Warn if task Not able to complete

[Samantha]

Hi,
I'm trying to use Ms Project as a Lead Time tool for purchasing. I'm a
novice and therefore, it might not be the best tool but was told to use it
anyway given the time constraint that we're under.
What I need to do is to compare the Start Date of the task with another date
(Change Order Date) that must be completed first before the Start Date. The
Change Order Date is not always necessary. But if it were required, I need
the project to let me know (eg. any time of alert or color change in task,
etc) that we will have a problem meeting the Start Date based on the
comparison with the Change Order Date.

For example, if
Start Date = 4/14/2008
ChangeOrderDate = 4/21/2008
Then, since ChangeOrderDate> StartDate, we will have a problem and we want
to be alerted.
Is this possible in MsProject? Any help is very much appreciated! Thanks in
advance!

 

[DavidC]

Hi Samantha,

What you are looking for is a report of any activity where the float is less
than zero.
To do this you would have your purchasing activity with a deadline
reflecting the changeorder date. If the purchase date then exceeds the
deadline it will give negative float and that can be reported on.

What I would suggest though is to set the project up such that the date for
purchasing is identified as an activity and that the changeorder date is then
identified from that by using a "SF-7d" successor to the purchasing activity.
This will then set the changeorder date showing when it has to be completed
to meet the purchasing timeframe.

The main function of Project is to identify when things need to be done in
order to meet a project end date. It will also identify how critical an
activity is to be completed on a particular date through the total float
available. Generally having negative float is not a good way to manage a
schedule, although sometimes that is simply what happens when trying to meet
a deadline and mitigating action hasnt been implemented.

Hope this is of some help.

Regards

DavidC