MODULE 5

Critical Path
Method
CEM302-CE31S1

By:
ROLLS GRANT VASQUEZ, CE
METHODS FOR NETWORK PLANNING
> CPM (Critical Path Method)
- deterministic
- has single time estimate

> PERT (Project Evaluation and Review Technic)

- probabilistic
- has three time estimates for activities and
uses probability
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CPM & PERT
CPM PERT
CPM WORKS WITH FIXED PERT WORKS WITH PROBABILISTIC
DETERMINISTIC TIME TIME
CPM IS USEFUL FOR REPETITIVE AND PERT IS USEFUL FOR NON REPETITIVE
NON COMPLEX PROJECTS WITH A AND COMPLEX PROJECTS WITH
CERTAIN DEGREE OF TIME UNCERTAIN TIME ESTIMATES
ESTIMATES
CPM INCLUDES TIME-COST TRADE PERT IS RESTRICTED TO TIME
OFF VARIABLE
USED FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS USED FOR R&D PROGRAMS
GUIDELINES FOR NETWORK DIAGRAM
1. Before an activity can begin, its preceding activities
must be completed.
2. Arrows indicate logical precedence.
3. Flow of the diagram is from left to right.
4. Each activity must be represented by only one
directed arc or arrow.
5. No two activities can begin and end on the same two
nodes.
6. There should be no loops in the network.
APPROACH FOR NETWORK DIAGRAM
• ACTIVITY ON ARROW (AOA)
- USES ARROWS TO REPRESENT ACTIVITIES AND NODES TO REPRESENT
EVENTS.
- EVENT ORIENTED
- APPROACH SOMETIMES REQUIRES THE ADDITION OF A DUMMY ACTIVITY
TO CLARIFY THE PRECEDENCE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TWO ACTIVITIES. IT
IS A ZERO TIME ACTIVITY AND CONSUMES NO RESOURCES.
APPROACH FOR NETWORK DIAGRAM
DUMMY ACTIVITY IS USED IN TWO SITUATIONS:
1. WHEN TWO OR MORE ACTIVITIES START AND END AT THE SAME NODES

A 1 B 3 D

C 2 DUMMY

2. WHEN TWO OR MORE ACTIVITIES SHARE THE SAME PRECEDENCE ACTIVITY

BUT NOT ALL THE PRECEDENCE ARE SHARED.

1 A 3 5
C E
DUMMY 7
2 B 4 D 6 F
APPROACH FOR NETWORK DIAGRAM
• ACTIVITY ON NODE (AON)
- USES NODES TO REPRESENT ACTIVITIES AND ARROWS INDICATE
PRECEDENCE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THEM.
- ACTIVITY ORIENTED.
SOME CONVENTIONS OF NETWORK DIAGRAM
(AOA) 1
A 2
B 3
C 4

OR
(AON) A B C
Activity B can be performed only after completing activity
A, and activity C can be performed only after completing
activity B.
SOME CONVENTIONS OF NETWORK DIAGRAM
(AOA) (AON)

A B B
1 2 OR A
C C
Activity B and C can start simultaneously only after
completing A.
SOME CONVENTIONS OF NETWORK DIAGRAM
(AOA) (AON)

1 A A
3 4 OR C
B C
2 B

Activities A and B must be completed before start of

activity C.
SOME CONVENTIONS OF NETWORK DIAGRAM
(AOA) (AON)

1
A 4 C A C
5 OR
2 3 D B D
B

Activities C must start only after completing activities A

and B. Activity D can start after completion of activity B.
ESTIMATING TIME OF COMPLETION
TIME ESTIMATES INCLUDE:
1. TOTAL TIME FOR COMPLETION

2. ES (EARLIEST START TIME) – THE EARLIEST TIME AT WHICH THE

ACTIVITY CAN START GIVEN THAT ITS PRECEDENT ACTIVITIES MUST BE
COMPLIED FIRST.

3. EF (EARLIEST FINISH TIME) – EQUALS TO THE EARLIEST START TIME

FOR THE ACTIVITY PLUS THE TIME REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE ACTIVITY.

4. LF (LATEST FINISH TIME) – THE LATEST TIME IN WHICH THE ACTIVITY

CAN BE COMPLETED WITHOUT DELAYING THE PROJECT.
ESTIMATING TIME OF COMPLETION
5. LS (LATEST START TIME) – EQUAL TO THE LATEST FINISH TIME MINUS
THE TIME REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE ACTIVITY.

6. FORWARD PASS – THE EARLY START AND FINISH TIMES ARE

CALCULATED BY MOVING THROUGH THE NETWORK AND CONSIDERS THE
PREDECESSOR ACTIVITIES.
– CONSIDERS MAXIMUM.

7. BACKWARD PASS – THE LATEST START AND FINISH TIMES ARE

CALCULATED BY MOVING BACKWARD THROUGH THE NETWORK.
– CONSIDERS MINIMUM.

8. SLACK TIME – THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ITS EARLIEST AND LATEST START
TIME OR BETWEEN THE EARLIEST AND LATEST FINISH TIME. CRITICAL PATH IS
THE PATH OF ACTIVITIES HAVING ZERO SLACK TIME.
CRITICAL PATH METHOD (CPM)
HISTORY
- DEVELOPED BY J.E. KELLY OF REMINGTON-RAND AND M.R. WALKER OF
DU PONT AND THE EMPHASIS WAS ON THE TRADE-OFF BETWEEN THE COST OF
PROJECT AND ITS OVERALL COMPLETION TIME. THE FIRST TEST WAS MADE IN
1958, WHEN CPM WAS APPLIED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW CHEMICAL
PLANT.

DEFINITION
- CRITICAL PATH IS THE SEQUENCE OF ACTIVITIES BETWEEN A PROJECT’S
START AND FINISH THAT TAKES THE LONGEST TIME TO COMPLETE.
STEPS IN DETERMINING CRITICAL PATH
- SPECIFY THE INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIES.

- DETERMINE THE SEQUENCE OF THE ACTIVITIES.

- DRAW THE NETWORK DIAGRAM.

- ESTIMATE THE ACTIVITY COMPLETION TIME.

- IDENTIFY THE CRITICAL PATH.

- UPDATE THE CPM DIAGRAM.

EXAMPLE
ACTIVITY PRECEDENCE NORMAL TIME NORMAL COST
A - 3 300
B A 3 30
C A 7 420
D A 9 720
E B 5 250
F C, D, E 6 320
G F 4 400
H F 13 780
I G 10 1000
TOTAL 4220
EXAMPLE
ACTIVITY PRECEDENCE

A -
B A
B E G I
C A
D A
E B
START
A C F FINISH

F C, D, E
G F D H
H F
I G

AON
EXAMPLE
ACTIVITY PRECEDENCE

A -
B A
B E G I
C A
D A
E B
START
A C F FINISH

F C, D, E
G F D H
H F
I G

AON
EXAMPLE
ACTIVITY PRECEDENCE

A -
B A
B E G I
C A
D A
E B
START
A C F FINISH

F C, D, E
G F D H
H F
I G

AON
EXAMPLE
ACTIVITY PRECEDENCE

A -
B A
B E G I
C A
D A
E B
START
A C F FINISH

F C, D, E
G F D H
H F
I G

AON
EXAMPLE
ACTIVITY PRECEDENCE

A -
B A
B E G I
C A
D A
E B
START
A C F FINISH

F C, D, E
G F D H
H F
I G

AON
EXAMPLE
ACTIVITY PRECEDENCE

A -
B A
B E G I
C A
D A
E B
START
A C F FINISH

F C, D, E
G F D H
H F
I G

AON
EXAMPLE
ACTIVITY PRECEDENCE

A -
B A
B E G I
C A
D A
E B
START
A C F FINISH

F C, D, E
G F D H
H F
I G

AON
EXAMPLE

A ES EF
A t LS LF

Activity Time

AON
EXAMPLE

Earliest Start

A ES EF
A t LS LF

AON
EXAMPLE

Earliest Finish

A ES EF
A t LS LF

AON
EXAMPLE

A ES EF
A t LS LF
Late Start

AON
EXAMPLE

A ES EF
A t LS LF
Late Finish

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B ES EF E ES EF G ES EF I ES EF
B 3 3 LS LF 5 LS LF 4 LS LF 10 LS LF
C 7
D 9 A ES EF C ES EF F ES EF
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 LS LF 6 LS LF
F 6
G 4 D ES EF H ES EF
H 13 9 LS LF 13 LS LF
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B ES EF E ES EF G ES EF I ES EF
B 3 3 LS LF 5 LS LF 4 LS LF 10 LS LF
C 7
D 9 A 0 EF C ES EF F ES EF
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 LS LF 6 LS LF
F 6
G 4 D ES EF H ES EF
H 13 9 LS LF 13 LS LF
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B ES EF E ES EF G ES EF I ES EF
B 3 3 LS LF 5 LS LF 4 LS LF 10 LS LF
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C ES EF F ES EF
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 LS LF 6 LS LF
F 6
G 4 D ES EF H ES EF
H 13 9 LS LF 13 LS LF
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 EF E ES EF G ES EF I ES EF
B 3 3 LS LF 5 LS LF 4 LS LF 10 LS LF
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 EF F ES EF
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 LS LF 6 LS LF
F 6
G 4 D 3 EF H ES EF
H 13 9 LS LF 13 LS LF
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E ES EF G ES EF I ES EF
B 3 3 LS LF 5 LS LF 4 LS LF 10 LS LF
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F ES EF
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 LS LF 6 LS LF
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H ES EF
H 13 9 LS LF 13 LS LF
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E 6 EF G ES EF I ES EF
B 3 3 LS LF 5 LS LF 4 LS LF 10 LS LF
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F ES EF
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 LS LF 6 LS LF
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H ES EF
H 13 9 LS LF 13 LS LF
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G ES EF I ES EF
B 3 3 LS LF 5 LS LF 4 LS LF 10 LS LF
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F ES EF
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 LS LF 6 LS LF
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H ES EF
H 13 9 LS LF 13 LS LF
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G ES EF I ES EF
B 3 3 LS LF 5 LS LF 4 LS LF 10 LS LF
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F 12 EF
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 LS LF 6 LS LF
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H ES EF
H 13 9 LS LF 13 LS LF
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G ES EF I ES EF
B 3 3 LS LF 5 LS LF 4 LS LF 10 LS LF
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F 12 18
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 LS LF 6 LS LF
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H ES EF
H 13 9 LS LF 13 LS LF
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G 18 EF I ES EF
B 3 3 LS LF 5 LS LF 4 LS LF 10 LS LF
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F 12 18
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 LS LF 6 LS LF
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H 18 EF
H 13 9 LS LF 13 LS LF
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G 18 22 I ES EF
B 3 3 LS LF 5 LS LF 4 LS LF 10 LS LF
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F 12 18
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 LS LF 6 LS LF
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H 18 31
H 13 9 LS LF 13 LS LF
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G 18 22 I 22 EF
B 3 3 LS LF 5 LS LF 4 LS LF 10 LS LF
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F 12 18
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 LS LF 6 LS LF
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H 18 31
H 13 9 LS LF 13 LS LF
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G 18 22 I 22 32
B 3 3 LS LF 5 LS LF 4 LS LF 10 LS LF
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F 12 18
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 LS LF 6 LS LF
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H 18 31
H 13 9 LS LF 13 LS LF
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G 18 22 I 22 32
B 3 3 LS LF 5 LS LF 4 LS LF 10 LS 32
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F 12 18
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 LS LF 6 LS LF
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H 18 31
H 13 9 LS LF 13 LS 32
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G 18 22 I 22 32
B 3 3 LS LF 5 LS LF 4 LS LF 10 22 32
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F 12 18
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 LS LF 6 LS LF
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H 18 31
H 13 9 LS LF 13 19 32
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G 18 22 I 22 32
B 3 3 LS LF 5 LS LF 4 LS 22 10 22 32
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F 12 18
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 LS LF 6 LS LF
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H 18 31
H 13 9 LS LF 13 19 32
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G 18 22 I 22 32
B 3 3 LS LF 5 LS LF 4 18 22 10 22 32
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F 12 18
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 LS LF 6 LS LF
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H 18 31
H 13 9 LS LF 13 19 32
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G 18 22 I 22 32
B 3 3 LS LF 5 LS LF 4 18 22 10 22 32
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F 12 18
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 LS LF 6 LS 18
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H 18 31
H 13 9 LS LF 13 19 32
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G 18 22 I 22 32
B 3 3 LS LF 5 LS LF 4 18 22 10 22 32
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F 12 18
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 LS LF 6 12 18
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H 18 31
H 13 9 LS LF 13 19 32
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G 18 22 I 22 32
B 3 3 LS LF 5 LS 12 4 18 22 10 22 32
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F 12 18
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 LS 12 6 12 18
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H 18 31
H 13 9 LS 12 13 19 32
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G 18 22 I 22 32
B 3 3 LS LF 5 7 12 4 18 22 10 22 32
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F 12 18
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 5 12 6 12 18
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H 18 31
H 13 9 3 12 13 19 32
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G 18 22 I 22 32
B 3 3 LS 7 5 7 12 4 18 22 10 22 32
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F 12 18
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 5 12 6 12 18
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H 18 31
H 13 9 3 12 13 19 32
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G 18 22 I 22 32
B 3 3 4 7 5 7 12 4 18 22 10 22 32
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F 12 18
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS LF 7 5 12 6 12 18
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H 18 31
H 13 9 3 12 13 19 32
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G 18 22 I 22 32
B 3 3 4 7 5 7 12 4 18 22 10 22 32
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F 12 18
START FINISH
E 5 3 LS 3 7 5 12 6 12 18
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H 18 31
H 13 9 3 12 13 19 32
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME

A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G 18 22 I 22 32
B 3 3 4 7 5 7 12 4 18 22 10 22 32
C 7
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F 12 18
START FINISH
E 5 3 0 3 7 5 12 6 12 18
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H 18 31
H 13 9 3 12 13 19 32
I 10

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME
ST = 1 ST = 1 ST = 0 ST = 0
A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G 18 22 I 22 32
B 3 3 4 7 5 7 12 4 18 22 10 22 32
C 7 ST = 2
ST = 0
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F 12 18
E 5
START ST = 0 FINISH
3 0 3 7 5 12 6 12 18
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H 18 31
H 13 9 3 12 13 19 32
I 10 ST = 0 ST = 1

AON
EXAMPLE
NORMAL
ACTIVITY
TIME
ST = 1 ST = 1 ST = 0 ST = 0
A 3 B 3 6 E 6 11 G 18 22 I 22 32
B 3 3 4 7 5 7 12 4 18 22 10 22 32
C 7 ST = 2
ST = 0
D 9 A 0 3 C 3 10 F 12 18
E 5
START ST = 0 FINISH
3 0 3 7 5 12 6 12 18
F 6
G 4 D 3 12 H 18 31
H 13 9 3 12 13 19 32
I 10 ST = 0 ST = 1

CRITICAL PATH: A – D – F – G – I
AON
EXAMPLE
4 7
ACTIVITY
NORMAL C 3 10 ST = 0
TIME

A 3 7 5 12 G 18 22

B 3 4 18 22
ST = 0 ST = 0 ST = 0
C 7 A 0 3 D 3 12 F 12 18 ST = 0
D 9 3 0 3 9 3 12 6 12 18 I 22 32
E 5 1 2 5 6 10 22 32
F 6
H 18 31
G 4
B 3 6 E 6 11 13 19 32
H 13
I 10 3 4 7 5 7 12

3 8
AOA
EXAMPLE
ACTIVITY PRECEDENCE

A -
B A 4 7
C A C-7 G-4
D A A-3 D-9 F-6
E B 1 2 5 6 I - 10
F C, D, E
B-3 E-5 H - 13
G F
3 8
H F
I G

AOA
EXAMPLE
ACTIVITY PRECEDENCE

A -
B A 4 7
C A C-7 G-4
D A A-3 D-9 F-6
E B 1 2 5 6 I - 10
F C, D, E
B-3 E-5 H - 13
G F
3 8
H F
I G

AOA
EXAMPLE
ACTIVITY PRECEDENCE

A -
B A 4 7
C A C-7 G-4
D A A-3 D-9 F-6
E B 1 2 5 6 I - 10
F C, D, E
B-3 E-5 H - 13
G F
3 8
H F
I G

AOA
EXAMPLE
ACTIVITY PRECEDENCE

A -
B A 4 7
C A C-7 G-4
D A A-3 D-9 F-6
E B 1 2 5 6 I - 10
F C, D, E
B-3 E-5 H - 13
G F
3 8
H F
I G

AOA
EXAMPLE
ACTIVITY PRECEDENCE

A -
B A 4 7
C A C-7 G-4
D A A-3 D-9 F-6
E B 1 2 5 6 I - 10
F C, D, E
B-3 E-5 H - 13
G F
3 8
H F
I G

AOA
EXAMPLE
ACTIVITY PRECEDENCE

A -
B A 4 7
C A C-7 G-4
D A A-3 D-9 F-6
E B 1 2 5 6 I - 10
F C, D, E
B-3 E-5 H - 13
G F
3 8
H F
I G

AOA
ACTIVITY DURATION ES EF LS LF
A 3 0 3 0 3
B 3 3 6 4 7
C 7 3 10 5 12
D 9 3 12 3 12
E 5 6 11 7 12
F 6 12 18 12 18
G 4 18 22 18 22
H 13 18 31 19 32
I 10 22 32 22 32

CRITICAL PATH: A-D-F-G-I (32 DAYS)

END OF MODULE