Resource Optimization Techniques - Resource Leveling V/S Resource Smoothing

Resource leveling and Resource Smoothing.

These are resource optimization techniques which are used to adjust the project schedule due to the demand and supply issues of project resources.

Resource optimization is a method of gaining efficiency and consistency of resource utilizations within the project. Efficiency and Consistency means resources should not be over allocated at any given time period than their calendar availability.

Let’s understand Resource leveling and Resource smoothing in details.

Resource levelling, Scenario A: For example, if there are two task on project network diagram and they are scheduled on the same time period and both required the same resource, “Res X”. Task A is on critical path, Task B is on non-critical path which means which has float. Further assume, the task A is high priority task than the task B. In this situation, if we perform resource levelling in which case the project schedule or critical path may or may not change. If the levelling delay is within the free or total float the project schedule will not change otherwise it will get changed.

Resource levelling, Scenario B: For example, if both task A and B are on critical path and they are scheduled on the same time period and required the same resource, “Res X”. If we perform resource leveling in this situation then the project schedule or critical path will surely get changed. It doesn’t matter which task of the two are high-priority than other.

Resource smoothing: It only works when both the task are on non-critical path(s), they can be on single path or two different non-critical path on the network diagram. In resource smoothing, as opposed to resource leveling, the project’s critical path is not changed and the completion date may not be delayed. In other words, activities may only be delayed within their free and total float.

Resource optimization techniques should not be confused with the Schedule compression techniques. Both techniques are required to Develop Schedule and Control Schedule but the sole purpose of Schedule compression techniques (fast tracking or crashing) is to reduce the project schedule whereas the sole purpose of resource optimization techniques are balancing the demand and supply of resources by adjusting the schedule no matter if the schedule get delayed.

In a nutshell, Resource Optimization means levelling delay among task for balancing the demand and supply of resources within the project.