Faculty of Engineering Civil Eng. Dept.

(Bellville Campus)

SUBJECT: MANAGEMENT CIVIL II

Lecture notes handout

TOPIC: LINE OF BALANCE PLANNING TECHNIQUE

Table of Contents

2.2. 2.2.1 2.2.2 2.2.3 2.2.4 2.2.5 2.2.6

LINE OF BALANCE CHART ................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1 Expected outcomes............................................................................................................................ 1 Definitions ......................................................................................................................................... 1 Calculations ....................................................................................................................................... 2 Construction of LBC ......................................................................................................................... 4 Class Work/Home Work: .................................................................................................................. 5

Lecturer: Mr. G. Mwiinga

Pr. Eng (Civil/Water)

Email: mwiingag@cput.ac.za, tel 021 959 6663

2.2. LINE OF BALANCE CHART

2.2.1

Introduction

The line of balance of method of planning or scheduling is used in projects involving the construction of identical units characterised by similar activities, e.g. construction of identical houses on a housing estate or floors of a multi-storey building. The basis of the technique is to find the required resources for each operation/activity so that succeeding activities are not interfered with while achieving an intended (predetermined) output rate. Usually there is a time lag (buffer time) between the start of one unit and that of the next, and at the end of the process units are completed and handed over at the same rate. Successive units go through the same stage, and after one unit has passed through a stage, the next one can start to go through it. The units of construction are the same, the bar charts for each unit are the same and all of them can be drawn on the same figure. The standard drawing is putting one bar chart on top of the other, with the first units bar chart being at the bottom. In repetitive projects, a different gang does work on each stage, so that any one of them can only start its work on a particular stage if the previous gang has completed its work there. For projects with a large number of identical units broad-brush planning and discussions, straight lines instead of stepped ones in combined bar charts, are sufficient. This is why the term of line of balance is used. At this level of planning one can immediately appreciate with the help of the chart that ideally all lines should be parallel otherwise their effects can be assessed if they are not and adjustments to gang sizes made appropriately 2.2.2 Expected outcomes

At the completion of this topic, the following outcomes are expected in students:
1. Describe the application or use of LBC giving at least 3 examples of projects that can use LBCs. 2. Define and explain the various parameters necessary for the construction of LBC 3. calculate any of the parameters required for the construction of LBC 4. construct the line of balance chart 5. Be able to interpret any deductions or changes to the LBC as result of varying resource allocation.

2.2.3

Definitions

The construction of a LBC requires availability of key information and prior calculation of certain key parameters. The definitions of key parameters are given in the following paragraphs. (a) Man-hours: This is the number of hours taken to complete an activity performed by an average man. E.g., if the excavation of a trench can be done by 4 men and is completed in 5 hours, then the total man-hours for the operation excavation is 4 men x 5 hours = 20 man-hours,

i.e. the theoretical total number of hours which 1 worker can take to complete excavation of the trench. It is clear that the gang size may change but the total man-hours required will be the same. (b) Target output Rate (TOR): this is delivery rate of the identified as desired by the client from the onset. It is determined by looking at the overall time allowed for the completion of the repetitive units. This is generally expressed as a weekly output rate, e.g. 5 house per week. (c) Buffer Time: Identical repetitive construction activities move from one area of construction to another e.g. (excavating bases to consecutive houses). Therefore, it is necessary to allow for some delay/hold-ups or change over time between consecutive activities on one unit. The time allowed for such delays is called a buffer time. It is chosen at the discretion of the planner given the circumstances in the planning and availability of resources and the experience with the project. (d) Optimum gang size(OGS): the best number of men working together in a group at any time working on a given activity to achieve maximum efficiency. The OGS is normally established from guidance labour codes and experience of the planner (e) The theoretical gang size (TGS) is total number of labourers/men required to maintain the target output rate (R), (f) The actual gang size (AGS) is obtained when the TGS is rounded-off to a multiple OGS. Hence: If the actual gang size is greater than the TGS the output rate will be more than the target rate. If the AGS is less than the TGS then the output will be less than the target rate. The duration of each operation (d) is required and is calculated as follows: (g) Actual output rate(AOR) is the output rate corresponding to the AGS (h) Operation/activity duration: is the duration of an activity takes on each unit (usually remains constant as long as gang size is the same) (i) Elapsed time(ET): time elapsed: From either the start of an activity on the first unit to the start of the same activity on the last unit or or from the finish of an activity on the first unit to the finish of the same activity on the last unit or

2.2.4

Calculations

In practice, parameters that are usually available prior to further calculations of other parameters necessary for the construction of a LBC are man-hours, OGS, buffer time and the TOR. The rest of the parameters are calculated from these known parameters which are to be given in all problems in class. The following example is to be used to illustrate the necessary calculations: EXAMPLE: Activity: House foundation delivery rate or Target output rate (TOR) = 4 foundations per week (40 hours per week)

Man-hours (MH) = 90 hours, i.e. one man takes 90 hours to complete a house foundation Optimum Gang Size (OGS) = 4 men Total number of foundations = 28 units

(a) Theoretical gang size (TGS): we want to know how many men are required to meet the TOR? i.e. construct 4 foundations every week! Hence the key question is: If 1 man can construct 1 foundation in 90hrs, how many men can construct 4 foundations in 1 week ? Mathematically the above question can be expressed in direct proportionality as: 1 man X men 1 fdn/90 hrs 4 fdn/40 hrs

(Note that it has been assumed that 1 week has 40 hrs. it can be different!!!) Hence, X = (4 x 90 ) / 40, = 9 men of which the following formula is deduced:

TGS =

Man..hours.. per..activity * TOR No...of ..working..hours.. per..week

(b) The actual gang size (AGS) must be the TGS round-off to a multiple of OGS. Hence in this case AGS = 8 (c) After deciding on the AGS, the actual output rate (AOR) must be calculated as a result of the direct proportionality between gang size and delivery as follows::

AOR =

AGS * TOR => 8/9 x 4 = 3. 56 fdns/week TGS

(d) The operation/activity duration of each operation (d) is calculated as follows:: Consideringn the fact that one only 1 gang works at an activity at any time, the question is that if 1 man can take 90 hours (=90/8 days), how longer (days) will the men in an OGS take?

Acticity..duration(days) =

Man..hours.. per..activity OGS * ..hours.. per..day

= 90/( 4 * 8) = 2.81 ~~ 3 days

(e) The time elapsed (n days) is given as:

Elapsedtim (days) = e

( No...of ...units 1) * No..of ..working...days.. per..week AOR

The derivation of the above formula will be explained during the construction of the LBC. For the example given: ET = (28 -1) * 5/3.56 = 37.92 days ~~ 38 days

2.2.5

Construction of LBC

The following tasks are the summary procedure for preparing a Line of balance schedule/chart: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Prepare a logic activity network diagram (where necessary) Estimate the number of man-hours required to complete each operation. (Will be given in class) Choose suitable minimum buffer time between activities. (Will be given in class) Using the desired number of units to be constructed and completion date of the project, calculate the target output rate to achieve the completion date. (Will be given in class) Prepare a table containing the project activities and information as outlined in 2.2.3 and 2.2.4

After preparing the above information the line of balance is now plotted; number of units on the yaxis and duration on the x-axis. On the y-axis, numbering starts at 1 since there is no zero units. The plotting must be done in such way that the lines of balance for successive operations do not cross each. Any crossing would indicate that the activities shall interfere if construction went ahead with such a schedule. From the LOB chart the following information can be obtained: Completion time for whole project and for each operation Start date of a given operation on a given unit How the project duration can be reduced by allocating more resources to operations that are progressing slowly. This must be achieved without causing any crossings or interference among the lines of balance!

2.2.6 Class Work/Home Work:

Your company has been invited to tender for 36 new townhouses and you have to produce the construction programme. The directors instruct that the townhouses have to be delivered at the rate of 4 No per week. In order to achieve this, your teams have to work 6 days a week and 10 hours a day. As a guide you are given the production outputs below. All activities are consecutive with a buffer time of 2 days between each activity. Prepare a programme to meet the requirements using the line of balance planning technique ACTIVITY Excavations Concrete foundations Walls to plinth Concrete floors Walls to roof height Roof construction Electrical installation Painting and finishes OPTIMUM GANG SIZE 10 8 6 8 10 7 4 8 MAN HOURS 50 80 120 80 300 70 10 160

1. When will the roof construction to all units be completed. 2. If an additional gang of bricklayers were to be used show how the completion date will be affected. Show your calculations in your work book and summarize in following work-sheet