Resource Allocation and how it works

[J]

We are using MS Project Prof 2003 and set up to use the Enterprise Project
Management. I need to udnerstand better how over allocation works with
resources and how it reassigns dates.

If I have three projects

proj1
proj2
proj3

and am going to create proj4. When I create it I have to resourcs over
allocated. What will happen to proj4 dates and what will happen to proj1-3
dates assuming that this resource or resources are involved in all 4
projects.

Will only proj4 dates be arranged so that it avoids over allocation?

Will al 4 projects dates change to avoid over allocation?

Please help.

Thanks,

J

 

[Brian K - Project MVP]

We are using MS Project Prof 2003 and set up to use the Enterprise Project
Management. I need to udnerstand better how over allocation works with
resources and how it reassigns dates.

If I have three projects

proj1
proj2
proj3

and am going to create proj4. When I create it I have to resourcs over
allocated. What will happen to proj4 dates and what will happen to proj1-3
dates assuming that this resource or resources are involved in all 4
projects.

Will only proj4 dates be arranged so that it avoids over allocation?

Will al 4 projects dates change to avoid over allocation?

Please help.

Thanks,

J

Do you have Project setup to Automatically Level resources? (Tools | Level
Resources) if so turn it to manual. Then no dates will get changed unless
you take specific action. I HIGHLY recommend against automatic resource
leveling. It tends to cause more problems than it solves since dates get
moved and most people dont know what moved and by how much.

 

[J]

Brian,

Thank you for the help on that. Another question for you.

My company is a manufacturing company. We are trying to use MS Project to
help set our ship dates for the products manufatured. If I chagne level
resources to manual, how do I know if an area of my production mill is over
allocated. I don't want to assign an incorrect ship date because I have too
many jobs trying to go through a certain section of the mill. Can reports be
generated on a daily basis that shows over allocation and then set ship dates
for new jobs accordingly.

Thanks again.

J

 

[Brian K - Project MVP]

Brian,

Thank you for the help on that. Another question for you.

My company is a manufacturing company. We are trying to use MS Project to
help set our ship dates for the products manufatured. If I chagne level
resources to manual, how do I know if an area of my production mill is over
allocated. I don't want to assign an incorrect ship date because I have
too
many jobs trying to go through a certain section of the mill. Can reports
be
generated on a daily basis that shows over allocation and then set ship
dates
for new jobs accordingly.

Thanks again.

J

You can look at the Resource Sheet view and if any of the resources are
colored Red then they are overallocated. You can then go to the Gantt
chart and then choose to show the Resource Management toolbar and click
the button called "Go to Next Overallocation" This will take yo to the
next task in the Project that has an overallocation.

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

Allow me to bump in.
When you set Resource Leveling to Manual, after having applied all
improvements you can think of manually, you can still do leveling through
"Level Now".
That is the most used way to level.
HTH

 

[J]

Remember I have an enterprise resource pool set up so what project file do I
open to see over allocation. Can I open up any project or do I have to open
up the most recent.

What about finishing a job early. If we finish up something early because
it was over estimated. If it finishes a week early will that week now be
open for the resource or will it still show busy that week?

If I hit "level now" it will only change the dates to the project I have
open. Correct?

Thanks guys for all your help.

J

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi J,

I don't know Server that well so of some replies I'm not 100% sure.

First, yes, when you change the plan (for instance because of actuals)
availability is modified accordingly.

AFAIK Leveling influences tasks and resources in all open projects.

Greetings,

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

Remember I have an enterprise resource pool set up so what project file do I
open to see over allocation. Can I open up any project or do I have to open
up the most recent.

What about finishing a job early. If we finish up something early because
it was over estimated. If it finishes a week early will that week now be
open for the resource or will it still show busy that week?

If I hit "level now" it will only change the dates to the project I have
open. Correct?

Thanks guys for all your help.

J