Construction Management: Line of Balance

Construction Management
Line of Balance
LINE OF BALANCE
LINE OF BALANCE
Ø Many types of projects contain repeated blocks of activities. Examples
of these kinds of projects include housing and high-rise construction.
Ø In both of these types of projects there is a set of tasks repeated
across many work areas.
Ø Arrow and Precedence Diagramming are both able to model these types of
schedules effectively.
Ø The Line-of-Balance (also known as the Vertical Production
Method) is a graphical technique that can be used in conjunction with
Arrow or Precedence Diagrams.
Ø In the Line-of-Balance diagram, the x-axis represents (as in the bar chart)
the timeline of the project. The y-axis identifies the work areas that define
the project. The blank chart below is the starting point for the Line-of-
Balance schedule.
LINE OF BALANCE
Ø As crews arrive on the project, they begin at the first work area and move
through the project.
Ø In the figure above, Activity A has a total duration of 10 weeks (2.5 months).
Ø Spread across each of the work areas the productivity of Activity A can be
shown to be 2 weeks per floor.
LINE OF BALANCE
Now consider the implication of an Activity B that has a productivity of one week per
floor. If we try to start Activity B as soon as possible, then the start of activity B on the
first floor can occur at the end of week 2.
LINE OF BALANCE
As we continue to add Activity B throughout the remaining work areas we can see that Activity
B starts on the second floor, at the end of week 4; on the third floor, at the end of week 6 and so
on; as shown in the diagram above.
As you look at this chart, what do you think the red dashed lines mean?
LINE OF BALANCE
Ø The breaks in the Activity B line, shown as red Ø The diagram above shows that we must
dashed lines above, are significant. delay starting Activity B by four weeks.
Ø This gap means that the crew is waiting Ø By doing that, we will keep the crew
around for Activity A to clear out before it can productive for their entire stay on your
start. project.
Ø In the case of the project above, starting work Ø if we were running a real project, we might
as soon as you can will result in a lost include a bit extra time in case things
productivity of 4 crew weeks. backup, but we would likely not start
Activity B as soon as it could start.
LINE OF BALANCE
The Line-of-Balance (also known as the Vertical Production Method) is a graphical technique
comprising a series of inclined lines which represent the rate of working between repetitive
operations in a construction sequence.
The line of balance method of scheduling activities is very useful when repeat activities are
undertaken, such as multiple dwellings, high rise buildings and roads. As the tasks repeat
themselves we can look at the rate at which different teams would be able to work in order
that they do not catch each other up.
LINE OF BALANCE
LOB DIAGRAM WITH A NON PARALLEL WORKING RELATIO
N
LINE OF BALANCE
LOB DIAGRAM WITH A PARALLEL WORKING RELATION

LINE OF BALANCE
The LOB does not show direct relationships between individual activities ; it shows an
output relationship between different operations. One operation must be completed at a
particular rate for the subsequent relationship to proceed at the required rate.
Example:
LINE OF BALANCE
Ø The chart is now updated to week 12 o

f the project.
Ø Foundations output is fluctuated but it

is generally on schedule and almost co
mplete.
Ø The brickwork and roof construction a

re both running behind schedule and in
ternal works have not been started yet.
Ø By extrapolation it can be seen that the

first unit will be completed over 3 wee
ks late.
Ø Overall project delay could also be de

termined by extrapolation that it woul
d result in an overall delay of over 10
weeks.
REFERENCES
List of Books:-
•Construction project management by Prof. Harbhajan Singh

•PERT and CPM – Principles and Applications by L. S. Srinath
•Project Management by S. Choudhury
•Building Construction by Dr. B. C. Punmia, Ashok Kumar Jain and Arun Kumar Jain
•Construction Project Management – Planning, Scheduling and Controlling by K.K. Chitkara
THANK YOU

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Construction Management

LOB DIAGRAM WITH A PARALLEL WORKING RELATION

Ø The chart is now updated to week 12 o

Ø Foundations output is fluctuated but it

Ø The brickwork and roof construction a

Ø By extrapolation it can be seen that the

Ø Overall project delay could also be de

•Construction project management by Prof. Harbhajan Singh

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