How to free up resource when task is completed

[raz1980]

Hi,

I noticed in microsoft Project that when a taks is 100% complete, the
resource is still not available even when I re-level the resources.

For Example:

Resource IG has the following tasks

Task 1 4 days Tue 11/15/05 Fri 11/18/05 0% IG
Task 2 8 days Mon 11/21/05 Wed 11/30/05 0% IG Task 3 7 days Thu
12/01/05 Fri 12/09/05 0% IG

If IG finishes task 1 on time and then finishes task 2 early then he
should be able to start task 3, but the plan will not do that. If he
finishes task 2 on 11/23, then I would expect the plan (after
re-leveling) would should show that he starts task 3 on 11/24 and ends
on 11/31, but it does not change from the original.

Task 1 4 days Tue 11/15/05 Fri 11/18/05 100% IG
Task 2 8 days Mon 11/21/05 Wed 11/30/05 100% IG Task 3 7 days Thu
12/01/05 Fri 12/09/05 0% IG

The reason this bothers me is that it does not seem to show a realistic
view of whether the project is on schedule. For example, a resource
constraint was causing the end date of the project to be too far out,
but we made up the time, by finishing some tasks early. Now I want the
plan to reflect that the end date is on target. The only way I can
think to do it is to go in and change the original durations on the
tasks that are complete to reflect the time they actually took and not
the time originally scheduled, which would be a lot of work.

Is their an easier way, even if I have to use a formula?

Thanks
Bob

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

I have the impression that you entered a start date for task 3. This
genbnerates a start not earlier than constraint on the task which makes it
stay put even if the resource is available.
An unconstrained task 3 would come in earlier.
HTH

 

[raz1980]

Hi,

I did not add a start date to any of the tasks in the real plan. They
have predecessors that set the date and are set to start "as soon as
Possible". The predecessors are complete.

Thanks
Bob

 

[Rod Gill]

How did you update the task that finished early? I assume you edited the
duration so its finish date reflected the actual finish date? That should
then bring forward the next task and all is well.

 

[Steve House [Project MVP]]

It sounds like you have a mistaken idea of what resource leveling does. All
it does is delay work in order to resolve a situation where the resource
concerned is double booked and thus overallocated. That's all it does.
Resource Leveling is NOT a synonym for Resource Optimizing, which is what it
sounds like you expect it to do. You have a task finished early and you
want leveling to make the successor task move earlier. But leveling NEVER
moves tasks earlier under any circumstances, all it ever does is move tasks
later.

When you post in progress for tasks that finish early, you must enter the
data by specifying the date the task actually started IN THE ACTUAL START
FIELD, NOT THE PLAIN VANILLA "START" FIELD and either enter the finish date
in the ACTUAL FINISH field or by entering Actual Duration to whatever it was
and Remaining Duration to zero. The Tracking Table view in the Gantt Chart
is the easiest place to find those fields. Editing the Start, Finish, and
Duration columns in the regular Gantt chart entry table most emphatically
will NOT do what you want.

In your example I'm assuming those 3 tasks are linked in a chain FS. If
task 1 is set to 100% complete as scheduled, then entering progress for task
2 by posting to it an Actual Duration of 6 days and a remaining duration of
0 days, Project will mark it also at 100% complete, set its duration to 6
days, AND bring task 3 forward in the schedule by 2 days.

HTH

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi Robert,

Let's stop the guesswork, do send me the file, and I'll tell you what you
did to block the task.
HTH

 

[raz1980]

Hi Robert,

Let's stop the guesswork, do send me the file, and I'll tell you what you
did to block the task.
HTH

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
http://users.online.be/prom-ade/
+32-495-300 620

Hi,

I did not realize that "finish" and "actual finish" would make things
work differently. I think I get it now and just need to start using the
"actual" fields to update the plan. It seems to work in the test
environment that I setup.

Thanks
Bob