JILL HICKSProject Manager| Bourn & KochIl, United States
I manage several projects. Right now I have 38 project on the books between now and the end of 2018. Microsoft Project is good from one or two projects, but not for 38. Does anyone have a recommendation for project management scheduling/ghantt chart software? Saving Changes...
Can you clarify which PM information elements you are looking to manage?
MS Project can handle a large number of independent project schedules quite well but if you are looking for portfolio-level reporting or views, you might need to consider more of an enterprise-level solution, but only if PM practices across all of these projects are consistent and disciplined.
Kiron Saving Changes...
JILL HICKSProject Manager| Bourn & KochIl, United States
We are a machine tool builder. We have design, parts lead time, mechanical assembly, electrical assembly, start up for example. We have multiple resources. We build specialty machines one at a time, we are not an assembly line type of manufacturer. If I put 38 projects with 10-15 tasks a piece into microsoft project, once you are on line 400 you have no idea how that effects line 40.
We are looking into Liquid Planner but am concerned that will not be able to input enough resources.
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1 reply by Kiron Bondale
Nov 02, 2017 8:15 AM
Kiron Bondale
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Jill -
400 tasks is quite manageable in MS Project. The key is to structure the individual schedules so that the information you need to know (e.g. what is the impact of this task on Project X taking longer on the tasks in Project Y) jumps out at you.
MSP's filters are a great way to quickly focus on the impacts on key milestones when schedule changes occur.
You could also set up stoplight indicators to change color when a particular milestone starts edging into the danger zone due to the ripple effect of dependency changes.
Given the size of your schedules, I wouldn't recommend a high-end scheduler because the cost, care & feeding required would be much more than the benefits you'd receive.
Kiron
Saving Changes...
Rajendra NirgudwarProject Management Expert | ARM Infrprojects Pvt. LtdChandrapur, Maharashtra, India
Primavera 8.06 release web version is useful for multiple project . It also useful for Enterprise level , Portfolio levels and PM levels . Scheduling control is good as compare to MSP. Saving Changes...
Drake SettsuProject Manager / BloggerHi, United States
You can take a look at Wrike. I do affiliate marketing for them and they have a good product. They also have a nice mobile app so you can keep track of your project on your phone or pad. Not chained to a desktop or laptop. Saving Changes...
I too have a heavy project load. We are in the process of implementing a project status and management dashboard with Smart Sheets Sights. It is looking very promising with hyperlink drill down capability. We needed something that could provide executive management with the high altitude information but when called out, could be able to show exactly where a given project is. Our project team uses Smart Sheets for a large percentage of the project elements, ranging from Stakeholder register to Project Schedules. It can provide resource reporting, critical path and assign costing by WBS. I have been using Smart Sheets for about 4 years and I can't recommend it enough. Saving Changes...
We are a machine tool builder. We have design, parts lead time, mechanical assembly, electrical assembly, start up for example. We have multiple resources. We build specialty machines one at a time, we are not an assembly line type of manufacturer. If I put 38 projects with 10-15 tasks a piece into microsoft project, once you are on line 400 you have no idea how that effects line 40.
We are looking into Liquid Planner but am concerned that will not be able to input enough resources.
Jill -
400 tasks is quite manageable in MS Project. The key is to structure the individual schedules so that the information you need to know (e.g. what is the impact of this task on Project X taking longer on the tasks in Project Y) jumps out at you.
MSP's filters are a great way to quickly focus on the impacts on key milestones when schedule changes occur.
You could also set up stoplight indicators to change color when a particular milestone starts edging into the danger zone due to the ripple effect of dependency changes.
Given the size of your schedules, I wouldn't recommend a high-end scheduler because the cost, care & feeding required would be much more than the benefits you'd receive.
Kiron Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
I agree with Kiron.
My rule of thumb is no more than 1,000 tasks in a MS Project schedule. I have also worked in a program management office where we were setting up each schedule within an overall master schedule. Saving Changes...
MS Project is good for 400 tasks, I would go to more than 1000 tasks.
Would a another tool let you know more about impact of task 400 on task 40? Since that seem to be your main problem.
Is that link to automated ressource levelling? Saving Changes...
Anonymous
I am not an expert in MS Project but I think you can do it in two different approaches:
Approach 1:
Create separate files for each project --- and create one master schedule that links all of the individual projects. So you can manage at the project level but also check for conflicts at the master level.
Approach 2:
Put all projects on the same file - like many have already said - 400 activities is no problem. You can have each project at level 2 and the master project at level 1.
Regardless which approach you follow - the key is to have them resource loaded since, without resource loading you do not have a proper schedule, only list of tasks and you cannot readily identify conflicts. Saving Changes...
