Creating a MS Project Template

[Goobie]

My sales team have a template in Excel they use to go place bids.

For example: We do inspections on pipes. It takes 1 hour to inspect
one pipe.
If they are going to do a bid on 3000 pipes all they have to do is
type in 3000 and Excel populates the hours and then multplys the cost
per person.

The sales team is wanting me to create a template in Project where
they just have to put in a number of pipes and it does the same plan
BUT they would have an actual "plan" to show the customer.

Is anything like this even possible with MC Project?

 

[Rob Schneider]

Goobie,

yes, of course this is possible ... however, the first step would be to
make the "template" which outlines the "project" to deliver the pipes.
First step is to look at the deliverables promised as a "project" and
describe that in the template. It can be automated to the extent you
want to take the risk on automation (sometimes automation removes
"thinking" from the equation!).

Don't underestimate that building this could be complex due to the fact
that projects for delivery of anything sometimes are complex. The world
is more complicated than spreadsheets sometimes.

I'm quite sure that some or most of your customers will be very
impressed with a real "plan" in addition to your cost quote. It's
probably a big boon to the people on your company who have to actually
deliver the pips too!





--rms

www.rmschneider.com

 

[Goobie]

Goobie,

yes, of course this is possible ... however, the first step would be to
make the "template" which outlines the "project" to deliver the pipes.
First step is to look at the deliverables promised as a "project" and
describe that in the template. It can be automated to the extent you
want to take the risk on automation (sometimes automation removes
"thinking" from the equation!).

Don't underestimate that building this could be complex due to the fact
that projects for delivery of anything sometimes are complex.  The world
is more complicated than spreadsheets sometimes.

I'm quite sure that some or most of your customers will be very
impressed with a real "plan" in addition to your cost quote. It's
probably a big boon to the people on your company who have to actually
deliver the pips too!

--rms

www.rmschneider.com







- Show quoted text -

I have already created the template. I do not know what the next step
is though.

 

[Rob Schneider]

What is in the template?

Have you read about how to build a project plan in Project? Best at
this stage to crack open one of the good books, look at the internet
resources at http://project.mvps.org/, and should the risk/size of your
pipe supply projects warrant get some help from some people experienced
at this sort of thing.

--rms

 

[Goobie]

What is in the template?

Have you read about how to build a project plan in Project?  Best at
this stage to crack open one of the good books, look at the internet
resources athttp://project.mvps.org/, and should the risk/size of your
pipe supply projects warrant get some help from some people experienced
at this sort of thing.

--rms





- Show quoted text -

The template has the task that happens on most jobs.

Create Field Sketch
Do UT Survey Inspection
Create 570 Report
Take Field Photo

They are linked with Pred/Succesors

They have basic resources assigned to them with the time it takes to
complete the task.

They have milestones in there.

It has a start and end date

 

[Rob Schneider]

You are on the right track. However, you need to do some reading. For
example, you don't want to have start and finish dates. Make a start
date for the Project, but let each task be defined without dates.

I urge you to read the internet sites at the link I provided, buy and
read one of the good books (search on Amazon for starters). Take a
2-day course. Hire in some expertise.

The end result will be that you can develop cost/schedule estimates
which are "better' which could result in more successful order, more
profit, less risk, etc. All because your company has a better handle on
what actually is involved when you commit to delivering pipes to a customer.

--rms

www.rmschneider.com