Resource overallocation problem

[xinxindong2004]

We are trying to use MS project to make production schedule for our
truck body jobs. As all jobs are similar, must go through different
workcenters, we take different jobs as tasks and workcenters as
subtasks.

For each workcenter (subtask), we have relatively stable workers
(resources). I already made groups by workcenters for these resources.
We don't want to assign specific resources to subtasks, because we
don't care who would do the job. Anyone in the group would be ok. So I
try to assign groups on subtasks, but many resources are
overallocated. Then I try to build a resource pool, and share
resources for different subtasks, but it seems it still doesn't work.
Many resources are still overallocated. What should I do to make sure
the resources are not overallocated for different subtasks? Is that
the proper way to use 'share resource'? Or is there a better way to
solve the problem or easy for us to schedule?

Please help.
Thanks,
Tracey

 

[Jan De Messemaeker]

Hi,

Do you use 1 file per job all all in 1 file?
If all in 1 file then resoruce sharing is irrelevant.
The answer is you should use resource leveling to do away with the
overallocations.
Reads teh principles and give it a try; do come back here for details if
necessary.
HTH

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

 

[xinxindong2004]

Hi,

Do you use 1 file per job all all in 1 file?
If all in 1 file then resoruce sharing is irrelevant.
The answer is you should use resource leveling to do away with the
overallocations.
Reads teh principles and give it a try; do come back here for details if
necessary.
HTH

--
Jan De Messemaeker
Microsoft Project Most Valuable Professional
+32 495 300 620







- Show quoted text -

Hi, Jan,

I put all in one file, and had a try on level resource. It works.
Thanks.

I have another question. If we don't care who would do the job and
just pick one or two persons to do the job at the time, then how
should I assign resources? If assigning the group instead of
individuals, the duration would be much shorter than it actually is.
Is there a easy way to do that? We don't want to specify some
individuals to the job. We hope to assign labor time in the group
instead of individuals. Is that possible? Please help.

Thanks,
Tracey

 

[Mike Glen]

Yes, you can call the resource Workers, or Electricians or whatever and in
the Resource Usage view, assign the Max Units to reflect your situation eg:
300% for 3 workers or whatever numbers you have. Then assign that resource
to the tasks and then level. Project will then level assuming you have no
more than the Max Units you set. However, you can't then assign one of them
by name - it's one or the other.

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP
See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for my free Project Tutorials

=============
I have another question. If we don't care who would do the job and
just pick one or two persons to do the job at the time, then how
should I assign resources? If assigning the group instead of
individuals, the duration would be much shorter than it actually is.
Is there a easy way to do that? We don't want to specify some
individuals to the job. We hope to assign labor time in the group
instead of individuals. Is that possible? Please help.

Thanks,
Tracey

 

[xinxindong2004]

Yes, you can call the resource Workers, or Electricians or whatever and in
the Resource Usage view, assign the Max Units to reflect your situation eg:
300% for 3 workers or whatever numbers you have.  Then assign that resource
to the tasks and then level.  Project will then level assuming you haveno
more than the Max Units you set.  However, you can't then assign one ofthem
by name - it's one or the other.

Hope this helps - please let us know how you get on

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP
Seehttp://tinyurl.com/2xbhcfor my free Project Tutorials

=============

Hi, Mike,

I understand what you said. But if some people in the group take
vacation, how it would reflect to the Max units. Do I have to do it
manually? Is there a way I input the exceptional days for different
workers, and Max units for the group would be changed automatically?
Please help.

Thanks,
Tracey

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi Tracey,

Sorry for the delay - I've been away. If you wish to allow for holidays,
etc, you will have to manually adjust the avilability contour in the
resource Availability dialog (double-click the resource name on the Resource
Sheet view). When using generic resources in this way, you cannot control
an individual's availability in any other way that I'm aware of.

Mike Glen
Project MVP

 

[xinxindong2004]

Hi Tracey,

Sorry for the delay - I've been away.  If you wish to allow for holidays,
etc, you will have to manually adjust the avilability contour in the
resource Availability dialog (double-click the resource name on the Resource
Sheet view).  When using generic resources in this way, you cannot control
an individual's availability in any other way that I'm aware of.

Mike Glen
Project MVP








- Show quoted text -

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your help. If you consider our situation from the
beginning, the repetition job environment, the information for total
labor time in the coming weeks, would you help me to figure out a
better way to make the schedule? I am thinking probably you would have
an efficient way to do this, instead of assigning individuals or max
unit of groups to tasks.

Thanks,
Tracey

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi Tracey,

There is a better way and that is to use a program that's designed for
controlling production Project is designed for those once only, unique
undertakings with a clearly defined start and finish. You can't use
individual calendars for a group, but you can use a group calendar, but I
don't believe that will be of use to you. Max units is the only way to go,
and varying the units by time to meet you resource absences is your only
sensible option with Project.

Other than that, I believe you are in danger of micro-managing. Except for
major absences like holidays or longer-term sickness, leave the Max Units
alone. Project is a scheduling program based on the estimated times you
enter. Be more generous with your estimates and let the local management
( foreman?) fit the workers into their slots. If your tasks really are
repetitive, you can then refine your estimates.

Mike Glen
Project MVP

Hi Tracey,

Sorry for the delay - I've been away. If you wish to allow for holidays,
etc, you will have to manually adjust the avilability contour in the
resource Availability dialog (double-click the resource name on the
Resource
Sheet view). When using generic resources in this way, you cannot control
an individual's availability in any other way that I'm aware of.

Mike Glen
Project MVP








- Show quoted text -

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your help. If you consider our situation from the
beginning, the repetition job environment, the information for total
labor time in the coming weeks, would you help me to figure out a
better way to make the schedule? I am thinking probably you would have
an efficient way to do this, instead of assigning individuals or max
unit of groups to tasks.

Thanks,
Tracey

 

[xinxindong2004]

Thanks, Mike.

Just like you said, our schedule is not so strict and I don't have to
make a perfect one. Right now we do everything manually, just want to
use project to save some time for scheduling. Thanks again.

Tracey

 

[Mike Glen]

You're welcome, Tracey, and good luck

Mike Glen
MS Project MVP
See http://tinyurl.com/2xbhc for my free Project Tutorials


Thanks, Mike.

Just like you said, our schedule is not so strict and I don't have to
make a perfect one. Right now we do everything manually, just want to
use project to save some time for scheduling. Thanks again.

Tracey