Resource group

[Kristian]

Is it possible to create a group of resources?
I want to be able to let RM add a "group" and that "group" should include
the usual resources.

Thanks for any help,
Kristian

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

I'm sorry, no :-(

 

[Sheila]

Hi Jan,

There seems to be a function in project to create a pool of resources,
is this not the same as a group? Also, I thought by increasing the max
unit on the resource sheet from 100% too say 500% would mean there are
5 people allocated to the project?

regards

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi Sheila,

Yes, you can put Max. Units to 500, which means five people are allocated to
the project.
But this is not a reply to your original question, I quote:
"that "group" should include the usual resources."
Well, it doesn't include other resources. It's just 5 units of a resource,
that's all.
Hence my reply that a resource including other resources is not possible.

Resource pools help put resoruces in common between multiple projects.
Look for help on Resource Sharing.
HTH

 

[Sheila]

Hi Jan,

Thanks for that.

Another question - I have allocated 500% to resource A which works
fine, but when I set resource A on the calendar as a non-working day,
MS Project naturally assumed all 500% cannot work on that particular
day. Is there a way around this?

So basically, I have 5 engineers allocated to the project, all five
will have booked leave for the 6months duration for the project. I
need to reflect this on the project plan.

Any suggestions?

Regards
Sheila

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi Sheila,

The way I do it and recommend it requires the use of Resource leveling.
Enter all planned absences as MUST START ON constrained tasks with 100% of
the resource.
Leveling will then try to schedule the other tasks such that the holiday is
taken into account.

Unless, of course, you have assigned all 5 to one task, then lebvveling
can't help because you are requiring 600% of those engineers and that's a
problem.
Leveling will never change assignment units.

There is an alternative through contoured availablility (see Resource
information) but that requirs leveling as well to be reflected in the plan.

Hope this helps,

 

[Sheila]

Thanks for that.

Sorry, why would you enter a constraint?

Yes, i'm using the resource leveling function.

So, if say for instance an engineer could not complete a site 1 install
how would you update the plan. I don't want the plan to change the
dates for all the other sites.

Regards
Sheila

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi Sheila,

How without a constraint would you position the holidays??

That depends on what miracle you want to perform.
If an engineer finshes a site late, he has to stay there hasn't he?
So he isn't available for the other sites is he?
Somebody will get delayed by that won't he?

And the final question: why can't MS project show you a realistic plan then?

 

[Sheila]

The whole plan has a constraint set up as 'AS SOON AS POSSIBLE'. I'm
not sure if that's what you are referring to when you mention
constraint? I assumed that engineers leave can be applied through
resource information, noting the percentage available from a range of
dates. For example, if two engineers happen to be off on the same day,
I have inserted the from and to date along with 300% units available.

I will then have to look at how the plan will be updated if an engineer
is unable to complete the task. Here I think I may have to specify a
date range before updating levelling to avoid MSP from updating all the
other dates for the remaining sites. (If an engineer cannot finish the
site off he will have to re-visit but we dont want that to affect the
remaining sites.)

I may well be looking at this all wrong!

Sheila

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

OK, as I said, your suggestion is a valid alternative, I suggested a
different one.