

2S 4L

0
A B
2L
1S 3L

1
2L
1S 3L

5
FLOAT

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

1S 3L

1S 3L

1S 3L

1S 3L FLOAT

1S 1L

1S 1L

1S 1L

FLOAT

D E
1S 2L 1S 2L 1S 2L

1L
FLOAT 1S 2L

FLOAT 1S 1L 1S 1L 1S 1L FLOAT

F G H
1S 2L 2S 6L

1S 2L 2S 6L

1S 2L 2S 6L

1S 2L 2S 6L 2S 6L 2S 6L 2S 4L 2S 6L 2S 4L 2S 6L 2S 4L 2S 6L 2S 4L 2S 6L 2S 4L 2S 6L 2S 4L 2S 6L 2S 4L 2S 6L FLOAT

2S 4L

SKILLED

LABORER

The Garage Project

A small firm of builders has been commissioned to erect a detached garage. The building is to be constructed of brick, with a corrugated sheet roof. This roof will incorporate some transparent sheets as roof lights instead of windows. The doors are to be timber framed and hung on strap hinges. No heavy lifting is involved in this project and no activity needs more than two people. The following activities have been identified in the project

DR ASSEM AL-HAJJ, Univation, RGU Project Management and Economics. SITP-SPDC, NIGERIA

Description of activity

Dependencies

Duration

Resource

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

Dig foundation Concrete foundation Make and prime door frame Position door frame Lay bricks Fit rolled steel joists for lintel Cut roof timber Case lintel and build parapets Fit roof timbers Fit fascia boards Fit roof sheets Dig soakaway and drain trench Lay rubble and drain Fill in draintrench Make good concrete over trench Lay floor base Lay floor screed Make doors Prime doors Hang doors Paint Fit gutters and downpipes Seal roof

A C B,D E G F,G I I L M N B,D P R E,Q,S T,V J,M H,K

4 2 1 0.5 10 1 0.5 2 2 1 1 2 1 0.5 1 2 1 3 0.5 1 3 1 2

1L 1L 1S 1S 1S,1L 1S,1L 1S 1S,1L 1S,1L 1S 1S 1L 1S,1L 1L 1L 1L 1S 1S 1S 1S,1L 1S 1S 1S

PRECEDENCE DIAGRAM

E F

DUMMY

G
C H

ES LS

DURATION

EF LF

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION
DR ASSEM AL-HAJJ, Univation, RGU Project Management and Economics. SITP-SPDC, NIGERIA FLOAT