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How CPM Works in Primavera

The Critical Path Method (CPM) is a project scheduling technique used in Primavera to determine the critical activities and shortest project duration. In Primavera, activities are defined, sequenced based on dependencies, and assigned durations to create a network diagram showing the critical path. Primavera then performs calculations to identify the critical path consisting of activities with no slack that must finish on schedule for the project to finish on time.

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Umar Farooq
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39 views2 pages

How CPM Works in Primavera

The Critical Path Method (CPM) is a project scheduling technique used in Primavera to determine the critical activities and shortest project duration. In Primavera, activities are defined, sequenced based on dependencies, and assigned durations to create a network diagram showing the critical path. Primavera then performs calculations to identify the critical path consisting of activities with no slack that must finish on schedule for the project to finish on time.

Uploaded by

Umar Farooq
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Critical Path Method (CPM) is a project scheduling technique that helps in determining the most

critical activities and the shortest duration required to complete a project. It identifies the sequence of
activities that, if delayed, would directly impact the project's overall duration.

Here's how CPM works in Primavera:

1. Activity Definition: In Primavera, you define the project activities by providing a name, duration,
resource requirements, and any dependencies on other activities. Each activity represents a specific task
or work package in the project.

2. Activity Sequencing: After defining the activities, you establish the relationships or dependencies
between them. Primavera allows you to specify different types of relationships, such as finish-to-start
(FS), start-to-start (SS), finish-to-finish (FF), and start-to-finish (SF). These relationships determine the
logical order in which activities should be executed.

3. Network Diagram: Primavera represents the project schedule as a network diagram or a Precedence
Diagram Method (PDM) chart. The network diagram visually displays the activities and their
relationships using arrows or lines. It helps in understanding the flow of activities and identifying the
critical path.

4. Duration Estimation: Primavera allows you to assign durations to each activity based on your
estimates or historical data. The duration represents the time required to complete an activity,
considering the availability of resources and any constraints.

5. Forward and Backward Pass: Once the activities and their durations are defined, Primavera performs a
forward and backward pass analysis to calculate the early start, early finish, late start, and late finish
dates for each activity. The forward pass starts from the project start date, while the backward pass
starts from the project end date.

6. Critical Path Identification: The critical path is determined by identifying the sequence of activities
with zero slack or float. Slack or float represents the amount of time an activity can be delayed without
impacting the project's overall duration. Activities on the critical path have no slack and must be
completed on time to avoid project delays.
7. Schedule Analysis and Optimization: Once the critical path is identified, Primavera provides various
tools to analyze and optimize the schedule. You can perform "what-if" analysis, adjust activity durations,
add or remove dependencies, allocate resources, or apply schedule compression techniques to ensure
that the project stays on track.

By using CPM in Primavera, project managers can effectively plan and manage project schedules,
identify potential bottlenecks or delays, allocate resources efficiently, and make informed decisions to
meet project deadlines. It provides a visual representation of the project's critical path, allowing project
teams to focus on activities that are most crucial for project success.

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