MS Project Not Adding Up

Question

I am trying to automatically configure a project schedule. I would like to be able to put in my resoure's hours and have the schedule adjust to fit.

I created all the tasks using the standard calendar. I created my resource assigning it to the standard calendar with 100% units available to it.

I assign it to the tasks and assign my resource the set constraint on units. So “Resource A” can only work at 40% utilization for the week, so that breaks down as (40 hours per week*.4 utilization=16 hours per week/5 work days=3.2 hours per day/40 hours total=.08 utilization per day) 8% per day.

I take Task 1a (70 hours), create a sub task “Task 1aa”, and assign Resource A to the task (Task 1aa) with the 8% utilization and have the task as auto scheduled. The task should take a duration of 21.875 days (70 hours of work/3.2 hours per day=21.875 working days).

Instead the duration is appearing as “8.75days?”

What am I doing wrong? The duration is correct if my resource is working eight hour days but the resource should only be working 3.2 hour days.

Answer 1

Hi,

First look up the task type (Task Information, Advanced tab). It should read anything but Fixed Duration.

Now insert the field "Work" into your view. If the units are 40% this should read

8.75*8*0.4=28 hours. Reset that to 70 and there you are.

And try to avoid the word "Leveling" whihc has a distinct meaning in Project (other than this process)

Do look up all help you can get on Task Type to undestand!

Greetings,

Answer 2

Thank you for the clarificatuion! I went and made the changes; however, it is still not leveling correctly. The duration, unless I am off base, should change to 21.875 days. It is remaining at  “8.75days", without the question mark this time.

http://i.imgur.com/P7tkL.png

Answer 3

Hi,

Rod is right. You have to assign the resource at 40% which will make it work 3.2 hours per day (or for that matter, 24 minutes per hour, or 24 seconds per minute :-))

8% will make work per day '480*0.08 = 38,4 minutes per day!

Greetings,

Answer 4

I am entering the hours at the sub task level. I entered 70 hours for "Task 1aa" and that is where I am assigning the resource as well (see pictures below). I have the items as auto scheduled.

What I want for the utilization is for the resource to be booked at 40% per day, which is the 3.2 hours. What would be the number I entered into MS Project then for the resource allocation? I thought MS Project just said take the next "x" percent of week, which is different than saying taking the next "x" percent of day. I am thinking you are correct and I am not, I just want to be sure (http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/project-help/max-units-resource-field-HP045305143.aspx).

I have attached pictures to verify what I am doing.

http://imgur.com/a/0NcbX

Answer 5

I'm not sure your utilisation calc is correct. 40% is 3.2 hours per day but thats 3.2 per 8h not 40 so it's still units of 40%, not .08%.

Look at task 1aa, what work does it have? Adding a sub task does not make the sub-task have the same work as the summary task unless you manually enter it.