Multiactivity Chart

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Multiple Activity Charts
Multiple Activity Charts (or Multi-Activity Charts) are a very useful tool for understanding the flow of work in a cyclical process and as a consequence understanding which resource is controlling the overall progress of the work. The tool can be used to model different scenarios to determine the optimum mix of resources for the work. The example below is based on using a tower crane to lift concrete from the street to a high floor for placing. Each resource is represented by a column; time is on the vertical axis. Time
1 min 2 min 3 min 4 min 5 min 6 min 7 min 8 min 9 min 10 min 11 min 12 min 13 min

Truck & Crew
Fill skip Wait

Crane & Skip
Skip filling Hoist Skip Skip emptying Lower skip

Placing Crew
Wait Place and compact concrete Wait

Finishing Crew
Wait

Smooth and finish concrete

Fill skip Wait

Skip filling Hoist Skip Skip emptying Lower skip Skip filling

Place and compact concrete Wait

Wait Smooth and finish concrete

Fill skip

In this example, the crane (or more accurately the crane skip) is critical. On way to reduce the cycle would be to use two skips. One skip could be being filled while the other is emptied and all that would be needed is a few seconds to change over the crane hook when the newly emptied skip is lowered to the ground. Time
1 min 2 min 3 min 4 min 5 min 6 min 7 min 8 min 9 min 10 min 11 min 12 min 13 min 14 min 15 min

Truck & Crew
Fill skip 1 Fill skip 2

Skip 1
Skip filling Hoist Skip Skip emptying Lower skip Skip filling

Skip 2

Crane

Placing Crew

Finishing Crew

Skip filling

Hoist Skip 1 Skip 1 emptying Lower skip 1
Change Hook

Place S1 concrete

Fill skip 1

Smooth and finish concrete Smooth and finish concrete

Hoist Skip Skip emptying Lower skip Skip filling

Hoist Skip 2 Skip 2 emptying Lower skip 2
Change Hook

Place S2 concrete

Fill skip 2

Hoist Skip Skip emptying

Hoist Skip 1 Skip 1 emptying

Place S1