Mastering Resource Leveling in Primavera P6: Join Our Online Mini Course!

Mastering Resource Leveling in Primavera P6: Join Our Online Mini Course!

Mastering Resource Leveling in Primavera P6: Join Our Online Mini Course!

Are you looking to optimize your project schedules and ensure resources are effectively allocated? Our P6 Resource Leveling Mini Course is designed to help you master the leveling feature in Primavera, ensuring your projects run smoothly and efficiently.

Why Resource Leveling is Essential

Resource leveling is crucial for maintaining adequate availability of resources, allowing project activities to adhere to planned schedules. By adjusting the timing of activities based on resource availability, you can effectively manage conflicts and avoid delays.

Understanding resource needs and accessibility is key to efficient turnaround and project scheduling. Here’s why:

  • Iterative Assessment: Regularly assessing resource requirements and defining their availability is crucial.
  • Resource Allocation Analysis: Continuous analysis during planning and execution ensures efficient resource use.
  • Recognizing Constraints: Understanding the limitations imposed by resource caps helps in effective leveling.

When projects are leveled in P6, activities often shift later in the Gantt chart to eliminate over-allocation, making the process both flexible and risk-free.

Preparing for Leveling in P6

Before you start using the leveling features in P6, follow these steps:

  1. Assign Resources: Ensure resources are assigned to all activities.
  2. Assess Timelines: Check if management has set specific timelines for project phases, applying necessary constraints.
  3. Document Max Units/Time: Properly document resource availability under the Units & Prices tab.
  4. Determine Priorities: Set the Activity Leveling Priority code value for each task.

Remember, effective leveling should be simple yet strategic, utilizing priority codes, resource assignments, constraints, and float.

Approaches to Resource Leveling

  1. Pre-defined Start and Finish: Determine the necessary resources to complete the project within a specified timeframe.
  2. Scope and Resource Availability: Define the project duration based on the available resources, allowing P6 to level the schedule accordingly.

Configuring P6 Leveling Settings

To initiate leveling in any P6 project:

  1. Open your project file.
  2. Navigate to Tools, select Level, or use the keyboard shortcut Shift-F9.

In the Level Resources Dialog Box, configure the following:

  • Enable automatic leveling with project scheduling.
  • Include resources from other projects of equal or higher priority.
  • Maintain original scheduled dates.
  • Recalculate resource costs after leveling.
  • Execute leveling across all or selected resources.
  • Focus on leveling within activity total float limits.
  • Preserve a minimum amount of float despite resource conflicts.
  • Restrict resource over-allocation to a specified percentage.

Float and Linking Analysis

Avoid automatic leveling to maintain original scheduled dates. Perform separate scheduling and leveling functions, using leveling priority codes judiciously to prevent unnecessary critical paths.

Continuous Resource Adjustment

Regularly analyze and adjust resource Max Units/Time to manage over-allocations without compromising other resources. Reschedule and re-level as needed to refine resource profiles.

Conclusion

Our P6 Resource Leveling Mini Course offers structured guidance to help you apply resource leveling effectively. By following best practices and leveraging P6’s powerful features, you can ensure efficient resource allocation and enhance your project management processes.

Ready to take your project scheduling to the next level? Enroll in our mini course today and become a resource leveling expert with Primavera P6!

 
Enhance Your Business with SharePoint Services from TEPCO Solutions

Enhance Your Business with SharePoint Services from TEPCO Solutions

Enhance Your Business with SharePoint Services from TEPCO Solutions

In today’s fast-paced business environment, staying ahead requires tools that enhance efficiency, collaboration, and security. SharePoint, a powerful platform by Microsoft, offers a range of features designed to meet these needs. TEPCO Solutions is here to help you harness the full potential of SharePoint. Here are four key features of utilizing a SharePoint site for your business:

1. Document Management

One of the most significant advantages of SharePoint is its centralized document management system. With SharePoint, you can store, manage, and access all your business documents and files in one place. This centralization ensures that everyone in your organization has access to the most up-to-date information, minimizing the risk of version control issues and data duplication. Efficient document management leads to streamlined workflows and increased productivity.

2. Collaboration

SharePoint excels in fostering enhanced collaboration among teams. It offers shared workspaces, discussion boards, and real-time co-authoring of documents. Team members can work together seamlessly, regardless of their location. This level of collaboration not only boosts productivity but also promotes a more cohesive work environment. SharePoint’s collaboration tools ensure that your team can communicate and collaborate effectively, driving better business outcomes.

3. Customization

Every business has unique needs, and SharePoint provides the flexibility to customize solutions accordingly. Whether you need custom workflows, integration with other business applications, or user-specific dashboards, SharePoint can be tailored to meet your specific requirements. This customization capability ensures that your SharePoint environment evolves with your business, providing a scalable solution that adapts to changing needs.

4. Security

In an era where data security is paramount, SharePoint offers robust security features to protect your business information. With advanced permission settings, data encryption, and compliance tracking, SharePoint ensures that sensitive information is safeguarded. Regulatory compliance is also easier to achieve with SharePoint’s comprehensive security measures, providing peace of mind for businesses handling confidential data.

Partner with TEPCO Solutions

Implementing and managing SharePoint effectively requires expertise, and that’s where TEPCO Solutions comes in. Our team of experts will work with you to design, implement, and manage a SharePoint environment tailored to your business needs. We offer comprehensive SharePoint services that include consultation, customization, training, and ongoing support.

By partnering with TEPCO Solutions, you can unlock the full potential of SharePoint and transform your business operations. Contact us today to learn more about how SharePoint can benefit your business and how TEPCO Solutions can help you achieve your goals.

Enhance Your Skills with P6 Basic Turnaround Scheduling | Online Course – Register Now!

Enhance Your Skills with P6 Basic Turnaround Scheduling | Online Course – Register Now!

Enhance Your Skills with P6 Basic Turnaround Scheduling | Online Course – Register Now!

Check out our latest online module, designed to empower professionals in the realm of project management: P6 Basic Turnaround Scheduling. As the demand for efficient project management continues to surge across industries, mastering the intricacies of turnaround scheduling becomes increasingly essential. With this cutting-edge module, we aim to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in this dynamic field.

Why P6 Basic Turnaround Scheduling?

In today’s fast-paced business environment, a successful project hinges on effective scheduling. Turnaround projects, in particular, demand meticulous planning and execution to minimize downtime, optimize resources, and meet project objectives within tight deadlines. Primavera P6, renowned for its robust features and versatility, is a premier tool for managing turnaround projects. Our module focuses on harnessing the power of P6 to streamline turnaround scheduling processes and drive project success.

What You’ll Learn:

Through our comprehensive curriculum, participants will delve into the fundamentals of turnaround scheduling using P6. From understanding project structures and resource allocation to mastering critical path analysis and progress tracking, this module covers essential concepts tailored to the unique requirements of turnaround projects. Participants will gain hands-on experience with P6 software, enabling them to navigate complex scheduling scenarios with confidence and precision.

 

Module Curriculum:
  • Section 01: Introduction to Turnarounds
  • Section 02: P6 Navigation & User Settings
  • Section 03: Creating the Turnaround Files
  • Section 04: The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)Section 05: Plan Validation vs Schedule Optimization
  • Section 06: Adding Activities & Creating Relationships
  • Section 07: Utilizing Calendars
  • Section 08: Activity Codes
  • Section 09: Customizing the Project
  • Section 10: Creating & Assigning Resources
  • Section 11: Scheduling Concepts
  • Section 12: Maintaining & Assigning Baselines
  • Section 13: Scheduling During Execution

P6 Basic Turnaround Scheduling | 2015 (Self-Paced)

This Basic Turnaround Scheduling course is designed for individuals who have no Turnaround experience utilizing the P6 application. Students will gain a thorough understanding of how to build schedules to meet the required needs in today’s industry. Get started now!

Key Highlights:

  • Interactive Learning: Engage with dynamic course materials, including video tutorials, and interactive exercises, to deepen your understanding of turnaround scheduling principles.
  • Flexible Learning: Access course materials anytime, anywhere, through our intuitive online platform, allowing you to learn at your own pace and convenience.

 

Who Should Enroll:

This module is ideal for project managers, schedulers, engineers, and professionals involved in planning and executing turnaround projects. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner looking to enhance your skills or a newcomer seeking to break into the field, P6 Basic Turnaround Scheduling offers invaluable knowledge and resources to propel your career forward. This Basic Turnaround Scheduling course is also designed for individuals who have no Turnaround experience utilizing the P6 application. Students will gain a thorough understanding of how to build schedules required to meet today’s turnaround industry.

 

Join Us Today:

Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your project management capabilities with P6 Basic Turnaround Scheduling. Enroll now to unlock the tools and techniques essential for success in today’s competitive landscape. Accelerate your career journey and embark on a path to excellence with our industry-leading online module. Not sure where to begin? We also have an Introductory course available.

Empower yourself. Enroll today.

Basic Turnaround Cost | 3315 – Online Module Now Available

Basic Turnaround Cost | 3315 – Online Module Now Available

Basic Turnaround Cost | 3315 – Online Module Now Available

Our newest level 2 course is here!

We are happy to announce our next online module, Basic Turnaround Cost | 3315.

Following the Intro to Cost, this Basic Turnaround Cost training course is designed for individuals that do not have any turnaround Cost Management experience. This course will give you a basic understanding of the Cost Professional’s roles and responsibilities during a Turnaround. This course will be a hybrid of lectures and hands-on activities.

Self Paced Online Module – Plus

What does this mean?

You always have full access to the Project Controls University course material. Plus, the course now includes 1-week access to our Custom Training Environment. This training environment gives you the opportunity to complete all lesson exercises directly from your browser. Microsoft Excel files needed for exercises in this class are provided in the custom training environment.

 

Recommended Equipment: Additional Computer Monitor

We recommend having an additional screen available to easily change views between the two browsers. Easily view your lessons and complete each exercise side by side.

Please contact us at training@tepco.us for any questions you may have.

Click Here To Enroll Today!

TEPCO Solutions Launches Self-Paced Online Modules for Added Opportunities for Students

TEPCO Solutions Launches Self-Paced Online Modules for Added Opportunities for Students

TEPCO Solutions Launches Self-Paced Online Modules for Added Opportunities for Students

TEPCO Solutions launched Project Controls University earlier last year. The self-paced online modules debuted with two of their introductory courses, Intro to Cost and Intro to P6 Scheduling. Development continues with the next lineup of courses including introductory and basic levels, scheduled to be released on the online learning platform in the new year!

Providing More Opportunity for Success

The rise of concerns continues over the safety of in-person training during a time where remote learning is still a necessity for many in our workforce. As in-person training continues at TEPCO Solutions, planning continues towards the expansion of their online training which will include their full curriculum of courses. The new year will bring many more opportunities for our students wishing to advance their careers in Project Controls.

Project Controls University at a Glance

How To Get Started

Navigating The Website

From the main homepage, you will see all available courses as well as your account sign-in at the top right.

Dashboard View

Software Requirements and Options

Software requirements for each class are listed on the course description pages of our website before enrollment.

We highly recommend having an additional monitor screen while taking our online classes. This allows our students to easily view their course material on one screen while simultaneously working inside the required programs provided on our online environment that is included in many of our classes.

Course Environment

The course environment is provided for select classes. This environment is online and provides students access to their program while following along with the class instruction. Depending on which class you are enrolled in, each student may have access to an environment. Each environment has a limited scheduled time available for program access which starts after first logging into the environment.

Note: We recommend logging into the course environment when you are ready to begin your class.

Instructions to access the course environment are emailed to your account’s email address upon registration. Your normal lessons can be found in your account dashboard at any time by logging in at www.projectcontrolsuniversity.com. This portion of the class does not affect your course environment time limit.

Real-World Training Experience

Our instructors are here to help. If you have any questions about your online training or wish to know more about other training options, please email our team at training@tepco.us.

What’s Next?

The new modules won’t stop here. You can look forward to many more courses including the Advanced levels starting in 2022.

 

2021 Year in Review

2021 Year in Review

Let’s Take A Moment to Remember 2021

As we are approaching 2022, we wanted to look back at what the year 2021 has been! From working remotely in 2020 due to the pandemic, our team finally started making their way back safely into the office and we have been very fortunate to finish out this year in office with continued remote options!

Training Courses Are Now Online!

Training at TEPCO Solutions is a big part of what we do. The impact of the pandemic has really transformed the way we train as remote options remained in high demand. Our mission this year was to bring the same in-class experience to our students virtually. This year our students have access to our training courses in a self-paced online platform.  The self-paced online modules debuted with two of our introductory courses, Intro to Cost and Intro to P6 Scheduling. Development continues with the next lineup of courses which includes our introductory and basic levels. New courses are scheduled to be released on the online learning platform by the first quarter of next year! We are looking forward to providing many more training opportunities for our students in 2022. Be sure to check back at our website for the new in-person training schedule, coming soon!

To learn more on how to take our remote classes and for the full course description, please visit www.projectcontrolsuniversity.com.

4x4x24? Challenge Accepted

Livin Your Lifestyle, a daughter company of TEPCO Solutions, hosted their first running event in February! We had a great crew of people who ran 4 miles, every 4 hours, for 24 hours. The 4x4x24 is a modified version of David Goggin’s 4x4x48. It was a tough challenge, but we had a great turnout and can’t wait to have another running event in the future.

Renovations at TEPCO Solutions

Remodel began for what was previously known as our TEPCO Shop. Now has become our new and improved event space! We have had the opportunity to become a local event space in our community and are currently booking events of all kinds!

Our vintage-style event space holds up to 250 people, has an upstairs balcony, an indoor slide, a large video projector, air conditioning, TV’s and so much more. Whether you are looking to host a private party, corporate event, or wedding, our space is perfect for you!  Schedule a tour today with our event coordinator.

Email kaylea.gibbs@tepco.us for more information.

The Remodel Is Complete and We Decided To Celebrate

We hosted our first Open House Event to showcase our updated event space and had our community come out and celebrate with us! We had a ribbon-cutting ceremony, great local vendors, good music, giveaways, and overall, a great time! Thank you to the Baytown Chambers of Commerce for helping organize the ribbon cutting.

For more information on renting out our facility + event space, visit www.tepco.us/venue or email kaylea.gibbs@tepco.us.

 

Training Continues With A Strategic Alliance

In June, TEPCO Solutions entered into a strategic alliance with Canada-based M3 Project Solutions to deliver comprehensive planning, consulting, capital project and turnaround solutions to all industrial sectors. We are excited about the value this will bring to all of our clients, by applying real-world experiences through cutting edge project controls training and continued process refinement.

 

The Tradition Continues

For over 8 years now we have had the opportunity to train and teach Yara Belle Plaine in Canada. Each year our team makes a week long trip to cover more in depth on P6 Primavera Training. This collaboration between TEPCO Solutions and Yara Belle Plaine was started when Al Stinson connected our company to theirs. From 2013 to now, we continue the tradition of training and teaching additional functionality of the scheduling software.

 

Ferries Conference 2021

We attended the 2021 Ferries Conference in New York. Some of our amazing team members represented TEPCO Solutions and learned from some of the most talented men and women in the shipbuilding industry. From sharing experiences to discovering new ways to meet economic and environmental targets, we were able to take home knowledge that will benefit our team and company.

“We are honored to have been part of such an incredible conference hosted by #MarineLog #FerriesConference2021. Being able to engage with and learn from some of the industry’s most talented men and women was remarkable! We are grateful for this opportunity and we’re looking forward to developing these relationships and seeing all that’s in store” – Brittany Schires

Great Times With Everyone

We ended this year with our company’s annual Christmas Party! We had such a great time getting everyone together and celebrating the holiday season. Thank you to everyone who attended the party and we wish you all nothing but success in this new year. We are so grateful for the great things that came in 2021 and can’t wait to see what 2022 has in store for us here at TEPCO Solutions.

Have a safe and happy holiday season! See you all next year! 

TEPCO Open House is October 21!

TEPCO Open House is October 21!

Open House + Updates 

Here at TEPCO Solutions, we are more than a project controls company. Along with our services and training, we offer a unique event space available for rental! Over the past year, the team here at TEPCO has brainstormed a local event space suitable for any type of event. After solidifying a solid plan, we came together as a team and made our vision come to fruition. With several updates to the facility, TEPCO Solutions is now open for event bookings!  

Updates Include: 

  • Upstairs balcony with stair access – including an upstairs bar with an iron railing that covers the entire balcony area 
  • Updated walls to cedarwood and paint 
  • Air conditioning to help keep things cool in these hot summer months 
  • Blue slide is now toned down to a neutral color 

With all these updates, TEPCO Solutions is excited to announce our next big event is going to be in celebration of our event venue. We are going to have a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony followed by an Open House on October 21, 2021, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.  

We will have a wide variety of vendors set up at this event that we will ideally recommend to people for future events. Vendors such as photography, food, desserts, wedding décor, hair + makeup, photobooths, DJ, live music, and more! We look forward to seeing you here!  

Please RSVP at www.tepco.us/open-house and invite your family + friends. 

Events 

Our 2,400 square foot event space and 10,000 square foot office facility can be used for a wide variety of events holding up to 205 people. Whether it is a corporate meeting, family reunion, holiday party or wedding, our space can be turned into your vision!  

Some event ideas that can be held here at TEPCO Solutions are Birthday Parties, School Reunions, Ceremonies, Receptions, Rehearsal Dinners, Concerts, Marathons, Small Business Markets, Company Parties, Holiday Events, Corporate Dinners, Meetings, and much more.  

If you would like more information about the event space, please contact kaylea.gibbs@tepco.us or go to www.tepco.us/venue 

RSVP Now

WorkPAK is an application designed to help users successfully plan and manage their Projects and Turnarounds.

WorkPAK is an application designed to help users successfully plan and manage their Projects and Turnarounds.

WorkPAK is an application designed to help users successfully plan and manage their Projects and Turnarounds.

WorkPAK can easily be implemented across all industries and sites involving Project Management. The dedicated software team behind this powerful platform spent nearly 11 years perfecting its design; paying meticulous attention to detail and developing the application to include requested content and performance capabilities from clients and other Project Controls professionals, all of whom the application is intended for use by (i.e. planners, schedulers, cost professionals, plant managers, materials, logistics, documents controls, maintenance, engineering, etc.).

With our customer-focused approach to design, along with the invaluable feedback we received during select site beta-testing, WorkPAK is currently in successful operation throughout several industries and sites and comes highly recommended by those using the application. The application started off as an access database, but the need to have many users in a single program, without slowing anything down, quickly led us to switch to a .net application. During the development of WorkPAK, we found that a lot of things were hardcoded, so over the last 5 years, our IT has been working on making it more customizable. Instead of being a one-size-fits-all program, sites are able to customize WorkPAK, which enables them to utilize the tool for turnarounds, capital projects, and really any industry out there. We made it where it is robust and flexible enough to fit any industry.

WorkPAK is unique in the sense that it integrates Planning, Cost, and Scheduling within the same program. By combining multiple areas of work within the same database, WorkPAK offers a level of transparency that has been lacking in the Project Controls industry.

System Permissions

WorkPAK combines planning and cost, but also houses inspections, procurement,
safety, maintenance, and much more. While having people from different fields working in the same database is nice for keeping things organized, and consistent, we did recognize the need to implement security measures, so we developed the system permissions. With the creation of the system permissions, users are assigned either edit or view rights, depending on what they need to access the program. For example, a planner will be given edit rights to plan jobs, but will not need to see the Cost portion in WorkPAK. Their permissions would be assigned accordingly, so when the planner logs on, all they would see is their planning portion. For a manager that may need to see everything in WorkPAK, they could be given view permissions, allowing them access to see planning, cost, reports, and everything happening within WorkPAK.

 

Planning and Building Estimates

One of the ways WorkPAK brings together Cost and Planning is by building the 10%
estimate simultaneously. Rates are first assigned to items such as tools, crafts, materials, and more at the system, or global level during implementation. These rates can then be edited at the event level to keep up with price changes. By setting up these rates, as the planners are planning, and adding in these items, WorkPAK is also building the 10% estimate in the background. This allows sites to arrive at their 10% estimate earlier, and without having to seek outbids.

 

Data Warehousing

It’s easier than ever to reference older plans and cost information with WorkPAK’s ability to warehouse historical data. Once complete, plans can easily be hidden from view to keep the interface from getting too busy. If there’s something that needs to be referenced down the road, all it takes is the click of a button to see all the event details again. Building on this, WorkPAK also allows the cloning of jobs or even entire events. Instead of having to plan the same turnaround over and over, the entire event can be cloned, then adjusted as needed.

 

P6 Mapping

WorkPAK allows P6 mapping to make it quicker, and easier to get activities into the schedule. A P6 template is imported into WorkPAK, the corresponding fields between the two programs are then mapped and stitched together, then saved within WorkPAK. Once exported from WorkPAK, the jobs are in an excel spreadsheet already formatted to import to P6 without any data cleanup or manipulation.

 

Custom Fields

We understand that every site is unique,
and a one size fits all software can be challenging to work around. That’s why we developed the Custom Fields option in WorkPAK that allows you to add in any site-specific item you may need.

 

On-Site Developers/Help Desk

One of the greatest compliments we get from clients utilizing WorkPAK is the quick response we provide to any issues or questions they may have. The software developers, as well as the help desk team, are in-house, and place the utmost importance on helping our clients with anything they need. Other applications out there require you to submit a ticket, which may take them days, or even weeks to get to. Our team responds in minutes.

Test Post Layout

Introduction to P6 Scheduling | 2008

This Introduction to P6 scheduling course is designed for individuals that have no scheduling experience. Students will gain an understanding of how to navigate in Primavera P6, and utilize key functions required in the basic class. You will walk away with a good comprehension of how to build a WBS, tie logic, and schedule a project.

Duration: 1 Day

Price: $TBD

Introduction to P6 Scheduling | 2008

3315/3315N – Basic Turnaround Cost

Print Outline

Course Introduction

  • Introduction to Cost Review

Section 01: Industry Changes in Cost Management

  • Current TAR Process
  • Suggested TAR Process

Section 02: Turnaround Cost Cycle – High Level

  • Turnaround Phases
  • Turnaround Cost Cycle

Section 03: Cost Breakdown Structure

  • What is a Cost Breakdown Structure?

Section 04: Estimate Development

  • Estimate Timeline
  • Preparation Estimate
  • High Level Scope Estimate
  • Work Scope Estimate
  • Plan Estimate

Section 05: Budget Development

  • Estimate vs Budget
  • Histograms
  • Staffing Plans
  • Bid Sheets
  • Estimate Breakdown Sheets
  • Purchase Orders & Control Budget

Section 06: Preparing for Execution

  • Preparation Activities

Section 07: Cost Tracking & Control

  • Execution Activities
  • Daily Force Reports
  • Daily Timesheets

Section 08: Deliverables to Management

  • What is a Deliverable

Section 09: Closeout

  • Closeout Activities
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