RessourcenSmoothing

RessourcenSmoothing is a project management technique used to adjust the schedule of activities so that resource usage is distributed more evenly over time. The aim is to reduce peaks in demand for scarce resources without significantly altering the overall completion date. The approach relies on the existence of float, i.e., scheduling slack in non-critical activities, to shift workloads within their allowed time windows.

Compared with resource leveling, which may extend the project duration to achieve a smooth resource profile, RessourcenSmoothing focuses on preserving the planned finish date as much as possible. It achieves this by moving activities with slack within their time boundaries while maintaining dependencies and the critical path.

The typical process involves several steps. First, determine resource limits and identify periods of high demand. Second, analyze the project network to locate non-critical activities with available float. Third, adjust start times within the allowed windows to lower peak resource usage, ensuring dependencies and constraints remain satisfied. Fourth, recalc the resource calendars and verify that the finish date remains within an acceptable tolerance. Fifth, iterate the adjustments until the resource profile is satisfactorily smoothed.

Limitations include dependence on sufficient float and scheduling flexibility; in tightly constrained projects, smoothing opportunities may be limited. Shifts can also affect risk exposure, costs, or stakeholder expectations, requiring communication and approval. Tools commonly used for RessourcenSmoothing include project management software with resource calendars, critical path analysis, and visualization of resource demand curves. Related concepts are resource leveling and critical path method.