Tracking Extra Overhead Charge

[Michael Vestel]

6/26/08

MS Project 2003, Windows XP Pro:

Need:
I have overhead multipliers that are used to determine total cost of an item
(material resource). For example, materials that cost $1000 need to show both
that original value and the extra tacked on overhead of $500. To be clear, I
unfortunately can not show this in resources as a SINGLE item; the two items
need to be broken out. Otherwise I’d just cost it as $1500…

The multiplier in the above is 1.5 or add an extra 50% or 0.5 added on.

Questions:

What is the best way to do this? Is there a way to either show this in the
resource itself?

It needs to show up as an extra line item on the track usages page (where
individual resources are displayed)

Maybe I have another resource that has a formula back to the first
resource’s total cost? Or maybe each time (in each task) its used I have to
enter this overhead multiplier resource. I was thinking you could write a
formula to look at the cost every time that resource is used and add a line
item that takes the cost and multiplies it by (in this case) 0.5. That way if
I change the number of those materials, the overhead multiplier properly
reflects this.

Thanks.

 

[JulieS]

Hello Michael,

My answers/comments are inline.

6/26/08

MS Project 2003, Windows XP Pro:

[Julie] Thank you for stating that up front!!

Need:
I have overhead multipliers that are used to determine total cost of
an item
(material resource). For example, materials that cost $1000 need to
show both
that original value and the extra tacked on overhead of $500. To be
clear, I
unfortunately can not show this in resources as a SINGLE item; the
two items
need to be broken out. Otherwise I'd just cost it as $1500.

The multiplier in the above is 1.5 or add an extra 50% or 0.5 added
on.

Questions:

What is the best way to do this? Is there a way to either show this
in the
resource itself?

[Julie] No, sorry. Material resources are flat rates based upon the
amount of the mateial resource assigned. Unless you assign at zero
units (see below).

It needs to show up as an extra line item on the track usages page
(where
individual resources are displayed)

[Julie] If you need to show the expense as an additional assignment
on the task usage view, you'll need to add the expense as a resource.
(Material). Assign the material resource to the task with zero units.
You can then edit the cost manually. (I suggest showing the Task Form
in the lower portion of the screen with the Resource Cost format
applied).

Maybe I have another resource that has a formula back to the first
resource's total cost? Or maybe each time (in each task) its used I
have to
enter this overhead multiplier resource. I was thinking you could
write a
formula to look at the cost every time that resource is used and add
a line
item that takes the cost and multiplies it by (in this case) 0.5.
That way if
I change the number of those materials, the overhead multiplier
properly
reflects this.

[Julie] Unfortunately you can't create formulas in Project that refer
to other tasks or assignments. You'll need to manually edit the data.

Thanks.

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

Julie
Project MVP

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