CPM vs. Takt: what’s the real difference

CPM asks one question: What’s the longest path of activities?

Takt asks a better one: How do we create flow?

CPM schedules are activity-based and optimized on paper. They batch work, ignore capacity, and push milestones downstream to the field.

Takt schedules are production-based. They align work to zones, crews, and time, making the plan executable where work actually happens.

Here’s the real difference:

CPM:

Optimizes logic, not flow

Encourages trade stacking

Breaks down in the field

Takt:

Aligns work to capacity

Creates rhythm and predictability

Supports Last Planner execution

CPM predicts an end date.

Takt makes the end date achievable.

That’s why Takt isn’t a replacement for thinking — it’s a replacement for chaos.

Image suggestion:

Side-by-side CPM bar chart vs. Takt zone-based plan