Optimization of the Duration of a Steam Power Plant Overhaul Project Using Resource-Constrained Critical Path Method (RCPM)-Based Scheduling

Abstract

Steam Power Plant (Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Uap [PLTU]) overhaul projects require effective scheduling to maintain electricity supply reliability. These projects are characterized by shutdown maintenance activities, limited availability of specialized labor resources, and strict outage windows. Conventional scheduling practices generally do not integrate labor resource constraints with activity precedence relationships, resulting in project schedules that are less reliable during execution. This study presented an empirical application of the Resource-Constrained Critical Path Method (RCPM)-based scheduling approach in a steam power plant overhaul project. The objectives were to identify critical and non-critical activities in the baseline Critical Path Method (CPM) schedule, implement RCPM, analyze the characteristics of the resulting schedule, and evaluate project duration optimization. A quantitative applied research approach was employed through project scheduling modeling using Microsoft Project. Resource leveling was applied to resolve labor resource conflicts under fixed resource availability conditions without increasing maximum resource units (Max Units) or working hours. The results showed that RCPM produced a resource-feasible schedule with a project duration of 33 days, representing an 8.33% reduction from the established 36-day project duration target. The optimized schedule also had implications for improving project cost efficiency by reducing time-dependent labor costs and project operational overhead costs. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis showed that reductions in labor resource availability significantly increased project duration beyond the established target, indicating that sufficient labor availability was essential for maintaining schedule performance.