Dear Planners, Schedulers and Project Controls Professionals...
Welcome to Junes information update...
Things are Planning Planet (PP) are moving along very nicely. So many of you are getting involved in so many ways, it is amazing. It also shows what a wonderful profession we all work in. Everyone is willing to share some information and time.
We also have some great news of new partnerships we have forged so watch this space.
If you have some comments or suggestions on how our community site should be changed, new functions implemented, or for us to simply improve, please do let us know at [email protected]
Be proud of your planning. We hope you find some value in the following text. If not, do tell us!
Regards... Planning Planet
(1) REGONAL PLANNERS MEETINGS UPDATE...
Are you aware of the meetings happening near to you? Over the past few weeks planners around the globe have been meeting to say hello and talk strategy, raise questions and offer opinions on planning and the planners Guild, the GPPCD.
The global gatherings have been underway in London, Madrid, Frankfurt, Adelaide, Singapore, New Zealand, Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Cape Town.
Check out the currently scheduled meetings; read more... current meetings map; read more... and let us know if you want to propose a venue for a meeting and we will do the rest at [email protected] perhaps your company can accommodate us in a meeting room or conference centre?
(2) PLANNERS GUILD UPDATE...
We have asked the Officers of the Guild to provide the "Aims of the Guild" these are just some of them...
- As planners we need to have our profession recognised (how many times have you had to tell your friends what you do!?).
- We need to have planning, scheduling and project controls valued within the Project Team (why is it that we are often seen and thought of as a secondary or service / reporting team?).
- We need a means to offer a career path (how many planners get to do more than be a planning manager?).
- We can link the current / future accreditation's and examinations (this really is possible! - we are independent and can reference, evaluate and partner with organisations).
- We can work with our employers to raise the level of awareness and expertise of individuals and employers (we are doing this via our relationships with the major global companies).
- To help provide visibility with respect to future technologies (such as BIM) and to provide the planning community with a vision on what we see happening across business sectors regarding Project Controls methods, tools ,processes so we are always current.
- Provide resources to help planners develop their project controls processes so as to help them become successful.
- To standardized best practices and processes; the Guild will be the first body of knowledge, liked with the certification process that covers the full gamut of project controls expertise and knowledge.
- Providing access to coaches and mentors.
What do you think? Let the Guild Team know!!!
(3) PLANNERS GUILD SUPPORTERS UPDATE...
We are in dialogue with more than 60 large and major global companies and are agreeing with them on how the Guild of Project Planning, Controls & Delivery, the GPPCD, can help them in their quest for better planning and controls.
We now have companies who are learning from one another, whilst still maintaining their own internal secrets and proven controls systems and procedures, but who are seeing the benefit in sharing some knowledge to learn what they are doing well and to help see what they might benefit from. The GPPCD is not a profit organisation, is run by leading planning managers (in full time employment with major companies) with the right intentions. We also have many thousands of members who have asked how to join the Guild.
Watch this space, because together we are going to change the planning, scheduling and project controls world.
There is another meeting of the Officers of the Guild on Friday June 24th in London, England. We will ask for a member of that team to provide a monthly report of what is being done and to take questions from us, the users, and to provide feedback and answers.
We are in talks with the professional bodies, and, because we are independent, can work with the CIOB, APM, PMI, ACCEI and ACOSTE to support their separate initiatives and because the Guild is run by real planners on real projects, we have the power and independence to not need to compete with them. Who else should the Guild Team we speaking with?
(4) ARE YOU GOING TO THE ORACLE USER GROUP'S PRIMAVERA MEETING?
UK Oracle User Group (UKOUG) are excited to announce the agenda line-up for the imminent Primavera Special Interest Group (SIG) meeting, taking place on Tuesday 12th July, at the Thistles Hotel, Aberdeen and hope this event will be of interest to you.
With presentations from Guy Barlow, Industry Strategist, Oracle on Driving Strategic Objectives & Operational Improvements through Enterprise Project & Portfolio Management, plus Jim Barrett, Centrica presenting his view on Managing risk in shutdown/Turnaround activities and topics covering P6 Analytics and contract management there’s lots to learn to enhance your business goals. View the full agenda here.
(5) ARE YOU A PRODUCTION RATES, TWITTER, FACEBOOK OR LINKED-IN KING?...
Do you have an interest in Production Rates or Construction Norms / Build Times?
Do you enjoy working on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook?
If you have these 'skills' or should we say interests, then do get in touch with us as we have have job openings for the right people ;)
Can you write a better newsletter than us? (don't all shout, yes at once!!) If so, get in touch as all help would be appreciated. Remember, Planning Planet is run by planners for planners, so join the rest of us and get involved... [email protected]
(6) SYNCHRO SOFTWARE UPDATE...
Synchro Open Viewer is our free 4D Read and Report Only Viewer and is designed to provide Synchro Users of Synchro Professional * .SP Files with more freedom to join the process and gain a view of Synchro models. Synchro Express separately offers fully robust reading and reporting, including AVI creation, viewpoints, filters as well as other viewing and review tools. Read more...
Have You Upgraded to Synchro 4.3 Yet?
"Wow. That's all I have to say. Synchro definitely nailed it on the head with this one," said Daniel Fahmi, a Synchro Beta Tester and Synchro Blogger. "Graphics have improved big time. Once everything is finally loaded, there is no lag whatsoever. I don't know how to explain the speed but it's freakin' fast… It's faster than I ever expected."
In addition to its faster speed, Professional 4.3 significantly has been designed for higher performance in its integration with Oracle | Primavera's P6 ™. Request a Demo or a Trial Download of Synchro 4.3.
(7) PLANNING PLANET LONDON OLYMPIA ZONE...
PLANNING PLANET ZONE AT PROJECT CHALLENGE OLYMPIA LONDON THE 21ST AND 22ND OF SEPTEMBER 2011
A date for your diary!
We're sure many of you have heard or read about this event - it has run regularly for years with a format of presentation zones and exhibitors.
This September, Planning Planet has its own zone with a presentation format to establish over the two days. The event is held at Olympia and there is a tube station right outside!
We would like you to contribute ideas for the event and as importantly, attend it!
So:
- Please send your ideas for presentations to [email protected] and/or tell us of your interest and register your attendance we seek a minimum of 500 to attend over the two days!
- Just from this newsletter - we have a lot to discuss - what would you like to hear about? We feel the event should be informative and educational - do you want presentations from your community or from vendors who will demonstrate their expertise and will not be selling their product or do you want to hear about products? Our Guild Officers will select presentations based on the majority!
Some ideas:
- Would you like to present? Have you been involved in a situation others could learn from? Do you have a favourite software package that you feel warrants publicity?
- Have you an inspirational presentation to give? Team building methodology, a method of interacting with others... what makes you the success you are?
- Does your employer have a strong Planning and Project Control team? How has this been established? How does it work?
- Are we going the right way with the Guild? What would you like to see? How can we ensure our treasured profession is passed on to others? How can we bring new talent into the profession? Conversley, you may have retired and would still like to contribute...
- We will be having an afternoon dedicated to BIM what would you like to hear? Are you clear on the future of BIM?
- Is there a specific subject matter you would like to see discussed? Would you like to see a Guild Officers panel to take your questions?
Planning Planet will have a stand at the event - we want to meet you and we want you to meet each other this will be the first of many we hope, please support us!
(8) TILOS SOFTWARE UPDATE...
Hi all. We are very proud to announce that we have forged a new relationship with the good people over at TILOS so that we can help share with you some of the functionality that this software package offers.
For so long, many of us have used MS Excel to create and manage Time Location Charts / Time Chainages. This software package can replace and improve the situation.
We plan to bring you more details in the coming updates so that we can learn more about how this might help those of us planning linear projects; read more...
(9) RECRUITMENT WATCH...
Hello and welcome to the June edition of the Planning Recruitment Watch, brought to you by Project Resource. In this feature we bring you the latest trends in the UK planning recruitment landscape, allowing you to understand your value in the market and make the most informed career choices.
May was another good month for the UK planning market; considerable growth in the North as well as in London and the Midlands has helped to offsite the mild decline we’ve been seeing across the South, in particular within the Thames Valley.
Demand has been particularly high for senior planners and planning managers as well as for all levels of planners prepared to work on a contract or freelance basis.
The utilities sector is currently one of the healthiest across the whole of the UK and demand continues to grow for planners from water and energy backgrounds. Also experiencing a rise in demand are planners with EPC new build, petrochemical and ‘energy from waste’ experience within the Midlands and the North of England.
If you are a planner and are considering your next career move, please visit our website today, we may have the perfect role for your experience and requirements.
(10) WHICH PLANNING SOFTWARE UPDATE...
We get emails all the time from members asking "Which is the best planning software" and we get email all the time from software manufacturers advising "Tell the community about us, we have the best planning software!".
Please give us your thoughts, in confidence via [email protected] and well post the more interesting opinions (anonymously if you wish) on the website. We'll also tell the software suppliers!!
(11) GUILD GOOD PRACTICE STANDARDS (PPAS) UPDATE...
Dear members, (message from Matt Edwards...)
Well what can I say. It has been a mad 12 months getting the accreditation documents together. We are amassing a truly magnificent accreditation scheme that is for the benefit of your professional development and recognition.
The modules of each of the seven sections are currently being undertaken between editors spanning the globe. What is borne out of this voluntary effort is a valued and recognised scheme that major employers and your employer can be proud of, knowing that a competency skill based scheme structured for planning and scheduling professionals from any industry.
The accreditation scheme covers planning and scheduling in a series of sections and sub sectional modules. The scheme covers EVERYTHING in our profession and will make YOU an all rounded and envied individual with the support you need via the Guild.
The scheme will allow you to climb the ladder.
So, onward and upward we go and hat's off to all the editorial team for the work being done in each and every part of the world.
(12) ASTA SOFTWARE UPDATE...
Here's a message from the Asta Team...
See how you can create a clear view of the complete picture across all your projects.
Asta Powerproject Enterprise enables three or more users to work on the same project at the same time.
All project data is held on a central server, providing complete visibility over everything that is happening so you can:
- Smoothly manage and deliver multiple projects
- Collect data from multiple sites quickly and easily and input directly into the project plan
- Provide quality reports to clients and senior management with accurate, up-to-date data
To find out more visit www.astadev.com/APPE
Check out the Summer Training Offer from Asta
(13) NEXT COLLABORATIVE BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING GROUP MEETING (LONDON)...
What: Learn about Building Information Modelling
Where: The Victoria, Strathearn Place, Lancaster Gate, London, W2 2NH
When: 4th August 2011, 4 - 6pm
Why: because its (we keep being told) the next big thing to hit planning, scheduling and project controls.
The topic for discussion is:
- Introduction to the London Revit User Group.
- What BIM means to Designers.
- Quick fly-through of sample presentations that LRUG have had over the past year.
- Q&A on how Designers can model for Construction Planners & Schedulers using 4D BIM technologies
Free Beer provided to attendees between 4 - 6pm. All welcome.
To sign-up please go to : BIM GROUP EVENT
And to also join the BIM Group go to : www.PlanningPlanet.com/BIM
(14) WOMEN IN PLANNING NEWS UPDATE...
Calling all ladies... have you joined the Women in Planning & Scheduling Group (WiPS)?
Show the men how its done. Read more...
THE END...
We hope you find some of the above to be of value. Keep in touch. PP Admin.