Abstract:
This research proposed an application of the critical path method (CPM) for planning
and controlling a short term duration project. The main objective of this research aimed to
generate a working plan to meet the customer due date. The project used in this research is a
production line installation in a manufacturing plant. The project required an installation of 94
machines into 8 production lines. The duration of stopping production identified by customer was
no more than 20 days. The main activities of the installation project during this period included
demolishing the current production lines, adjusting the plant layout, and installing the new
production lines. An implementation of basic CPM revealed that the main activities needed 29
days which exceeded the due date. This research proposed an expedite method called a work
force based overlap activities method to make the project accomplished more quickly and trade
off with higher labor cost. The results revealed that the new production line was ready to operate
after 18 days of stopping production. By using the proposed expedite method, the installation
company had 48,000 bath higher labor cost. However, the incremental labor cost was less than the
penalty cost if finishing the project later than the due date. Moreover, the proposed expedite
method raised the image and reliance of the installation company in the customer point of view.