Resources not spreading correctly

[KGMSP]

Example:
I have a task for support over a long duration (6months), and I have several
resources spread over that duration. The task type is fixed work because I
have to contral our work and baseline work and make sure it ties to our
costing software. The task has 5 resources that I want to level load across
the duration, however that are not all 100% utilized. Some are 60% and some
maybe 30%. I want project to level these resources across the entire
duration (note, I did not contour the resources in any manner). It seems to
do this when I first load the resources, however if I add days to the
duration or add more hours to a particular resource, it only spreads the
hours across maybe 2 of the 6 months of duration. I think what is happening
is project assumes the resource to work 100% (8hrs/day) and it loads those
hours in until the hours are used up. This creates problems, for various
tasks in my schedule are set-up like this. The workaround I have put in
place is right before I sync with the cost software (i.e. give them an export
for work), I go into the task usage view and varify that all resources below
the tasks all have the same spread. This works, however is there a simpilar
way??

Any help would be nice,

KG

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

If you look at the task Usage view you can se ethe assignments individually.
You can enter a column called Assignment Units where you can control these
(thus not always having to accept 100%)
Project will plan each assignment as
Work=Duration * Units

Hope this helps

 

[KGMSP]

So there is no way to get project to automatically level load resorces from
task start to task finish for muliple resources with different assignment
percentages. I just tried a task that start on 1/3/06 and end on 1/4/08.
(500days of duration with current calendars in place) and then I selected 5
reosurces. Res 1 600hrs, Res 2 400hrs, Res3 300hrs, Res 4 200hrs, and
finally Res 5 100hrs. After entering the resources and hitting okay, project
(fixed work task) then calculated the new duration to be 75 days. I want to
keep the 500days, therefore I re-key the 500 in the duration column, but then
project only spreads (level) the resource with the most hours (Res 1). I
want project to spread all the resources for the tasks across the duration
selected automatically. Is this possible? Your post was hellpful, however
it still would require additional work, just as the workaround had mentioned.


Please let me know,
--
Thanks,
KG

Hi,

If you look at the task Usage view you can se ethe assignments individually.
You can enter a column called Assignment Units where you can control these
(thus not always having to accept 100%)
Project will plan each assignment as
Work=Duration * Units

Hope this helps

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

Using a big tool like Project without any education is a risk.
If you want the task's duration to be independent of resource allocations
make the task's type fixed duration (Task Information, Advanced tab)
From there on we may find a shorter way to do what you want.


--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project MVP
http://users.online.be/prom-ade

So there is no way to get project to automatically level load resorces
from
task start to task finish for muliple resources with different assignment
percentages. I just tried a task that start on 1/3/06 and end on 1/4/08.
(500days of duration with current calendars in place) and then I selected
5
reosurces. Res 1 600hrs, Res 2 400hrs, Res3 300hrs, Res 4 200hrs, and
finally Res 5 100hrs. After entering the resources and hitting okay,
project
(fixed work task) then calculated the new duration to be 75 days. I want
to
keep the 500days, therefore I re-key the 500 in the duration column, but
then
project only spreads (level) the resource with the most hours (Res 1). I
want project to spread all the resources for the tasks across the duration
selected automatically. Is this possible? Your post was hellpful,
however
it still would require additional work, just as the workaround had
mentioned.


Please let me know,

 

[KGMSP]

I know that my skills are as good as they should be, but I still have a
problem using fixed duration. I do know what the diperaties are between the
task types, and I do agree that using fixed duration will work, if we lock
the duration. But how would you handle this. If I am to control any work
changes for the project and am not allowing any growth to occur in work
without the use of a change request then I still have problems. For example,
I send out tasks to be status to my cost account managers on a weekly basis.
If their tasks are set to fix duration rather than fixed work, than any
changes in started tasks finish dates would adjust work. We allow them to
grow their duration for tasks, which assumes that they started but just did
not get to work on that tasks on that day in which case the would extend.
Also assuming no increase in hours for the tasks, in which case they would
give me a change request. The tasks set to fixed duration would increase in
hours for every tasks that they did not meet. because the duration increased.
Which in turn results in an hour increase they may or my not be real. If
real then they should have given a change request, but if not real then they
increased hours not by choice.

In my little experience, does this sound right?


Thanks,
KG

 

[Jim Aksel]

Distribute PDF files to the CAMs and have them return paper to you.
An alternative would be to give them an Excel Export and have them make date
or work changes there.

In any event, you need to have someone with strong project skills input the
data back into MS Project to avoid the issues you are describing. This is
what we do, HTH.

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Jim
It''s software; it''s not allowed to win.

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