Primavera -Basics

Aim

•To familiarize with Primavera Software, a well known project planning and scheduling and monitoring tool.

Basic ConceptsWhat is a Project ???

• A project is a set of activities and their associated information that constitutes a plan for creating a product or service.

• A project has a start date and finish date, WBS, resource assignments and expenses. It can also include risks, work documents and project-specific codes and calendars.

Basic Terminologies

Activity:Activities represent work to be done in order to complete a project.

OD (Original Duration) and RD (Remaining Duration):

The estimated time required to complete an activity iscalled OD. The amount of time left to complete anactivity after it has started is known as RD (RemainingDuration).

Predecessor:The activity that effects start or finish dates ofother activities (successor activities).

Predecessor

Successor

Basic Terminologies

Successor:The activity for which start or finish dates are

dependent on other activities (predecessor activities).

Predecessor

Successor

Basic Terminologies

Relationship: Any sort of connection between two activities is known as relationship. Generally there are four types of relationships:

SS (Start to Start) FS (Finish to Start) FF (Finish to Finish) SF (Start to Finish)

Basic Terminologies

Lag : Lag staggers or delays the relationship of one activity

(predecessor) to another (successor).

Basic Terminologies

SS – Relationship between activities in which the start of a successor activity depends on the start of its

predecessor.

Start-to-start

Start-to-start with lag

Predecessor

Successor

Predecessor

SuccessorB

A

B

A

Lag

Basic Terminologies

FS – Relationship in which the start of successor activity depends on the completion of its predecessor

activity.

Predecessor

Successor

Predecessor

Successor

B

A

B

A

Finish-to-start with lag

Finish-to-start

Basic Terminologies

FF – Relationship in which the finish of successor activity depends on the finish of its predecessor activity.

Predecessor

Successor

Predecessor

SuccessorB

A

B

A

Finish-to-Finish with lag

Finish-to-Finish

Lag

Basic Terminologies

SF – Relationship in which the finish of successor activity depends on the start of its predecessor activity.

Predecessor

SuccessorB

A

Start-to-Finish with lag

Start-to-Finish

Predecessor

SuccessorB

A

Lag

Basic Terminologies

ES (Early Start) and EF (Early Finish) dates:

Earliest possible date by which an activity can be started / finished.

LS (Late Start) and LF (Late Finish) dates: Latest possible date by which an activity can be started /

finished.

Basic Terminologies

AS (Actual Start) and AF (Actual Finish) dates:

Actual Start and Actual Finish dates are the dates on which an activity has actually started and finished.

Basic Terminologies

TF (Total Float):Duration, measured in planning units, the activity can be delayed without affecting the project finish date.

Negative or zero Total Float indicates that timely completion of the activity is critical to the completion of the project. Such activities are called Critical Activities.

FF (Free Float):The amount of time, measured in planning units, the early start of an activity can be delayed without delaying early start of a successor activity. Such activities are called Non-critical Activities.

Basic Terminologies

Constraints:Constraints are ground realities that over-rule the logical start and finish time of the activity.

For example: A certain piece of equipment will be received on, say, 25th of March. That equipment’s erection activity cannot be started before 26th of March irrespective of the fact that the foundation will be ready by 15th of March.

So we will simply put a constraint to this activity that it cannot start before 26th of March. Similarly concreting work cannot be easily done in winter months in regions where temperature goes below freezing during winter.

Basic Terminologies

Various types of constraints can be used but most commonly used are as follows:

▫Start No Earlier Than - This type of constraint is applied to restrict that activity to start before a certain date▫Start No Later Than - This type of constraint is applied to restrict that activity from starting beyond a certain date▫Finish No Earlier Than - This type of constraint is applied to restrict

that activity to finish before a certain date.▫Finish No Later Than - This type of constraint is applied to restrict

that activity to finish beyond a certain date.▫Start On - To impose a compulsory start date to that activity.▫Finish On - To impose a compulsory finish to that activity.

Basic Terminologies

Critical Activity: An activity that has potential of delaying a project is called a critical

activity. Such activities possess total float equal to zero or even less.

Critical Path: Chain of critical activities that has potential of delaying a project is called Critical Path.

Critical Path Method (CPM): A network analysis technique used to predict project duration, by

analyzing which sequence of activities (which path) has the least amount of scheduling flexibility (the least amount of float).

Basic Terminologies

Critical Path

Predecessor

Successor

Predecessor

A

C

ES = 1 EF = 10

OD = 10

FS Lag = 0 ES=15 OD=6 EF=20

FS Lag=0

ES=1 OD=14 EF=14

B

Activity B and C are on critical path because :

1. These are forming the longest chain (14 days + 6 days = 20 days)

2. Any delay in any of the activity on critical path will cause a delay of the whole project

Basic Terminologies

Scheduling:The process of calculating start and end dates of the activities. This process is carried out in two passes i.e. Forward Pass & Backward Pass.

Forward Pass:The process of calculating start and finish dates of each activity starting from the project start date.This process generates early start and early finishdates for each activity.

Basic Terminologies

Backward Pass:The process of calculating finish and start dates of each activity starting from the project finish date.This process generates Late Start and Late Finishdates for each activity.

Data Date:The point in time that separates actual (Historical) data from future (Scheduled) data.

Basic Terminologies

Man-Hours: It is yardstick for measurement of effort. For example, 4

Man-Hour will mean any of the following:▫1 man working for 4 hours▫2 men working for 2 hours▫4 men working for 1 hour

Standard Man-Hours: Estimated effort per unit required to perform a job in terms

of man-hours.

Basic Terminologies

Budgeted Cost: Total estimated cost approved for execution of a project.

Cost at Completion: The expected total cost at completion of an activity or a

project. Cost at completion is estimated periodically during course

of project execution.

Basic Terminologies

Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT):

An event oriented network analysis technique used to estimate project duration when there is a higher degree of uncertainty with the individual activity duration estimates. PERT applies the Critical Path Method (CPM) to a weighted average duration estimates.

Gantt Chart: A graphic display of schedule-related information listing project

elements on left side of the chart, dates across the top and activity durations are shown as date-placed horizontal bars. It is also known

as Bar Chart.

Basic Terminologies

PERT

GANTT

Resource:

▫Anything that is required to perform an activity is called a resource

▫Resources can be Manpower, Equipment and Materials

Basic Terminologies

Resource Allocation & Leveling

Resources required may include:

ManpowerTools & Plants

Direct materialsConsumables

Special jigs & fixtures

Resource requirement should be a smooth curve i.e. ; gradual increase till it reaches its peak, maintains peak for required period and then gradually decrease till project is completed.

Resource Leveling is done in P3.

Resource Allocation & Leveling

Work Breakdown Structure

Breaking down a long and complex project into work packages of smaller duration and complexity.

A properly planned WBS delivers the following benefits:▫The project can be planned systematically▫Resources can be effectively scheduled ▫Work teams can be assigned responsibilities▫Costs and budget elements can be compared

Work Breakdown Structure

1. Project

1.1 Construction

1.1.1 Discipline

1.1.1.1 Zone/Area

1.1.1.1.1  Cost Center/Activity

Organization Breakdown Structure

Represents a project organization structure that matches with WBS.

Facilitates better control through mini projects within large and complicated projects.

Defines responsibility for each level of WBS.

Organization Breakdown Structure

PROJECT/SITE MANAGER

AREA I/C

Engr. Civil

Engr. Piping (

Engr. Equip.

AREA I/C #1

Engr. Civil (area #1)

Engr. Piping

Engr. Equip.

Engr. Piping

Engr. Equip.

AREA I/C #2

Engr. Civil Const. Mngr. - Civil

Const. Mngr.- Mech.

Const. Mngr.- Elec.