Share via

Microsoft Project: Solving Overallocation / Resource Levelling by moving tasks backwards in Time ( by scheduling earlier as before)

Anonymous
2024-01-04T10:21:44+00:00

Hello all,

Request for suggestions regarding an issue in my schedule.

I have tasks "Testing and Commissioning" with correctly linked predecessors and successors. These tasks are critical too. Before "Testing and Commissioning" the machines must be cleaned. The processes "Cleaning" are dependent on "Testing and Commissioning" and must be done before it. But, it could also be done earlier with a time gap. Meaning, it is not that it must be done right before "Testing and commissioning" but a few weeks earlier is also okey. Important to me is, that it should not be a "driver" that postpones or affects the date of "Testing and Commissioning".

I am currently levelling resources for the process "Cleaning". While solving overalloacations for the tasks "Cleaning", I want the levelling option in MS Project to move the task "Cleaning" earlier in time, as necessary but NOT postpone it to the future so that "Testing and Commissioning" is also delayed or so that it is scheduled after "Testing and Commissioning" which does not make sense.

Could you suggest with which relationships and levelling options can this be achieved?

Thanks in advance. :)

Microsoft 365 and Office | Project | For business | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

2 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Dale Howard [MVP] 29,860 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2024-01-05T19:03:25+00:00

    Subash --

    If you use the built-in leveling tool in Microsoft Project, this tool can only resolve overallocations using two methods:

    (1) Delay tasks or resource assignments

    (2) Split tasks or resource assignments

    This tool will not "backwards schedule" a task the way you desire, nor is there a Leveling option that will make the software do what you want. In your situation, I think you will need to manually adjust the schedule of the Cleaning process tasks so that the tasks can start earlier, if possible.

    Sorry, but hope this helps.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2024-01-05T10:02:01+00:00

    Dear Subash Chandra Sapkota,

    Greetings! Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community. We are happy to help you.

    You may use the "As Soon As Possible" (ASAP) constraint for the "Cleaning" task. This will allow the task to be scheduled as early as possible without affecting the start date of the "Testing and Commissioning" task.

    To set the ASAP constraint, follow these steps:

    1. Select the "Cleaning" task in the Gantt chart.
    2. Go to the "Task" tab in the ribbon.
    3. Click on the "Information" button in the "Properties" group.
    4. In the "Task Information" dialog box, go to the "Advanced" tab.
    5. In the "Constraint Type" section, select "As Soon As Possible" from the drop-down menu.
    6. Click "OK" to close the dialog box.

    Once you have set the ASAP constraint, you can use the "Leveling can adjust individual assignments on a task" option in the Resource Leveling dialog box to allow the "Cleaning" task to be moved earlier in time if necessary.

    To access the Resource Leveling dialog box, follow these steps:

    1. Go to the "Resource" tab in the ribbon.
    2. Click on the "Leveling Options" button in the "Leveling" group.
    3. In the "Level Resources" dialog box, go to the "Advanced" tab.
    4. Check the box next to "Leveling can adjust individual assignments on a task".
    5. Click "OK" to close the dialog box.

    With these settings, MS Project will try to schedule the "Cleaning" task as early as possible without affecting the start date of the "Testing and Commissioning" task. If there are still overallocations, MS Project will move the "Cleaning" task earlier in time to resolve them.

    At the same time, we will also keep this thread open.

    Welcome community members and MVPs who have similar experience to share insights and suggestions here.

    Thanks for your time and cooperation! We hope you have a nice day! Stay safe and healthy always.

    Sincerely,

    Tina | Microsoft Community Moderator

    0 comments