Monday, October 27, 2008

New Course - Delay Claim Analysis Using primavera P6

This new course is designed specifically for Primavera P6 users who have already completed the Primavera P6 training. If you are interested to know more about this course, please logon www.icpsprojects.com/delayclaim.html for more information.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Why Should We Update the Project Schedule?

Project owner X told me yesterday: Why should we update the schedule since we are on schedule?
Project manager Y said: We have not made any progress this period, why should we update the project schedule?

There has never been a valid reason for not updating the schedule. Because the time has elapsed, doing nothing is doing something. The only way to determine the current progress status is to update the schedule. Remember that unless actual progress occurs exactly as planned, the critical path will change as actual progress is recorded over the life of the project.

Accordingly, even if no progress was made in the current period, the schedule still needs to be calculated based on a current cut-off date. If indeed no progress has been made, all activities on the critical path based on the last update will have slipped by amount of time since the last update and activities formerly not on the critical path may now be critical.

The reporting, or update, period is typically established at the beginning of the project and, once it is agreed upon, the project schedule should be updated at this interval regardless of progress made. Also established at the beginning is the updating process: Who is or are responsible for recording the actual progress on site? Is there any standard format or system for recording progress? Who is responsible for updating the schedule (project manager or project engineer? planner?) and which of the major stakeholders (owners? sponsors?) are to review and agree on the recorded progress and the actual dates?

Once the progress data is agreed upon, update the schedule and examine the current progress status and, if cost-loaded, the earned value. Compare the current progress status versus the targeted (as-planned) schedule to check whether the project is either on track or slip and the earned value is performed as planned

If created and maintained properly, the schedule will be an accurate reflection of real world conditions and a useful tool for planning and monitoring the balance of the project. Do not make the mistake of assuming that the construction schedule is a static document; it must be periodically updated to be useful. Remember to record activity percent complete, start and finish dates and change the data (status) date prior to re-calculating the schedule.

Please post your comments or email to kent@icpsprojects.com for further discussion.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Hands-on Training in November Schedules


Table above for the training in Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project 2007.
You may log on to www.icpsprojects.com for more information about the courses.

Kent Chan 012-253 8283,
kent@icpsprojects.com
www.icpsprojects.com

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Primavera P6 Training Schedule

The training is scheduled to start on 20-23 of October. The whole course takes 4 days from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Please login to www.icpsprojects.com to see more information about the course. The course modules cover 4 levels:

Level 1 : Planning without respources
Level 2 : Tracking progress without resources
Level 3 : Scheduling with resources, roles and budgets
Level 4 : Monitoring and controlling a resourced schedule

Drop a few lines to kent@icpsprojects.com for further information and advice.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Primavera P6 Training starts from here....

New and experienced users:
Get a better undestanding and practical training in Primavera P6. The whole course takes 4 days from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Please login to www.icpsprojects.com to see more information about the course. The course module covers 4 levels:

Level 1 : Planning without respources
Level 2 : Tracking progress without resources
Level 3 : Scheduling with resources, roles and budgets
Level 4 : Monitoring and controlling a resourced schedule

Drop a few lines to kent@icpsprojects.com for further information and advice.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

P6 file imported to Project 2007

Question by Ong:
Does P6 keep all the format (eg. level (this is most important), linkage, resources, cost etc) when export to Ms Project format?

Answer:
Yes, all the formats you mentioned will be exported to Project 2007, but you need to do some modification in the Advanced tab from the Task Information dialog box for some tasks; examples like deadline, constraints fields and/or constraint type...

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Change the Project Start date in P6

1. Select the project you want to change the project start date in the
Project Workspace.
2. Select View, Show on Bottom, Project Details…
3. Click on the Dates tab: change the dates both in the
Planned Start and Data Date fields.

4. Open this project by right-clicking it in the Project workspace
and then select Open Project

5. Press F9 and check the date in the Current Data
Date
field; make sure that the data date is the one just you have
changed.

6. Click on the Schedule button.