© 1963 by British Computer Society
The background of the PERT algorithm
The English Electric Company Ltd., Kidgrove, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs., UK
In the continuous production of manufactured goods it is generally considered worth while to plan in detail every operation and every flow of material so as to prevent delays occurring and avoid the accumulation of material on the line. For "one-off" projects such an approach is not feasible, although it is equally important to carry out the tasks at the right pace and in the right order so that they dovetail correctly to form a good total project plan. PERT (Programme Evaluation and Review Technique) provides the planner of such projects (whether manufacturing, design, research, sale promotion, construction, or whatever) with a technique for recording and analysing his project plan. This enables him to compare alternative plans and select the best before the project begins, and its gives him up-to-date information at regular intervals as to how achievement compares with the schedule, what parts of the project special attentions, and what future progress to expect. These results are the product of a standard computation for which a wide variety of computers have been programmed. Recent developments of the technique extend further into the planning function but are of less general application.