Hi,
I have recently started using P6 Standalone version to test it on 6-7 small scale projects. I haven't had the formal training yet and working on a local dbase. As an MSP user I got a few questions which I couldn't find the answers to in the forum/manual and would appreciate if experienced users can help.
- I have 5 people with 'engineer' title on a project and all of them have different cost rates and charge-out rates. What would be the best way to manage this resource pool. The same people work on another proejct with another client where the rates are again different. What I have done is I created a role called 'engineering' and added sub items 'Eng-1', 'Eng-2'...then assing each resource to one of these and put 3 different rates for each role. (cost, client 1 and client 2 rates). Is this the logical approach or is there a better way? Considering Eng-1, Eng-2 are under the same 'Role' will they be interchangeable?
- I put the budgeted hours/resources for each task in my project and the BC for each item seems OK. Is there a way of finding what the total BC is for a project?
- My projects are on 'charge out with ceiling' basis. ie I produce an estimate using charge out rates with the estimated hours which gives the ceiling (some charge out rates are less then cost rate as they were set udner a framework a while ago...). The profit is the difference between the time spent at the charge rate minus the time spent at cost rate. Is there a way of finding the 'total project' forecasts at two different rates?
- How can I get the monthly spending profile based on budgeted cost (the units/rates I entered for each task)?
- What is the best way of adding recurring events (weekly progress meetings for 6 months, programme updates every 3 weeks... These are usually 2-3 hours tasks).
thanks in advance.
glad I could help
Thank you very much Zoltan. Much appreaciated.
Thank you very much Zoltan. Much appreaciated.
1. Is this the logical approach or is there a better way? Considering Eng-1, Eng-2 are under the same 'Role' will they be interchangeable?
Answer: assign a role to the resource and use the different cost rates
2. Is there a way of finding what the total BC is for a project?
Answer: Right click and select columns on the left expand the category under costs and select Budgeted Total Costs. Next go to View and select Filer and make sure that the ALL Activities is checked. Now go to View Group and sort and at the top select show group total and show grand totals. The total cost will be at the top on the Budgeted Total Costs column.
You can also add a column for Budgeted Labor Cost and or Budgeted Units. Cost is under costs manhours is under units,
3. To find the 'total project' forecasts at two different rates?
Answer copy the schedule change the rate in the copied schedule.
4. How can I get the monthly spending profile based on budgeted cost (the units/rates I entered for each task)?
Answer View show on bottom then either resource usage profile or activity usage profile or activity usage spreadsheet or resource usage spreadsheet. Then on the right side make the time scale months.
5. - What is the best way of adding recurring events (weekly progress meetings for 6 months, programme updates every 3 weeks... These are usually 2-3 hours tasks).
Answer: Copy this one task over and over again then link then all together with a FS relationship with a 15 day lag. These are freviously tasks that will in NO way affect the critical path an add unnecessary activities to the schedule.