24 Hour Schedule

[Johhny]

I use MS Project to schedule maintenance in a chemical plant. My typical
tasks are 1 to 6 hours in length and we just work days. Several times a
year, we have a shutdown and go on a 24 hour schedule. Does anyone know how
to set up multiple shifts in MS Project? Some of the tasks will work around
the clock for several days but most will be on days. The night shift has
less resources than the day shift.

 

[JulieS]

Hello Johnny,

Take a look at the three calendars which come with all project files --
you'll see examples of a 24-hours, a night shift, and the standard
calendar which is 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. See Tools > Change Working time
to view all three calendars.

Generally during the 24 hour time period, you most likely would want to
use the resource's calendars to drive the schedules. If you have some
staff covering the three shifts, modify the resource's calendars to
reflect their shift information. When you assign resources from
different shifts, the task times (start, finish) will automatically
adjust to conform with the resource's working time.

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

 

[Jim Aksel]

MS Project contains a 24 hour calendar by default. To see it, Tools/Change
Working Time and then hit the dropdown at the top of the window. If it is
not there, hit the new button and you can create it by highlighting all days
and changing the hours. Make sure you save a unique name so nothing gets
overwritten. However, you will probably not have to do that part.

Using these calendars is just as easy. Create tasks as you normally would
do. To change the calendar assigned to a specific task, double click the
task, pull the advanced tab, change the calendar to 24 hours.

To assign the calendar to multiple tasks, highlight all the tasks desired
and select the task information icon (looks like file folders) in the toobar,
then advanced.

The calendar will apply unless an individual resource has its own calendar
which overrides the global settings.

--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

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

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

 

[Johhny]

Thanks.

My problem is that we have a different number of resources on days and
nights. For example: 10 pipefitters on days and 5 pipefitters on nights.
Typically, each job is planned for 2 pipefitters. How do you set up 10
pipefitters on days and 5 pipefitters on nights so that a job that requires 2
pipefitters and works around the clock for 2 days will level?

--
Johnny

Hello Johnny,

Take a look at the three calendars which come with all project files --
you'll see examples of a 24-hours, a night shift, and the standard
calendar which is 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. See Tools > Change Working time
to view all three calendars.

Generally during the 24 hour time period, you most likely would want to
use the resource's calendars to drive the schedules. If you have some
staff covering the three shifts, modify the resource's calendars to
reflect their shift information. When you assign resources from
different shifts, the task times (start, finish) will automatically
adjust to conform with the resource's working time.

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

 

[JulieS]

Hello Johnny,

If the 10 daytime pipefitters and 5 night time pipefitters all have
equivalent abilities and costs, you could create two named resources:

"Pipefitters - day shift" with a maximum units of 1000% - representing
10 "fulltime" pipefitters
"Pipefitters - night shift" with a maximum units of 500% - representing
5 "fulltime" pipefitters

Modify each resource's calendar to create the shifts, minding the issue
that working hours cannot span over midnight. Again, take a look at the
"Night Shift" calendar that comes with project.

When you assign resources you can assign up to the maximum units of
resources without overallocating and needing to level the 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

Thanks.

My problem is that we have a different number of resources on days and
nights. For example: 10 pipefitters on days and 5 pipefitters on
nights.
Typically, each job is planned for 2 pipefitters. How do you set up
10
pipefitters on days and 5 pipefitters on nights so that a job that
requires 2
pipefitters and works around the clock for 2 days will level?

 

[Steve House]

I prefer to setup three calendars covering each shift that collectively
total 24 hours coverage. When you create your resources, Joe Pipefitter may
have the day shift normal calendar as his base calendar while Mary Swing has
the swing-shift base calendar as her's. Now when you have 1-day task X and
assign Joe to it as the resource, it will be scheduled between 8 and 5.
OTOH, if you assign the same task to Mary, it will shift to show starting at
3pm and ending at 12mid.
--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs

Thanks.

My problem is that we have a different number of resources on days and
nights. For example: 10 pipefitters on days and 5 pipefitters on nights.
Typically, each job is planned for 2 pipefitters. How do you set up 10
pipefitters on days and 5 pipefitters on nights so that a job that
requires 2
pipefitters and works around the clock for 2 days will level?

 

[Steve House]

The problem with using the 24 hour calendar, as I see it, is that if it's
the Project calendar the assumption is that all tasks will proceed 24/7 from
the time they start until they're done. That's not often the case. You
usually assign a task to a specific team that works 1 and only 1 shift. It
might be day or swing or graveyard but a 40 hours task won't run from 8am
Mon until Tue evening with resources on successive shifts relieving each
other, it'll run for 5 working days with the resource assigned doing 8 hours
day 1, 8 hours day 2, 8 hours day 3 etc with the task standing down for the
time that one resource isn't working and it doesn't matter if that resource
is day shift or swing shift or grave shift. The FIRM may operate 24/7 but
the ONE resource assigned to each specific task still only goes for 8 hours
at a stretch with 16 hours of non-activity following each work period of the
resource doing that specific task. IMHO, if you have ONE task being done in
turn by Joe Dayshift, Mary Swingshift, and Fred Graveshift relieving each
other in turn, you're not breaking the tasks down into sufficient detail to
effectively manage the work.

 

[Johhny]

Julie,

I'll try this next week and see how it works. Thanks for the help.

 

[Johhny]

Thanks for the help Jim. I'll work on it. BTW, what does MVP stand for?

 

[Johhny]

A good example of one of our multiple day tasks is cleaning a column. The
crew starts at the top and works their way down and it takes several days.
Thanks for the reply.
--
Johnny

The problem with using the 24 hour calendar, as I see it, is that if it's
the Project calendar the assumption is that all tasks will proceed 24/7 from
the time they start until they're done. That's not often the case. You
usually assign a task to a specific team that works 1 and only 1 shift. It
might be day or swing or graveyard but a 40 hours task won't run from 8am
Mon until Tue evening with resources on successive shifts relieving each
other, it'll run for 5 working days with the resource assigned doing 8 hours
day 1, 8 hours day 2, 8 hours day 3 etc with the task standing down for the
time that one resource isn't working and it doesn't matter if that resource
is day shift or swing shift or grave shift. The FIRM may operate 24/7 but
the ONE resource assigned to each specific task still only goes for 8 hours
at a stretch with 16 hours of non-activity following each work period of the
resource doing that specific task. IMHO, if you have ONE task being done in
turn by Joe Dayshift, Mary Swingshift, and Fred Graveshift relieving each
other in turn, you're not breaking the tasks down into sufficient detail to
effectively manage the work.
--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs

MS Project contains a 24 hour calendar by default. To see it,
Tools/Change
Working Time and then hit the dropdown at the top of the window. If it is
not there, hit the new button and you can create it by highlighting all
days
and changing the hours. Make sure you save a unique name so nothing gets
overwritten. However, you will probably not have to do that part.

Using these calendars is just as easy. Create tasks as you normally would
do. To change the calendar assigned to a specific task, double click the
task, pull the advanced tab, change the calendar to 24 hours.

To assign the calendar to multiple tasks, highlight all the tasks desired
and select the task information icon (looks like file folders) in the
toobar,
then advanced.

The calendar will apply unless an individual resource has its own calendar
which overrides the global settings.

--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

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

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

 

[JulieS]

You're most welcome Johnny. Let us know how you get along.

Julie
Project MVP

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

 

[Jim Aksel]

MVPs are "Most Valuable Professionals." This is an honorary award given by
Microsoft for those who make significant competent contributions to the
field. No test to take, just volunteer work and competence. You can learn
more by clicking the bronze icon next to my name (if it shows up for you).

From the website:

Microsoft MVPs are also identified with an icon . These are individuals who
have received the MVP award for their positive impact in the technical and
product communities they participate in. They are viewed by their peers and
by Microsoft as credible experts who provide accurate technical answers while
sharing a common passion for technology.

MVPs are individuals from around the globe recognized by Microsoft for their
demonstrated technical expertise and active participation in Microsoft
peer-to-peer communities like discussion groups and message boards. These
individuals represent a wide variety of backgrounds and professions, but they
share the basic characteristics of having very strong technical skills in one
or more Microsoft products or technology areas and the willingness to share
that knowledge with others. MVPs are recognized for their past contributions
to one or more online communities and many times are also prominent authors,
developers, industry "gurus" or speakers.

The enthusiasm of the MVPs combined with their positive contributions
exemplifies the spirit of strong communities.


--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

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

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

 

[Steve House]

Good example. Let's say it will take 24 hours to clean a column and you're
going to have it start Monday at 8am. Does your organization want to
schedule it so the day shift cleaning team will start it Monday morning, to
be relieved by the swing shift cleaners at 3pm, who are in turn relieved by
the graveyard cleaners at 11pm, with the cleaning finally finishing Tuesday
morning? Or do you schedule it so it will be done exclusively by EITHER a
day shift team OR by a swing shift team OR by a grave team, with work
starting when that team's shift begins and stopping when they leave at the
end of their shift to resume when they come back the next day so it takes a
total of 3 work days to get completed?
--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs

A good example of one of our multiple day tasks is cleaning a column. The
crew starts at the top and works their way down and it takes several days.
Thanks for the reply.
--
Johnny

The problem with using the 24 hour calendar, as I see it, is that if it's
the Project calendar the assumption is that all tasks will proceed 24/7
from
the time they start until they're done. That's not often the case. You
usually assign a task to a specific team that works 1 and only 1 shift.
It
might be day or swing or graveyard but a 40 hours task won't run from 8am
Mon until Tue evening with resources on successive shifts relieving each
other, it'll run for 5 working days with the resource assigned doing 8
hours
day 1, 8 hours day 2, 8 hours day 3 etc with the task standing down for
the
time that one resource isn't working and it doesn't matter if that
resource
is day shift or swing shift or grave shift. The FIRM may operate 24/7
but
the ONE resource assigned to each specific task still only goes for 8
hours
at a stretch with 16 hours of non-activity following each work period of
the
resource doing that specific task. IMHO, if you have ONE task being done
in
turn by Joe Dayshift, Mary Swingshift, and Fred Graveshift relieving each
other in turn, you're not breaking the tasks down into sufficient detail
to
effectively manage the work.
--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs

MS Project contains a 24 hour calendar by default. To see it,
Tools/Change
Working Time and then hit the dropdown at the top of the window. If it
is
not there, hit the new button and you can create it by highlighting all
days
and changing the hours. Make sure you save a unique name so nothing
gets
overwritten. However, you will probably not have to do that part.

Using these calendars is just as easy. Create tasks as you normally
would
do. To change the calendar assigned to a specific task, double click
the
task, pull the advanced tab, change the calendar to 24 hours.

To assign the calendar to multiple tasks, highlight all the tasks
desired
and select the task information icon (looks like file folders) in the
toobar,
then advanced.

The calendar will apply unless an individual resource has its own
calendar
which overrides the global settings.

--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

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

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



:

I use MS Project to schedule maintenance in a chemical plant. My
typical
tasks are 1 to 6 hours in length and we just work days. Several times
a
year, we have a shutdown and go on a 24 hour schedule. Does anyone
know
how
to set up multiple shifts in MS Project? Some of the tasks will work
around
the clock for several days but most will be on days. The night shift
has
less resources than the day shift.

 

[Johhny]

Tasks we do like this work around the clock till completion. We use 12 hour
shifts, days and nights so the day crew works on the task and hands it off to
the night crew, etc.
--
Johnny

Good example. Let's say it will take 24 hours to clean a column and you're
going to have it start Monday at 8am. Does your organization want to
schedule it so the day shift cleaning team will start it Monday morning, to
be relieved by the swing shift cleaners at 3pm, who are in turn relieved by
the graveyard cleaners at 11pm, with the cleaning finally finishing Tuesday
morning? Or do you schedule it so it will be done exclusively by EITHER a
day shift team OR by a swing shift team OR by a grave team, with work
starting when that team's shift begins and stopping when they leave at the
end of their shift to resume when they come back the next day so it takes a
total of 3 work days to get completed?
--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs

A good example of one of our multiple day tasks is cleaning a column. The
crew starts at the top and works their way down and it takes several days.
Thanks for the reply.
--
Johnny

The problem with using the 24 hour calendar, as I see it, is that if it's
the Project calendar the assumption is that all tasks will proceed 24/7
from
the time they start until they're done. That's not often the case. You
usually assign a task to a specific team that works 1 and only 1 shift.
It
might be day or swing or graveyard but a 40 hours task won't run from 8am
Mon until Tue evening with resources on successive shifts relieving each
other, it'll run for 5 working days with the resource assigned doing 8
hours
day 1, 8 hours day 2, 8 hours day 3 etc with the task standing down for
the
time that one resource isn't working and it doesn't matter if that
resource
is day shift or swing shift or grave shift. The FIRM may operate 24/7
but
the ONE resource assigned to each specific task still only goes for 8
hours
at a stretch with 16 hours of non-activity following each work period of
the
resource doing that specific task. IMHO, if you have ONE task being done
in
turn by Joe Dayshift, Mary Swingshift, and Fred Graveshift relieving each
other in turn, you're not breaking the tasks down into sufficient detail
to
effectively manage the work.
--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://www.mvps.org/project/faqs.htm for the FAQs


MS Project contains a 24 hour calendar by default. To see it,
Tools/Change
Working Time and then hit the dropdown at the top of the window. If it
is
not there, hit the new button and you can create it by highlighting all
days
and changing the hours. Make sure you save a unique name so nothing
gets
overwritten. However, you will probably not have to do that part.

Using these calendars is just as easy. Create tasks as you normally
would
do. To change the calendar assigned to a specific task, double click
the
task, pull the advanced tab, change the calendar to 24 hours.

To assign the calendar to multiple tasks, highlight all the tasks
desired
and select the task information icon (looks like file folders) in the
toobar,
then advanced.

The calendar will apply unless an individual resource has its own
calendar
which overrides the global settings.

--
If this post was helpful, please consider rating it.

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

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



:

I use MS Project to schedule maintenance in a chemical plant. My
typical
tasks are 1 to 6 hours in length and we just work days. Several times
a
year, we have a shutdown and go on a 24 hour schedule. Does anyone
know
how
to set up multiple shifts in MS Project? Some of the tasks will work
around
the clock for several days but most will be on days. The night shift
has
less resources than the day shift.

 

[Johhny]

I tried this and it is a workable solution if there are just a few tasks that
day and night resources can be added to them. If we worked a schedule where
all tasks could be worked either on days or nights depending on where
leveling put them, it doesn't appear that MS Project can handle this. This
would require being able to set up 2 shifts of pipefitters but with the same
name. That way, a task with 2 pipefitters could work on either days or
nights depending on where it falls in the leveling process. Thanks for the
help.

 

[JulieS]

Hello Johnny,

I'm not sure I follow your question. If you have a task that can be
worked on either by day shift or night shift workers, what doesn't work?
You can create the 1000% resource for the 10 workers as needed.

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