Re: Isn't there a "Machine" Resource Type???

In article <5BE5F3D2-1853-4F4F-BF30-A67780E7A3E5@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Jim Rodgers <JimRodgers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

QUESTION: Can Project 2003 be used to schedule an R&D project where one
needs to level equipment/machine resources as well as team members?

I am scheduling a development team and I need to reserve more resources than
just people working. I need to reserve certain limited equipment (e.g.,
development systems). When I add one person at 100% and one machine at 100%,
one of them gets no work because, I guess, my attempt to create a machine is
only creating a person.

I have the impression that if I try to use "Material" resources to do this,
Project will only tell me how many CAD machines or simulators I would
"consume." I need to allocate not consume.

Next I tried to schedule separate tasks (one person and one machine)
connected with start/start links. However, Project often would start one and
not the other! I need for each person/machine pair to start at the same
time. Also, I need the machine to have a different calendar. Finally, even
though they start together, the machine duration usually needs to be longer
because it will continue to process the task (sometimes overnight) after the
engineer has moved on to another task.

I am using Project 2003 with effort-driven fixed units tasks and splits
disabled. The product behavior is non-ideal, and I am finding it VERY
difficult to get any really good help sources. (It looks like the Project
consulting market must be pretty good.)

So, can Project 2003 be used to schedule an R&D project where one needs to
level equipment/machine resources as well as team members?

And if so, HOW???

- Desperate in Atlanta...

Jim,
There are various ways to set up non-labor type resources. If you need
to allocate and have limits on a non-labor type resource (e.g. machine),
it should be classified as a Work type resource on the Resource ***
(i.e. not a material type resource). Whether it is "man" or "machine" is
in the details. For example, you don't mention if your development
system has a user cost associated with it. It might be a capital asset
and therefore charges for using it are included in company overhead and
not charged directly to a project. Or, it might be something the company
rents and has an hourly rate, (and maybe even a setup fee), just like a
labor resource.

When you tried setting up a single task with the two resources I'm not
sure why only one resource had work. As an example I used the following
simple scenario and it seems to do what I think you want. First I
entered a single task and gave it an estimated duration of 20 days. Then
I created the two resources - "man" and "machine". I gave each a max
unit of 1 and the man a rate of $50/hr. I gave the machine either
$100/hr or $0/hr depending on whether it would be a capital asset or
not. I also gave the machine a 24 hour calendar. Then I assigned both
resources to the task - the man first, then the machine. Since the task
is fixed units effort-driven, the duration was reduced to 10 days. On
the Resource Usage view, both resources are shown. The "man" resource
has the expected 8 hr/day over the full ten days with a total cost of
$4K. The "machine" however shows 16 hr the first day (determined by the
task start time) and then 24 hours for the next two days, including all
day Saturday, and finally 16 hours on Sunday to make up the total of 80
hours for the machine. Now, if I want the machine to run an extra two
days, I use a split window, Gantt Chart on top and Task Form on the
bottom, and adjust the finish date for the machine. This of course
greatly increases the total work for the machine but the man is still at
80 hours.

So, does this work for you?

John
Project MVP
.