Application of the critical chain method as a way to reduce the time of construction project implementation

Abstract

The paper considers the problems of modern development companies in a complex and unstable economic ­environment. In the current conditions, the question arises about the stability of the functioning of construction enterprises, which are forced to look for new methods, approaches and tools in the conditions of competition, complex economic and market conditions to maintain the efficiency of operational processes, as well as to maintain the relevance and economic efficiency of construction projects. In the paradigm of these conditions, traditional ways of working on projects for developers require modernization and updating, taking into account modern methods of management, control, and the system of internal and external interaction between organizations. At the same time, attention is focused not on the approach of changing and applying new tools or introducing digital or AI tools, but on the basis of changing the internal fundamental methods of the organization. To clearly formulate the problem, the concept of a project, the features of construction projects were given, the methods of planning along the critical path and along the critical chain were analyzed. The study proposes a modification of project planning and control based on the critical chain method. The critical chain method, in comparison with the traditional critical path method, takes the safety time to buffers located at the end of the critical chain and the ends of the feeder chains. Based on this, the study proposes a modification of the method adapted to domestic realities, which assumes an increased total reserve of time in buffers, and proposes the introduction of a contract buffer for the performance of fixed volumes of contract work. For the viability of the modified method, it is proposed to use contracts with “reward” instruments for early completion of work. At the same time, the described method has flexibility in the framework of time estimates in the performance of tasks for its adaptation to specific conditions contained in various construction projects.