Inventory and Stock Monitoring in Project

[Mawee]

I would like to be able to keep track of current inventory and needed stock
to complete working projects.

Although there are costing and resource allocation features within project
there is no stock or inventory managament that I can locate.

I am wondering if it is possible to create a field within project which
syncronises with another software or database to provide management access
through MS Project?

example: I need 10 screws for X project tomorrow and 20 screws the next day
and 20 screws the following day.

What do I have in stock currently?
When will my stock run out according to the scheduled projects?
etc. etc.

Don't worry I am not asking for 'HOW' to spacificaly create these
integrations. I just need to know if it is possible and an overview of how to
make this work

I have searched to no avail for these answers and am hopeful that someone
here can help point me in the right direction.

Your Time and Experience is Greatly Appreciated in this Matter

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

I'm very sorry and even embarrassed to say that Microsoft has never thought
of this - when once I put this feature on my wishlist I was gently told this
was not the job of a project manager (!!!)

So, no standard solution.
You can export Project data to some other software or use free fields and
VBA macros to keep track of stock.

Hope this helps,

 

[Mawee]

Many thanks, Jan De Messemaeker for your swift response.

Yes that does help some as I haven't been able to read that in black and
white but only make educated assumptions based on what my research has
uncovered.

If this is on your wish list did you find a workable soloution for yourself
and if so could you give me an overview of how you achieved it unless it?

So far your response and my research is pointing me into this kind of
direction.

Project exports data to an SQL database used by an Inventory program when
stock is used changing the information presented within the Inventory
Software.

Inventory software places information in an SQL database which Project can
access and display through a 'free field.' Any changes to this field
synchronize with with the SQL database and in turn the Inventory software.

Once again Thank You for your Time and Experience in this matter. I am new
to this area of computer integration and Project software so your information
is a tremendous help in getting an overview of the operational set-up and in
focusing my areas of research to those actually needed and the skill set
needed to create this into an operational system.
One can hope at the very least ;-)

 

[Jim Aksel]

Your question is "Will Project talk to 3rd party software" Well, yes,
through SQL.
Perhaps you could ask the question backwards: "What MRP software will
exchange data with Project?" There are several out there.

 

[Mawee]

Thanks Jim Aksel and Jan De Messemaeker,

You have both cleared this up a lot for me. I now know what to look for and
where to look for it.

I truly appreciate your help

Best Wishes

Mawee