Hi,I am struggling to find right software for a production scheduling application, for a fast moving manufacturing environment. Eventually I reached to Microsoft Project plan 3 free trial. I find it promising but it is missing the possibility of adding machines etc in the projects.I request to advise on:1. is the Project right product for a production scheduling purpose?2. In what form, I get Project so that I get features such as adding machines etc? I am bit confused with Microsoft products available (Project 3 or 5 or Project desktop), before I buy the license, I need to confirm if its possible or not? 3. Does Project desktop still available to download for individual purpose.Please bear with me if this is not the right forum, please direct me suitably.

mkjain,Let me offer my input, some of my colleagues will likely jump in with their thoughts.Is Project a good app for production scheduling? That's kind of up to you as it depends on what features you need for your production scheduling.You are correct in that there are perhaps way too many different versions of Project. Separate stand alone Project desktop is still available directly from Microsoft or from authorized third party suppliers. The latest version of Project 2021 but you may not actually need the latest, again, depending on what features you need/want. Project plan 3 or 5 are subscription versions of Project. Both of those include the Project desktop client. Unless you need enterprise capabilities, plan 3 will work fine.In Project machines are work type resources, just like labor. Project also has features that can be used for rented/leased equipment. There are also cost type resources (e.g. travel, training, etc.) and material resources (e.g. fuel, bricks, anything that is consumable).That's kinda the short list. If you have specific requirements, tell us about them and we'll try to answer.John

mkjain,You do NOT need plan 5 as plan 3 has what you need. But I'm a little confused when you say you need "online version" since you initially asked if the stand alone desktop version is available and in my response I told you stand alone versions are still available.I do not use Project Online (subscription version) so I can't help you with how best to use it for your production planning. However, I will ask my colleague Dale Howard to jump in as he has expertise in that area.John

mkjain,Yes, Project can handle production type planning/scheduling. Are you focused on the subscription version (i.e. Project Online Plan 3) or are you still interested in the stand alone desktop version?Another question. Have you considered using Excel for your production planning? It's not specifically designed for planning/scheduling but it might serve your needs. There are a lot of nuances to Project compared to Excel, so the learning curve is steeper and longer. Just a thought. If you could give us an example of one of the products you are trying to schedule that includes the typical steps in the process and the kind of resources to produce that product, then we should be able to give you some guidance and suggestions.John

mkjain Thank you for the long description of your question. As I read through it a couple of times I wonder if Project is really the best app for you. I can only help you with what Project can and cannot do, you will have to do your own research with regard to what other apps are available that might better meet your needs. With that, let me address your questions.1. You can have as many machine resources as you need. They would be defined as Work type resources on the Resource Sheet. They may have a cost factor just like a labor type resource (i.e. $/hr) or they may have a cost per use, or no cost at all if fully amortized and cost of the machine is not of interest. Each machine resource would be assigned to tasks (process steps) as necessary. For example, let's say you have 4 fine wire drawing machines that can run 24/7. On the Resource Sheet they would be shown with a Max Unit level of 400% and a 24 hour Base Calendar. There may or may not be any cost associated with operating each machine but there may be maintenance downtime or die changeover time for each use. Those would be handled as separate process step tasks on the schedule. 2. In Project material resources as consumables. Project does NOT track inventory of material resources but it does track cost of materials (e.g. $/kg bar stock, $/ft thermoplastic insulation, etc.). 3. Unless there are unique characteristics to certain types of wire orders and processing (e.g. scheduling calendars), I would assume the production plan would be a single Project file that changes dynamically as new orders are added and completed orders finish. To keep the ever growing plan at a manageable level, the plan could be saved monthly/quarterly, etc. and deleting orders that are complete. The saved plans create a historical reference. 4. Leveling in Project has one purpose and that is to help alleviate overallocation of work type resources. Leveling does NOT impact material resources and does NOT optimize the plan. Leveling may or may not impact on-going tasks depending on leveling options (e.g. allow on-going tasks to split). 5. As I noted before I have no working knowledge of Project Online plan 3 which includes Project for the Web (very limited functionality), PWA, and Project desktop client. What I explained above is all in the framework of Project desktop. Whether the addition of PWA in Project Online plan 3 will provide added benefit for the shop floor, I do not know. Hopefully some of my colleagues will jump in with their thoughts. With regard to the sample data you provided, most of the plan appears to be custom fields (e.g order number, target quantity, finish good name, etc.) not related to any type of scheduling. Although Project has the capability to show custom field data the only fields relating to scheduling are the process steps ("Stage Desc"), sequence ("StageLevel"), and Delivery date. That information is readily adaptable to an Excel spreadsheet however if laid out in Project it might look something like this:John

shitanshus Project's specification allows for more tasks and resources than are practical to manage, (e.g. 400K tasks, 700K resources), so no, there is no limitation on adding new orders. As I suggested, you should consider periodically dropping completed orders from the plan to maintain a workable file. Avoiding repetitive tasks is a matter of careful file structure. For example, instead of laying out each order under it's own heading, it makes more sense to lay out the plan under the headings (summary lines) of process functions, as shown here:Assignments of machine resources will perhaps more clearly shown when overallocated so appropriate action can be taken (i.e. manual shuffling of machine allocation or leveling based on Order priority). Again, unfortunately I can't help you with pluses or minus of going with Project Online versus standalone Project. John

Creating production schedule in Project

29 Replies

John-project
Silver Contributor
Sep 06, 2024
mkjain,
Let me offer my input, some of my colleagues will likely jump in with their thoughts.

Is Project a good app for production scheduling? That's kind of up to you as it depends on what features you need for your production scheduling.

You are correct in that there are perhaps way too many different versions of Project. Separate stand alone Project desktop is still available directly from Microsoft or from authorized third party suppliers. The latest version of Project 2021 but you may not actually need the latest, again, depending on what features you need/want. Project plan 3 or 5 are subscription versions of Project. Both of those include the Project desktop client. Unless you need enterprise capabilities, plan 3 will work fine.

In Project machines are work type resources, just like labor. Project also has features that can be used for rented/leased equipment. There are also cost type resources (e.g. travel, training, etc.) and material resources (e.g. fuel, bricks, anything that is consumable).

That's kinda the short list. If you have specific requirements, tell us about them and we'll try to answer.

John
- mkjain
  Copper Contributor
  Sep 07, 2024
  John-project ,
  
  Thanks for your prompt input.
  
  I am fine with Project 3, except that I am not able to see how to add machines. I just see assignment resource where I can add users to assign the task, but how to create other resource?
  
  I am almost ready to buy plan 3 if I can at least get this functionality. Is it possible to add machines in Project 3?
  
  I am assuming Project 5 should have that, but I can not try independently because that asks to contact a partner for trial!
  - mkjain
    Copper Contributor
    Sep 07, 2024
    Update:
    I believe Desktop client is needed to add resources, finally I could install that and now started learning. Since I need online version, so I believe I need to add resources, make the projects and then publish it. Hopefully then online I would see all resources including machines etc I created in Desktop.
    
    Incase you have advise on how to make initial learning curve smoother please suggest.

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Creating production schedule in Project

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