Are there any P6 Scheduling Guru's on the GS?!

[TC]

I'm looking for a P6 Scheduling Guru, I need some help!

[WItoTX]

I'm looking for a P6 Scheduling Guru, I need some help!

Lol, never thought I would see this posted on here, but I am pretty good with it. What's going on?

[TC]

Lol, never thought I would see this posted on here, but I am pretty good with it. What's going on?

When you schedule a project, should your schedule ride the data date, or should there be a baseline schedule? I'm trying to learn it as its my job, but the guy i'm learning from is self taught. I feel like the schedule shouldn't push each time the I run the schedule to the newest Data Date.

Also, when I'm updating activity dates as requested by the PM, I can just manually manipulate the date right? It should just pull in / push out the schedule? He's telling me I can only change the duration (which changes the date, and changing the date changes the duration), change the logic (I don't think that's right), or run the activity in parallel (that would involve changing the date?).

I've been doing this for a few months now and thought I had everything down pat, now he's all the sudden telling me I'm doing it wrong. lol

HELP! haha

[WItoTX]

When you schedule a project, should your schedule ride the data date, or should there be a baseline schedule? I'm trying to learn it as its my job, but the guy i'm learning from is self taught. I feel like the schedule shouldn't push each time the I run the schedule to the newest Data Date.

Also, when I'm updating activity dates as requested by the PM, I can just manually manipulate the date right? It should just pull in / push out the schedule? He's telling me I can only change the duration (which changes the date, and changing the date changes the duration), change the logic (I don't think that's right), or run the activity in parallel (that would involve changing the date?).

I've been doing this for a few months now and thought I had everything down pat, now he's all the sudden telling me I'm doing it wrong. lol

HELP! haha

I'll preface this by saying your company should have very specific procedures for how to schedule projects. If they don't, you should create them as you learn. (Looks good at bonus time!).

To your first question, your activities should never ride the DD, except for activities planned to start that day. Everything else should have a logic tie, generally FS, or in rare cases, constraints, and should adjust as you update progress. If you have an activity with a logic tie on the DD even though it's predecessor has not finished, you may need to check your settings when you schedule so that retained logic is turned on. You should also ALWAYS have a baseline schedule, and save an .xer and pdf for each reporting period.

Your second question, it's up to you how you want to adjust duration. However, if the project has an approved, baseline schedule, I would be hesitant to switch any dates or duration's for activities not in progress unless the PM has a reason for the change. The reason being, if your project ever goes to litigation, you will have to answer as to why you changed duration's, and responding "the PM told me to" shows a lack of understanding of how scheduling works, and will make you look not credible. Second, scheduling is not an end of the road position at any company, and I assume you want to move to PM at some point. Having the PM explain to you the reason for the change will help you understand his thought process, and teach you how to approach similar situations later on.

However, to your second point, is the PM wanting to re-sequence the work? If so, have him walk you through what he wants to do, so that you understand what he is looking for. Once you understand what he wants, adjusting logic ties, changing duration's, changing dates will make more sense.

Hopefully this makes sense. Feel free to PM me if you have other random questions down the road. I am by no means an expert, but have been working with the software for 10 years now, and in our firm we probably have 40 or 50 years of experience in every major construction field.

[TC]

I'll preface this by saying your company should have very specific procedures for how to schedule projects. If they don't, you should create them as you learn. (Looks good at bonus time!).

To your first question, your activities should never ride the DD, except for activities planned to start that day. Everything else should have a logic tie, generally FS, or in rare cases, constraints, and should adjust as you update progress. If you have an activity with a logic tie on the DD even though it's predecessor has not finished, you may need to check your settings when you schedule so that retained logic is turned on. You should also ALWAYS have a baseline schedule, and save an .xer and pdf for each reporting period.

Your second question, it's up to you how you want to adjust duration. However, if the project has an approved, baseline schedule, I would be hesitant to switch any dates or duration's for activities not in progress unless the PM has a reason for the change. The reason being, if your project ever goes to litigation, you will have to answer as to why you changed duration's, and responding "the PM told me to" shows a lack of understanding of how scheduling works, and will make you look not credible. Second, scheduling is not an end of the road position at any company, and I assume you want to move to PM at some point. Having the PM explain to you the reason for the change will help you understand his thought process, and teach you how to approach similar situations later on.

However, to your second point, is the PM wanting to re-sequence the work? If so, have him walk you through what he wants to do, so that you understand what he is looking for. Once you understand what he wants, adjusting logic ties, changing duration's, changing dates will make more sense.

Hopefully this makes sense. Feel free to PM me if you have other random questions down the road. I am by no means an expert, but have been working with the software for 10 years now, and in our firm we probably have 40 or 50 years of experience in every major construction field.

I work in the Nuclear Power industry. Previous to this job I was an Assistant PM at another power plant. This job was a step back, but it allowed me to come home and be with my family and get off the road.

I don't have much experience at all with Primavera and what I've learned so far is from someone that doesn't have any formal training either. I understand how to follow a schedule and how it works, I'm just struggling with how to manipulate it correctly. The group I work in isn't the normal "PMO" type management group. They are single PM's overseeing the contracting company on these projects. Our group (me) keeps the Engineering / Funding / Design , etc piece of the schedule, and the contractor keeps the Implementation piece of the schedule. I personally do not agree with the way they do it, but my hands are tied on the matter.

We do not have a "baseline" schedule as far as I know. They keep what they call a "backbone" and it is what each new project uses. I get a copy to the PM, he marks it up, I make the changes, and the Project rides the Data Date.

I've talked to my boss and I'm going to be going to an actual P6 Scheduling Class, until then, I'm just trying to make it all work correctly.

I appreciate your advice! I may be in touch soon!

[Traildust]

When you schedule a project, should your schedule ride the data date, or should there be a baseline schedule? I'm trying to learn it as its my job, but the guy i'm learning from is self taught. I feel like the schedule shouldn't push each time the I run the schedule to the newest Data Date.

Also, when I'm updating activity dates as requested by the PM, I can just manually manipulate the date right? It should just pull in / push out the schedule? He's telling me I can only change the duration (which changes the date, and changing the date changes the duration), change the logic (I don't think that's right), or run the activity in parallel (that would involve changing the date?).

I've been doing this for a few months now and thought I had everything down pat, now he's all the sudden telling me I'm doing it wrong. lol

HELP! haha

You need to snap a baseline schedule before you start progressing or making changes. A baseline is your original plan and is used to measure against.

You should be updating % Complete. Not sure how your project is set up, but Duration % Complete is typically what we use. The only time you should adjust the date in the Activity Table is when an activity is Finished and it's showing a future date.

When you progress the schedule ( F9 and move the DD ) it's going to push work that that was riding the DD until it is progressed and completed. Thats what P6 does....it's giving you a forecast of when your project will finish.

Changing logic is fine, I wouldn't change duration's unless I had an RFI authorizing me to do it. Never make changes to your baseline schedule...ever.

If you shoot me an email. I can send you some training info that could help you.


Also, if you are having to manipulate your schedule to show what management is wanting to see instead of what is really happening.....that schedule was trash to begin with and you are defeating the purpose of using P6.

[Coacheddy]

Some good advice here. I’d add that I don’t see your question as much of a P6 issue....but a PM philosophy issue. I like the comment above about trying to capture some of your work to help standardize how the company wants to consistently do this. Having a good talk with the PM is very important.

It’s funny that I met WItoTX one time from the classifieds and didn’t remember we were in the same field.

I’ll be back in the states next Monday. Happy to visit with you as well if you PM me your number. I work as a planning manager on a project.

[odogg]

Capture any duration changes whether adding or subtraction hours using change orders to justify the changes. You can code them in the schedule with the change order number (use a numbering system with change orders) so if and when the questions are brought up you have proof on the changes that were made. Any addition or subtraction of hours equates to $$$. A reason the schedule may be riding the data date is if your activities are longer duration's then a shift then the earned hours will roll to the next data date. I like to have my scheduler structure the activities by shift to prevent this issue. Always baseline your schedule that way you have a starting point. Of course I'm speaking from a Turnaround world.

[TC]

I appreciate the feedback fellas! I really do!

[bmac]

Scheduling can be tough and hard to learn as there are a lot of self taught experts. I do CM for a living and have a great team that reviews these for me monthly. One day I will learn but scheduling is a valuable profession that we are always short on. Keep chugging and try to learn.


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