USING MS PROJECT Project management software programs such as Microsoft Project can be used for developing the project schedule We demonstrate the use of MS Project for a sample project Complete model found in construction.mpp M. J. Liberatore DIT 1141

Example Project Table 1: Task, Duration, and Immediate Predecessor Information for Construction Project IMMEDIATE DURATION TASKDESCRIPTION PREDECESSORS(WEEKS) 1START --0 2Excavate and Pour Footers 13 3Pour Concrete Foundation 21 4Erect Rough Wall & Roof 34 5Install Siding 46 6Install Plumbing 43 7Install Electrical 44 8Install Wallboard 6,75 9Lay Flooring 86 10Do Interior Painting 83 11Install Interior Fixtures 9,103 12Install Gutters & Downspouts 52 13Do Grading & Landscaping FINISH 11,130

MS Project Setup Launch MS Project, click on New, OK Click on Project, Project Information, select 10/1/01 as the start date, OK Click on Save icon, type in project name, OK

MS Project Setup

Use Tools, Change Working Time, to make necessary adjustments Tools, Options, click on “Schedule” tab select “weeks” in Duration is entered in make sure New tasks are effort driven is not checked default task type is “fixed duration” Click Set as Default, OK

MS Project Setup Tools, Options, Schedule

Entering Task Information Gantt Chart is the default view, Entry table on left, chart on right Type in task name in the field, tab over to enter duration ( w for weeks) Enter predecessor task numbers in the “Predecessors” field Can use link and unlink icons MS Project automatically gives start and finish dates based on critical path analysis (to be discussed) The Task Information icon can be used to access information about a particular task

Entering Task Information

Drawing AON Network Construction example

Networks in MS Project The Gantt Chart view shows task linkages Change view to Network Diagram by clicking on the icon on the panel on the extreme left Use “zoom” to focus in as desired

Gantt Charts in MS Project

Summary Tasks In Ms Project 2000 Summary tasks can be used to better organize a project Returning to construction.mpp we add three tasks with 0 duration: Structure, Interior, and Exterior Structure includes current tasks 2 – 4, Interior includes 6 – 11, Exterior includes 5, 12, 13 The tasks that are included in each of the summary tasks are moved under them and are indented (thick arrow point to the right)

The summary tasks are outdented (thick arrow point to the left) and appear in bold See constructionS.mpp for the revised project Summary Tasks In Ms Project 2000

Figure 17.10: Gantt Chart View Using Summary Tasks Summary Tasks In Ms Project 2000

Critical Path Analysis MS Project automatically computes the critical path and the earliest and latest start and finish times and slack Project, Project Information, Statistics shows the critical path is 26 weeks in our project

Critical Path Analysis

Critical path tasks can be identified as those have zero total slack (TS) or float TS = LF – EF = LS – ES The TS of only 1 task can be used if we want to be certain about not delaying the project Free slack (FS) of a task is the difference between the smallest of the ES’s of the task’s immediate successors and the task’s EF. Using FS does not affect the start times of a task’s successors FS <= TS FS of of multiple tasks can be used without delaying the project

Critical Path Analysis in MS Project To display the results just shown in MS Project, in the Gantt Chart view, click Views, select Table: Entry, and click on Schedule