Project planning with critical chain method: An application in construction sector

Nowadays, many projects are being prepared in all areas and the projects under certain constraints such as cost, time and quality must be implement. Goal of improving project planning methods is identification of the various options and ways for most effective use of resources. As a result of work done in the past years, the Critical Chain Method inspired by Theory of Constraints and Critical Path Method has been developed with regard to project planning methods. This method is a planning method is widely accepted as the applicability but, adaptation of different fields still continues.Today, applied planning tools offer solutions using Critical Path Method or Program Evaluation and Review Technique developed between the years 1956-1958 but problems such as projects on time and source out are frequently encountered. So another innovation was needed in the field of planning is obvious.The purpose of this study is to examine Critical Chain Method developed by E. M. Goldratt in 1997 and then to examine the applicability of a project in the construction sector.At the start of research on a construction project on Antalya Yamansaz location, the build process has been observed and then a new method of preparing a work program that can shorten the construction process was followed by using Critical Chain Method. So MS Project package program which solves problems by using critical path is used by loading CCPM+? add-in module. CCPM + ? module provides the project to be solved by using Critical Chain Method rather than Critical Path Method.At the end of the study Critical Chain Method can be applied in what circumstances is discussed. On computer solution, although amount of activity of critical path and critical chain are same, project resolved by Critical Chain Method is completed in a shorter period. Thus, in the solution is made by Critical Path Method, more detailed data entry needs to be done; to collect data under the basic headings gives better results on Critical Chain Method because of causing significant difference in calculations by increasing the duration of each activity.In this study, Critical Chain Method shortens the project completion time is considered an advantage,but completed project under the same conditions is not possible to repeat is considered a disadvantage in the application in construction sector.