Networking: the main points of construction

A network graph is a quality tool. With the help of it, planning is carried out, as well as work management. In the management of quality in practice, very often use the network graph, or the Gantt chart.

Most often, the network graph is used to design a variety of works that constitute a set of different kinds of actions. The application of the network schedule allows you to determine the timing when the project is completed, also helps to identify the possibility of reducing the time of work. This means that in a networked schedule , time work is interrelated, and it is this that provides a good opportunity to monitor their progress.

A network graph is essentially a curve, a vertex that indicates events (the state of an object or work at a certain point in time), and the graph arcs (i.e., joining the vertices of an edge) reflect work. The curve presented in this form is part of the PERT-method (Program Evaluation & Review Technique). It was developed in 1958 in an American company, and its original purpose was to plan, as well as an objective assessment of the progress of the project.

Building network charts can be done in a different way. In this case, the vertices of the graph are works, and the arcs show the interconnection existing between them. A similar option is used more often, and this is part of the CPM-method (Critical Path Method), or the method of critical path.

The order of plotting using the critical path method includes the following steps:

• Determination of the main purpose of planning.
• Identify the boundaries that affect the network schedule, as well as the planned work.
• Determination of the composition of tasks that are necessary to achieve the goal.
• The duration of the execution using cards. Here are the tools, resources and all those responsible for the work.
• Consideration of tasks and the definition of the one that will be performed first.
• Assign a task that must be performed after the first.
• Displays links between tasks. Used for this are the arrows showing the sequence of actions. To build a network graph, in our time, for example, MS Visio is used.
• Determine the beginning and early completion of each task.
• The definition of late start and late end of each task.
• Determine the backup time for each task. This time is calculated as the difference between late and early beginnings, as well as late and early endings of tasks.
• Determination of the path at which for each task the time reserve equals zero. This way was called critical.

If necessary, the network schedule is optimized, and first of all you need to analyze the tasks that are on the critical path.

If you use, for example, large-scale construction of network graphics, you can easily build a graph of the number of employed workers, the cost of work, consumption of materials, structures for each period of time. These graphs also allow you to reallocate resources to optimize the network.