Network analysis can also be employed to minimize production delays, interruptions and conflicts. The cost of having men/machines idle should be compared with the cost of hiring resources on a temporary basis. Minimization of idle resources: The schedule should be devised to minimize large fluctuations in the use of limited resources. Minimization of cost for a given total time: When no particular benefit will be gained from completing the project early, it may be desirable to arrange resources in such a way as to give the minimum cost for the project in the set time.

Minimization of time for a given cost: When fixed sum is available to cover costs, it may be preferable to arrange the existing resources so as to reduce the total time for the project instead of reducing total cost. Minimization of total cost: Where the cost of delay in the completion of the project exceeds cost of extra effort, it is desirable to complete the project in time so as to minimize total cost. If the cost of down time is very high, it is economically desirable to minimize time despite high resource costs. A good example of this objective is the maintenance of production line machinery in a factory. Minimization of total time: Network analysis is useful in completing a project in the minimum possible time. Network analysis can be used to serve the following objectives: Network analysis is specially suited to project which are not routine or repetitive and which will be conducted only once or a few times.

(ii) The inter relationships of the system components (i) The physical relationship (properties) of the system By preparing a network of the system, a decision maker can identify, Network analysis is concerned with minimizing some measure of performance of the system such as the total completion time for the project, overall cost and so on.

Network analysis definition in computer