Location Selection and Size Estimation of Resource Buffers in the Critical Chain Project Management Method

Abstract

Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) is based on a network planning and the Theory of Constraints. The importance of management of uncertainty and deviations that occur during a project is emphasized. The probability of the project completion in a predefined time limit, or even before the time limit is increased. Literature analysis indicates that other types of buffers must be applied (buffer supporting a project, buffer reacting on a critical path, buffer reacting on a non-critical path) apart of feeding, resource and project buffers. Applying the additional buffers keeps the critical path in the same position and maintains the unchanging due date of the project. Methods estimating size of feeding and project buffers are identified: half of the chain method, square root of fault method, modified method of square root of fault, method taking into account due date of the project. In this paper, a new method estimating a size of resource buffer and selecting a location of resource buffer based on the theory of probability is presented. In this paper, the CCPM method is applied to estimate due date of the mining machine production project.