changing resource loading contour

[colin919]

Is it possible to back load (or bell curve load) a resource, without project
auto-leveling?

Would like to schedule 850 hours of work, across 23 days, with an 8 man
crew. Can get project to accept the work, and crew size, but it will not keep
the date range.

Is there another program that can accomplish this if project cannot?

 

[John]

Is it possible to back load (or bell curve load) a resource, without project
auto-leveling?

Would like to schedule 850 hours of work, across 23 days, with an 8 man
crew. Can get project to accept the work, and crew size, but it will not keep
the date range.

Is there another program that can accomplish this if project cannot?

colin919,
The only reason Project auto-levels is because the option for
auto-leveling has been enabled - so turn it off (Tools/Level Resources).

There are several contours that can be applied to Work. Any one of them
can either be applied to a resource's assignment or all work performed
by one or more resources. I suggest you add the Work Contour field to
the Task Usage view and then click on the "help on work contour" item
when you hover the mouse over the Work Contour column heading.

With regard to the 850 hour work effort task, you probably need to make
the task Fixed Duration, non-effort driven (Project/Task
Information/advanced tab). Then set the Duration for 23 days, give it a
Work value of 850 hours and assign the 8 man crew, (which I assume is a
group resource rather than 8 individual names). Doing so will result in
the 8 man crew with an assignment level of a little less than half time.

Hey man there nothing that Project can't do (?)

John
Project MVP

 

[davegb]

Is it possible to back load (or bell curve load) a resource, without project
auto-leveling?

Just as an aside, "back" loading is when the work effort is mostly
toward the end of a task's duration. "Front" loading is when the work
is mostly at the beginning. Bell curve loading starts low, goes up in
the middle, and tapers off toward the end.
Hope this helps in your world.

 

[Dan401]

John,

I have encountered the same challenge as described in the original email
from Colin919. I am using Project 2003, I have verified that Resource
Levelling is in manual mode. I have set a task for duration of 850 hrs to
occur within a start and finsh date 23 working days apart. I have added 8
resources and yet project wants to move the finish date or the start date to
maintain no more than 8 hours worked per day regardless of applied resources.
Any other ideas on how to resolve this or what else might be driving the
date movement?

Dan

 

[JulieS]

Hello Dan,

Did you try John's suggestion? Create the 23 day duration task and set
the task as fixed duration. Uncheck effort driven. If you have a
single named resource representing the crew of 8, assign the resource
and specify 850 hours of work. Project will calculate an assignment
unit if 462%. If you have eight named resources assign each of the 8
resources and enter 106.25 hours for each resource. Project will
calculate 58% assignment unit for each resource.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project

 

[Dan401]

Julie,

How do I create a resource representing a crew of 8?

Dan

 

[JulieS]

Hello Dan,

Assuming that you have a crew of 8 people available "full time" you can
create a resource "Crew" with a maximum units of 800%. Take a look at
the Resource Sheet view and you'll see the maximum units field.

If you create the resource with max. units of 800% with an assignment
unit of 462%, you would be utilizing a bit more than 4.5 people with
another 3.25 people available during the 23 day span of the task.

If it helps, you can also display resource max. units and assignment
units as decimals rather than percentages. See Tools > Options,
Schedule tab -- "Show assignment units as a:"

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project

 

[Dan401]

Julie,

Thanks for your help! With two small emails - I am getting the combined
effect of over 140 projects on the go, and many more coming. I expect that I
will now be able to identify labour constraints with enough leadtime to
resolve.

Thanks,

Dan

 

[JulieS]

You're most welcome Dan and thank for the feedback. Do let us know if
you have any further questions and good luck.

Julie

 

[Dan401]

Julie,

Why is that when I have fixed duration, non effort driven, with a work
column added that changing a resource name affects the work hours? It is
like Project is recalc'g, why would it do this?

Dan

 

[JulieS]

Hi Dan,

My guess would be that you are changing to a resource who has a
different working calendar than the original resource. Project will not
change the amount of work, but will redistribute the work based upon the
resource's calendar. Vacations and other non-working resource time will
definitely change the schedule.

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project

 

[Dan401]

Julie,

Still unable to resolve all the moving of dates and hours issues. I am
turning off calculation defaults to try and resolve. I've come across
another issue, for some reason Project is planning a couple weeks in July as
6 day weeks. I can't determine why?

Dan

 

[JulieS]

Hello Dan,

Is there a task calendar applied to the task that has a modified working
time for July? Has the project calendar been changed for July? Do the
resources assigned to the task have 6 day working times set for July?

I hope this helps. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

Visit http://project.mvps.org/ for the FAQs and additional information
about Microsoft Project