Activity networks Example 3

The table below shows the tasks involved in a project, with their durations and immediate predecessors.
Task A Duration (days) 2 Immediate predecessors -

B
C D E F G

4
5 3 6 3 8

A, B B C C D

D, F

Draw an activity network and use it to find the critical activities and the minimum duration of the project.

Activity networks Example 3

A(2)
1

B(4)

Begin with a start node, labelled 1.

Activities A and B have no preceding activities, so can both begin at the start node.

Activity networks Example 3

A(2)
1

B(4) 2 Activity C depends on both A and B, but activity D depends on B only. We can deal with this by adding a dummy activity.

Activity networks Example 3

A(2)
1

B(4) 2

D(3)
Now add activity C, which depends on both A and B ... and activity D, which depends on B only.

Activity networks Example 3

A(2)
1

B(4) 2 5 G(8)

D(3)
Activities E and F depend on C only and activity G depends on D only.

Activity networks Example 3

A(2)
1

6
B(4) 2 5 G(8)

D(3)
Activity H depends on activities D and F. To deal with this, we need a dummy activity from event 5. Now activity H can be added.

Activity networks Example 3

A(2)
1

E(6)

6
B(4) G(8) 2 5 G(8)

D(3)
A finish node is now needed.

Activity networks Example 3

A(2)
1

E(6)
F(3) H(2)

6
B(4) G(8) 2 5

D(3) The next step is to find the early event times (EETs).

Activity networks Example 3

A(2)
1

E(6)
F(3) H(2)

6
0 B(4) G(8) 2 5

D(3) Event 1 occurs at time zero.

Activity networks Example 3

A(2)
1

E(6)
F(3) H(2)

6
0 B(4) G(8) 2 5

D(3)
4

Event 2 cannot occur until B has finished, so the earliest time for event 2 is 4.

Activity networks Example 3

C(5)
3 4

A(2)
1

E(6)
F(3) H(2)

6
0 B(4) G(8) 2 5

D(3)
4

Event 3 cannot occur until both A and B have finished, so the earliest time for event 3 is 4.

Activity networks Example 3

C(5)
3 4 F(3)

A(2)
1

E(6)

H(2)

6
0 B(4) G(8) 2 5

D(3)
4

Event 4 cannot occur until C has finished, so the earliest time for event 4 is 4 + 5 = 9.

Activity networks Example 3

C(5)
3 4 F(3)

A(2)
1

E(6)

H(2)

6
0 B(4) G(8) 2 5

D(3)
4 7

Event 5 cannot occur until D has finished, so the earliest time for event 5 is 4 + 3 = 7.

Activity networks Example 3

C(5)
3 4 F(3)

A(2)
1 0 B(4)

E(6)

H(2) 12

G(8) 2 5

D(3)
4 7

Event 6 cannot occur until both D and F have finished. The earliest time that D can finish is 7, and the earliest time that F can finish is 9 + 3 = 12, so the earliest time for event 6 is 12.

Activity networks Example 3

C(5)
3 4 F(3)

A(2)
1 0 B(4)

E(6)

H(2) 12

7
15 G(8)

D(3)
4 7

Event 7 cannot occur until E, G and H have all finished. The earliest time that E can finish is 9 + 6 = 15, the earliest time that G can finish is 7 + 8 = 15, and the earliest time that H can finish is 12 + 2 = 14, so the earliest time for event 7 is 15.

Activity networks Example 3

C(5)
3 4 F(3)

A(2)
1 0 B(4)

E(6)

H(2) 12

7
15 G(8)

D(3)
4 7

The next step is to find the late event times (LETs), working backwards through the network.

Activity networks Example 3

C(5)
3 4 F(3)

A(2)
1 0 B(4)

E(6)

H(2) 12

7
15 15 G(8)

D(3)
4 7

The latest time that event 7 can occur without delaying the project is 15.

Activity networks Example 3

C(5)
3 4 F(3)

A(2)
1 0 B(4)

E(6)

H(2) 12 13

7
15 15 G(8)

D(3)
4 7

The latest time that activity H can start is 13, so the latest time for event 6 is 13.

Activity networks Example 3

C(5)
3 4 F(3)

A(2)
1 0 B(4)

E(6)

H(2) 12 13

7
15 15 G(8)

D(3)
4 7 7

Activity G and a dummy activity both lead out of event 5. The latest time that activity G can start is 7, and the latest time that the dummy activity can start is 13, so the latest time for event 5 is 7.

Activity networks Example 3

C(5)
3 4 F(3)

A(2)
1 0 B(4)

E(6)

H(2) 12 13

7
15 15 G(8)

D(3)
4 7 7

Activities E and F both lead out of event 4. The latest time that activity E can start is 9, and the latest time that activity F can start is 9, so the latest time for event 4 is 9.

Activity networks Example 3

C(5)
3 4 F(3)

A(2)
1 0 B(4)

E(6)

H(2) 12 13

7
15 15 G(8)

D(3)
4 7 7

The latest time that activity C can start is 4, so the latest time for event 3 is 4.

Activity networks Example 3

C(5)
3 4 F(3)

A(2)
1 0 B(4)

E(6)

H(2) 12 13

7
15 15 G(8)

D(3)
4 4 7 7

Activity D and a dummy activity both lead out of event 2. The latest time that activity D can start is 6, and the latest time that the dummy activity can start is 4, so the latest time for event 2 is 4.

Activity networks Example 3

C(5)
3 4 F(3)

A(2)
1 0 0 B(4)

E(6)

H(2) 12 13

7
15 15 G(8)

D(3)
4 4 7 7

Finally, the latest time for event 1 is zero.

Activity networks Example 3

C(5)
3 4 F(3)

A(2)
1 0 0 B(4)

E(6)

H(2) 12 13

7
15 15 G(8)

D(3)
4 4 7 7 The float in this example is analysed in the Notes and Examples.

The minimum duration of the project is 15 days. The critical activities are B, C, D, E and G.
Notice that there are two critical paths: BCE and BDH.