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CPM Longest Path theory is broken under resource leveling - It's use should be banned for Delay Claims in construction jobs.

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Rafael Davila
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From: https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E17462_01/Web_Access/Help/en/Projects/Tasks/pm_cpm.htm

The longest path is broken when activities are no longer driven by relationships; that is, when activity dates are driven by constraints or resource leveling.

Most construction jobs have resource limitations, consumable resources limitations, contractual constraints and some have spatial resource constraints as well as financial constraints. Current Longest Path calculations do not take into consideration all these real constraints that can drive/delay your schedule and therefore not suitable under these circumstances.

http://www.mediafire.com/view/u16g8w3wy9o12dz/Bricks_Installation_Job.pdf

The above reference provides a short example of how lack of construction materials can delay a construction job. It is simple if there are not enough materials the activities are stopped and until there are enough materials to continue.

It is a job at Culebras Island, the deliveries are limited to space available on the Ferry, you got a preliminary schedule but it might be delayed, even if not delayed you still must plan for limited deliveries, you must level non-renewable resources.

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Rafael Davila
User offline. Last seen 1 day 11 hours ago. Offline
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Another scenario in which Longest Path Theory fails is when financial constraints drive your schedule.

"No ticky, no laundry"

Financial Constraints 2 photo FinancialConstraints2_zpsa8bqbl2g.jpg

Once again Longest Path Theory breaks down. An outdated theory good for the schedules of the 1960's. Of course schedules of the 1960's with no computer assisted resource leveling, otherwise we shall move back to the 1950's.

If it is so limited then why insist on it?  To make money on it?

Rafael Davila
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Can you tell me what activities are in the Longest Path?

  1. What happen if Activity D01 is deleted? What if only delayed?
  2. What happens if Activity D02 is deleted? What if only delayed?
  3. What happens if Activity 0202 is deleted? What if only delayed?

All these actions either will delay the schedule or worst make it unfeasible if a delivery activity is deleted and not enough bricks are delivered.

While these activities are not linked by logic they are resource dependencies that can change as the work progress and things do not happen as planned.

By making these outdated procedures mandatory the institutions that promote them are favoring a few software interests at the expense of ruling out more advanced models.

Rafael Davila
User offline. Last seen 1 day 11 hours ago. Offline
Joined: 1 Mar 2004
Posts: 5240

Culebras Island photo 946486_10151685146275196_170721582_n_zpscfgl1v3b.jpg

Rafael Davila
User offline. Last seen 1 day 11 hours ago. Offline
Joined: 1 Mar 2004
Posts: 5240
Spatial&Consumable photo SpatialampConsumable_zps6cf5gsbs.jpg