What is Critical Chain Project Management(CCPM)& (CCPM) Buffers

 

Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM):

Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) is a project management approach that considers not only the activities but also the assets needed to finish a project. CCPM aims to identify the stages, deadlines, and resources needed to finish a project and to provide you with a roadmap to guarantee you execute more tasks on time and within budget.

Dr. Eliyahu M. Goldratt created and popularised Critical Chain Project Management in 1997. Followers of this Project Management technique assert that it is an alternative to the approved procedure of Project Management and other Project Management standards. The Critical Chain Method derives from another of Dr. Goldratt's innovations: the Theory of Constraints (TOC). 

This project management approach takes effect when the first project schedule, which involves creating task dependencies, is completed. The Critical Chain Method is used to modify the evolving critical route. To do this, the technique takes into account the restrictions associated with each job.

The critical chain technique places a heavy emphasis on project timelines. It reduces project modifications and attempts to reduce the cost of project wastage by enhancing schedule performance. It tries to get a better outcome by altering the project control and management system and also the project plan. One of the goals is to get higher performance out of the project team and the support staff. This approach can assist in minimizing most resource limitations before the beginning of a project and use buffers for efficient project control.

Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) is similar to the Critical Path technique in that it aims to determine the critical set of activities as well as the time frame required to finish a project. CCPM, on the other hand, goes a step further by taking into account the resources required to execute the project, such as people, equipment, physical space, and materials. The Critical Chain is the longest path in the schedule, and it takes into account activity dependency as well as resource restrictions. That is, CCPM examines the schedule and evaluates which tasks if delayed, will cause the project's completion date to be pushed back. The 'Critical Chain' is therefore defined, and you can pinpoint the actions and resources required to accomplish a project most quickly and effectively.

A key issue with Critical Path Project Management is that, although it works in theory, it fails to take into account that in the real world, you do not have infinite resources and that there are real-world restrictions, such as bottlenecks, that restrict how much work can be accomplished. CCPM considers these elements to develop a more comprehensive and realistic timetable for your organization.

CCPM Buffers:

Buffers are used by CCPM to ensure that the chain does not break and that jobs are performed on schedule. Buffers are strategic protections that are put into the critical chain to guarantee that a project runs smoothly and that any unanticipated events do not compromise the project delivery date.

CCPM generally employs three types of buffers:

1. Project Buffers:

This buffer is put between the final job and the project completion date, and it serves as a backup for Critical Chain operations. Any delays along the Critical Chain will reduce this buffer, but the project completion date will not be affected.

2. Feeding Buffers:

This buffer is placed between the final job on a non-critical feeding chain and the Critical Chain. These buffers are provided to a feeding chain to guarantee that delays on a non-critical chain do not impact the Critical Chain.

3. Resource Buffers:

These buffers are placed on the Critical Chain to guarantee that suitable resources, such as people and equipment, are available as needed throughout the project. These are usually referred to as Critical Resources.