Operations Management homework help

Discussion Questions 2, 3, 5

Chapter 10: Additional Study Notes

(Excerpts from the original Pinto PowerPoint Presentations)

Gantt Charts 

• Establish a time-phased network
• Can be used as a tracking tool

Benefits of Gantt charts 

• Easy to create and comprehend
• Identify the schedule baseline network
• Allow for updating and control
• Identify resource needs

Crashing 

The process of accelerating a project

Principal methods for crashing 

• Improving existing resources’ productivity
• Changing work methods
• Increasing the quantity of resources

Managerial Considerations 

• Determine activity fixed and variable costs
• The crash point is the fully expedited activity
• Optimize time-cost tradeoffs
• Shorten activities on the critical path
• Cease crashing when – the target completion time is reached – the crashing cost exceeds the penalty cost

Controversies in the Use of Networks 

• Networks can be too complex
• Poor network construction creates problems v Networks may be used inappropriately
• When employing subcontractors
  • – The master network must be available to them
  • – All sub-networks must use common methods
• Positive bias exists in PERT networksChapter 10: Additional Study Notes

(Excerpts from the original Pinto PowerPoint Presentations)

Gantt Charts 

• Establish a time-phased network
• Can be used as a tracking tool

Benefits of Gantt charts 

• Easy to create and comprehend
• Identify the schedule baseline network
• Allow for updating and control
• Identify resource needs

Crashing 

The process of accelerating a project

Principal methods for crashing 

• Improving existing resources’ productivity
• Changing work methods
• Increasing the quantity of resources

Managerial Considerations 

• Determine activity fixed and variable costs
• The crash point is the fully expedited activity
• Optimize time-cost tradeoffs
• Shorten activities on the critical path
• Cease crashing when – the target completion time is reached – the crashing cost exceeds the penalty cost

Discussion Questions 2, 3, 5 (from the textbook)

Questions:

Question- The advantage of Gantt chart lies in their linkage through the project schedule baseline. Explain this concept.

Question – What are the advantages in the use of Ganett charts over PERT diagrams? In what ways might PERT diagrams be advantageous?

Question -Under what circumstances might you wish to crash a project?

 

Controversies in the Use of Networks 

• Networks can be too complex
• Poor network construction creates problems v Networks may be used inappropriately
• When employing subcontractors
  • – The master network must be available to them
  • – All sub-networks must use common methods
• Positive bias exists in PERT networks