Work Hour Distribution

[CK]

Hi,

I have 3 shifts covering a 24 hour period. I created calendars for each
shift. When I assign a 1st shift resource to a 12 hour duration task the
calculated work is 12 hours. However, when I assign a second shift resource
(effort driven on and type is units) the hours are split evenly 6 hrs each.
Is there a way for Project to automaticaly recognize that the 1st shift
completed their 8 hour day and then the 2nd shift picks up the other 4 hours?
I know I can change the work hours manually but I would like the work to
flow from one shift to the next -- I do not want Project to evenly distribute
the work time. I tried work contontour but that doesn't seem to work the way
I expected.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[Gérard Ducouret]

CK,

Project doesn't do such an automatic distribution of work. you will have to
do it manually. Sorry

Gérard Ducouret

 

[Mike Glen]

Hi CK,

Welcome to this Microsoft Project newsgroup

I assume you are using 3 equal length shifts. In Project/Project
Information select to use the 24 hours calendar. In the Resource Sheet
view, ensure the right resource is using the correct shift calendar. Now,
when you assign the resources from the 3 shifts - from the Gantt Chart view,
Window/Split. Select the task in the top pane and then then click in the
Resources cell in the lower pane. Select the 3 resources in turn and then
click OK. It is essential to enter all 3 at the same time before clicking
OK, otherwise Project will assume you are changing the allocations. Project
will now assign the resources to their correct shifts for the full 24 hours
working day. To see this best, from the Gantt Chart in the top pane, click
on the lower pane to make it active, and then select the Resource Usage
view. Zoom in to hours of the day. Note the anomaly of the Duration. If
you started with a 1 day task, you will see 3 days showing up in the
Duration cell. This is because the settings in Tools/Options... /Calendar
tab show a day as 8 hours. You will have to change a day to mean 24 hours
to remove the anomaly.

FAQs, companion products and other useful Project information can be seen at
this web address: http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm

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

 

[Rob]

Create the task calender(if diff from 24hr) and the three resource calenders.

Apply calender to task.
Apply calenders to resources.
Set up your task info.
Appy resources.

Worked for me.

 

[CK]

Thanks for responding but those methods still didn’t work.

I assigned a 1st shift resource to a 12 hour task. Then I was notified that
a 2nd shift resource could help out for that 12 hour task. When I assigned
the 2nd shift resource, the work for the 1st shift resource changed from 12
hours to 6 hours and the 2nd shift resource was assigned 6 hours of work.
What I would like Project to do is assign the full 8 hour 1st shift and only
4 hours to the 2nd shift resource. I tried various task types and the only
way to change these work hours is to manually type the hours ... 8 for 1st
shift and 4 for 2nd.

Thanks again.

 

[Mike Glen]

As I said, this only works when you first assign the resources -
subsequently the effort driven and task types come into use, as you've
observed. For the task, split the screen and remove the resources and
re-set the Duration. Now re-insert both shifts - THEN press OK.

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

 

[CK]

Thanks. I appreciate the help -- I wish Project would have a better
(automatic) work flow for shifts (after the initial assignment) but at least
there is a solution.


This is a great resource!

 

[Mike Glen]

You're welcome, CK

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

 

[Steve House [MVP]]

Keep in mind a basic assumption is that you are going to break the tasks
down into enough detail that a "task" is the description of the work done by
ONE resource (or resource team that works as a single unit). While you
might have 15 welders distributed over all three shifts, best practice is to
detail out all of the various welding tasks to the level that "Task XXX"
describes a specifc welding activity done by a single welder or a team of a
welder and assistant working together. If the work requires more than one
work period, it will stop when the resource assigned leaves for the day and
resumes when he returns rather than being handed over to another resource.
Or viewed another way, a task that starts with one individual working on it
and is taken over by another resource when the first one's work-day ends
really should be broken down into 2 separate activities and assigned
individually if possible.

 

[CK]

Thanks. I will break down the current task into more detailed tasks and see
how that works out.
--
CK

Keep in mind a basic assumption is that you are going to break the tasks
down into enough detail that a "task" is the description of the work done by
ONE resource (or resource team that works as a single unit). While you
might have 15 welders distributed over all three shifts, best practice is to
detail out all of the various welding tasks to the level that "Task XXX"
describes a specifc welding activity done by a single welder or a team of a
welder and assistant working together. If the work requires more than one
work period, it will stop when the resource assigned leaves for the day and
resumes when he returns rather than being handed over to another resource.
Or viewed another way, a task that starts with one individual working on it
and is taken over by another resource when the first one's work-day ends
really should be broken down into 2 separate activities and assigned
individually if possible.
--
Steve House [Project MVP]
MS Project Trainer & Consultant
Visit http://project.mvps.org/faqs.htm for the FAQs