Reducing Overtime through Efficient Management of Laborers

L7 Q’s

1. Technical Constrained Scheduling:

Technical constrained scheduling refers to situations where the order of tasks is determined by technical limitations. It helps make it so that tasks follow a specific sequence due to dependencies between them, rather than resource availability (Gido et al., 2017).

Example 1: The predecessor activity installing electrical wiring must occur before the successor activity installing drywall because the wiring must be completed and inspected before the walls are sealed. This makes it so that any necessary modifications to the wiring can be made without damaging the drywall, which is a technical requirement.

· Predecessor: Installing electrical wiring in a building.

· Successor: Installing drywall.

· Reason: The electrical wiring must be installed and inspected before the drywall can be placed over it. The technical constraint here is that covering the walls without wiring inspection would prevent access to the wiring for potential adjustments.

Example 2: The predecessor activity software code implementation must occur before the successor activity code testing because the system must be built and fully implemented before it can be tested for functionality and bugs. This technical constraint guarantees that only the final version of the code is tested to provide accurate results.

· Predecessor: Software code implementation.

· Successor: Code testing.

· Reason: The code must be implemented before it can be tested for bugs. Technically, testing before the code is complete would yield inaccurate results, making this sequence necessary.

Example 3: The predecessor activity pouring concrete for building foundations must occur before the successor activity erecting structural steel because the concrete needs time to cure and set properly. Erecting steel before the concrete is fully set would compromise the stability and safety of the structure, making this a necessary technical scheduling constraint.

· Predecessor: Pouring concrete for building foundations.

· Successor: Erecting structural steel.

· Reason: The concrete foundation must set and cure before any structural work can proceed. The technical constraint is that premature structural work would compromise the building’s integrity.

2. Resource Constrained Scheduling:

Resource constrained scheduling focuses on the allocation of limited resources (such as labor, equipment, or facilities) so that tasks are scheduled in a way that respects these limitations. This approach affects the sequence of tasks when resources are unavailable at certain times (Gido et al., 2017).

Example 1 (Human Resource): The predecessor activity installing HVAC units must occur before the successor activity testing the HVAC system because the number of skilled HVAC installers is limited. Once they finish the installation, the testing team can begin their work. The constraint here is the availability of specialized labor.

· Predecessor: Installing HVAC units (requires specialized workers).

· Successor: Testing the HVAC system.

· Reason: The number of qualified workers is limited. Therefore, after the workers complete installation, the next team can test the system. The resource constraint is the availability of skilled labor.

Example 2 (Equipment Resource): The predecessor activity pouring concrete for a sidewalk must occur before the successor activity finishing the concrete surface because the project only has one concrete mixer. The mixer is required for pouring the concrete before the finishing team can smooth and complete the surface. The equipment constraint is the availability of the mixer.

· Predecessor: Pouring concrete for a sidewalk (requires a concrete mixer).

· Successor: Finishing the concrete surface.

· Reason: The project has one concrete mixer, so it must be used for the pouring first before being available for another task. The equipment constraint is the availability of only one mixer.

Example 3 (Facility Resource): The predecessor activity conducting research in a laboratory must occur before the successor activity analyzing the data because the lab can only be used by one research team at a time due to limited space. Once the initial data collection is complete, the same space can be used for data analysis. The constraint here is the limited lab space.

· Predecessor: Conducting research in a lab (limited lab space).

· Successor: Analyzing data in the same lab.

· Reason: The lab can only accommodate one team at a time due to space constraints. Once the data collection team finishes, the analysis team can use the same space. The constraint is the limited physical space in the facility.

3. Resource-Limited Scheduling and Leveling:

To optimize the schedule so that no more than three laborers or painters are working on any given day, one should use resource leveling and manage overtime (Gido et al., 2017).

First important consideration is that we have to adjust the schedule so that no more than three painters and three laborers are working simultaneously. Second, the sequence of tasks must be maintained for both apartments. Third, overtime is allowed to allow for completion within the 19-day limit, but it should be minimized to maintain efficiency.

The steps to take are the following: First, we should start by distributing laborers and painters in a way that no more than three are working on any given day. This means carefully aligning their tasks so that overlap is minimized.

Second, overtime should be used sparingly. Instead of having workers perform excessive overtime (e.g., 16-hour shifts), it’s better to distribute the work across multiple days with slight overtime where needed.