Hours per Day

[FSNut01]

I have a schedule that is a combination of regular project work and work to be completed during a plant shutdown. During the regular work the working time is a normal 8 hours per day. When the plant shuts down the work schedule changes to 2 10 hour shifts giving a "day" a value of 20 hours. My problem is that my duration field is calculating based on the 8 hrs/day value and during the shutdown it is stretching out a tasks duration based on the 8 hrs. Is there a way to define the two different values? Is there a way to compensate for the difference or do I need 2 seperate schedules?

 

[PDQBach]

P2002
Tools | Change Working Time ...

Assuming you started with a standard calendar:

1. Click on a date and click on non-default working time.
2. Enter 12:00AM in both From: and To: columns.
3. Repeat.

Watch out for tasks which cross over from standard to non-standard time.

You didn't ask so I presume you've already figured out how to display the time in the Start and Finish columns as well as on the Gantt chart.

 

[FSNut01]

Thanks for the quick reply.

I made the changes you suggested but it still doesn't work out correctly.
Example: 4 electricians working 10 hour shifts, 2 on days 2 on nights. The shutdown lasts 13 days. The work they have will take them all 13 days and equates to 130 hours per electrician. Dates will show it taking 13 calendar days and consuming 520 hours. All of this is correct. However in the duration column I end up with 32.5 days which is the calculation of 520 hours total divided by the 8 hours per day in the Tools | Options | Calendar settings. If I change the value of what a day equals (ie. 20 hours for the shutdown) it throws off the normal working time calculations. I have talked it over with my PM and he is OK with a seperate schedule for the shutdown work if that's what it takes.

Yes, I do know how to display time in the S/F columns.

 

[PDQBach]

I tried a variety of approaches, but each one failed for one reason or another.

It looks like you'll have to use a separate schedule for the shutdown work.

If you find a way to make it work then please post it here for others to take notes.

 

[BernardErtl]

Strange - I thought this was easy to do in MSP. Can you define a new/separate electrician resource to use a 20 hour calendar and replace the current resource assignement(s)?

You might also consider using a system designed for plant maintenance projects (turnarounds). We developed one and it allows you to easily specify the shift/working basis:

http://www.interplansystems.com/html-docs/atc.html

It can import .MPX files...

Bernard Ertl
www.interplansystems.com - eTaskMaker project planning tool

 

[PDQBach]

I was trying to define a two-shift calendar so that I could schedule some work in shift one and some in shift two and, in some cases, schedule the work so that it ignored the shifts completely.

(Also I was in a bit of a rush -- as I am right now -- so I did not explore all possible approaches. Maybe I'll play with it this weekend.)