Supplier Costs

[Nde]

Hi,

We have this challenge : we have trouble to plan & control our suppliers
costs.

Right know, we are planning on using on Excel to track all the information
(baseline, Actuals, Change Request).

This sounds like I might use MSProject to help following up on those. The
thing is that we do not know the ressources, rates are not flat as multiple
ressources from the supplier are working on the project for us. So basically,
we just have a invoice per month we have to pay.

However, we are in a position where we can estimate how the money is going
to be spend, so we should be able to better anticipate the cashflow.

I was thinking of using the Material Resources to help me on that, but the
further I not really used to this kind of resources.

Has anyone an idea on how I could use or integrate into my current project
plan the Supplier costs so I have a full picture of my projects.

Thanks,
Nde.

 

[John]

Hi,

We have this challenge : we have trouble to plan & control our suppliers
costs.

Right know, we are planning on using on Excel to track all the information
(baseline, Actuals, Change Request).

This sounds like I might use MSProject to help following up on those. The
thing is that we do not know the ressources, rates are not flat as multiple
ressources from the supplier are working on the project for us. So basically,
we just have a invoice per month we have to pay.

However, we are in a position where we can estimate how the money is going
to be spend, so we should be able to better anticipate the cashflow.

I was thinking of using the Material Resources to help me on that, but the
further I not really used to this kind of resources.

Has anyone an idea on how I could use or integrate into my current project
plan the Supplier costs so I have a full picture of my projects.

Thanks,
Nde.

Nde,
First of all, Project is not a financial invoicing application, it is a
scheduling application. Excel is much better suited for tracking
supplier invoice details. Second, it sounds like you have very limited
visibility about your supplier costs if all you get is a monthly
invoice. There must be some kind of negotiated contract with your
suppliers or you are running open loop. In many such instances, all you
will get from your supplier is a fixed price or perhaps a price with
some options. In that case you can show the supplier effort as a single
task in Project and enter the fixed price value in the Fixed Cost field.
Tracking each invoice is still better handled through Excel.

John
Project MVP