Determining a Fuzzy Model of Time Buffer Size in Critical Chain Project Management

Abstract

Elaborating and applying a new model for estimating the time buffer size of a project programme, which shall guarantee a 90 % probability of timely project execution. The research included source text analysis to provide information on a research gap and the identification of the research problem. The research problem was identified: the time buffer size in a critical path programme does not guarantee a 90 % probability of timely project execution. A new model was then elaborated to estimate the buffer size; it was applied in a technical production preparation project. An additional comparative analysis was performed using the following methods to verify the model more accurately: half of the time total of a path, the sum of squares (SSQ), and the root square error method (RSEM). The application of the fuzzy model to estimate the buffer size in a critical chain programme offers can shorten the total planned project duration. It has a higher probability of timely project execution than other methods for estimating the buffer size. It guarantees a 90 % probability of timely project execution, keeping aggressive task times, which eliminates unwanted situations such as student syndrome, Parkinson’s law, overestimating task duration, and multitasking. Project programming is an inherent part of the project planning stage in project management. Recently, project management has been increasingly developing, which has been confirmed by the article’s source literature analysis. The analysis revealed a research gap in models estimating project buffer size, which might guarantee a 90 % probability of timely project execution. Thus, a fuzzy model for estimating time buffer size in a critical chain was developed, constituting added value to the science of management and quality of production engineering (currently, mechanical engineering). The fuzzy model for estimating time buffer size was applied in one Polish enterprise in a project for a new product’s technical production preparation. The fuzzy model for estimating time buffer size permits the shortening of the duration of tasks to aggressive times, guaranteeing a 90 % probability of project timely execution. The elaborated model for estimating time buffer size may be applied further in practice in projects programmed using the critical chain method.

Keywords

• project management
• project scheduling
• critical chain project management
• time buffer
• buffer size
• fuzzy sets