Example Application of the Critical Path Method

You are using the CPM to, first, determine the minimum elapsed time in which this project can be completed and, second, to identify the critical path (CP). With respect to the first purpose, the minimum time period in which the project can be completed, you should recognize that the initial result may not be acceptable to you, as a service provider, and/or to your client, owner, or customer in that you or they may want the project finished sooner. If that is the case, the CPM can be used to make adjustments so that the project can be completed earlier. More about that later. 

The CP included in the second purpose is that sequence of tasks that must not be delayed if the project is to be completed in the minimal amount of time. All tasks 

The following nomenclature is used so that we can begin Step 5, the last step, in the five-step CPM process  

Consider the above definition of EST for a task. Let s say that the EST for a particular task is the end of week six. Now note the above definition of EFT for a task and the equation that relates EFT to EST. Back to that task with an EST at the end of week six. If its duration is two weeks, then the EFT of that task is six weeks plus two weeks or the end of the eighth week. Now let s apply these definitions to the example network. 

The forward pass yields Earliest Start Times and Earliest Finish Times for each 

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Figure 6.4 Network diagram used for the example application of the Critical Path Method.

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