Engineering Project Management Software

[jleonard]

Hello,
I am an Engineering Director looking for project management software to track and measure the efficiency of my group and resources. I am looking for a web-based software that is easy to use and efficient to track project issues, tasks, costs, and timing. Not only do I want to use it to plan and track projects, but also to monitor engineer's workload to determine the groups capacity. I want the software to be smart enough to know that in real time the group resources are at/over/under capacity and that certain project tasks will be early/ontime/late.

Any suggestions??

Thanks!

 

[eyec]

check out Serena Software

they have Open Project & Portfolio Project Management web-based programs that may interest you.

 

[IRstuff]

MS Project can potentially do some of that, but you'd need to be rigorous in maintaining the information and updating the status, which can be tedious.

Standard earned-value status can be done in MSP relatively easily. Manpower loading requires you rigorously apply the resource loading inputs, but MSP is primitive when it comes to flexibility in describing the resource loadings.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[KENAT]

As IRstuff brings up, the real problem is keeping the information up to date/current.

At times here I swear we've spent more time keeping such plans/database's (done in MS project with some Excel) up to date than doing actual work.

I suppose if you could tie it into timecard keeping that might help to some extent.

Just remember, the project plan is a tool, not the master.

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(probably not aimed specifically at you)
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[IRstuff]

Generally, there is no closed loop solution, I don't think. Timekeeping systems are usually on some random platform or software, and you're often just lucky if you can get weekly name runs at all.

The ideal solution would be to have some that scarfs up the weekly name runs and plows the information back into the Integrated Master Schedule, coupled with the earned value, which would then allow you to monitor the BCWP, ACWP, etc.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[jleonard]

Thanks for all your input. I am definately looking for something easy to use, that engineers can input their own hours and status, and doesn't take a lot of time to set up. I also don't want to spend all my time in the program figuring out bottlenecks across all the different projects. Like you said about spending more time with the PM software than actually doing work. A key feature would be to be able to review resource loading and rebalance easily. I've looked at Dovico, but this program doesn't track issues very well. Easyprojects.net is too cumbersome in entering data. I am going to look at Clarizen and @task next.

 

[IRstuff]

Clarizen appears to solve one problem by having its own timesheeting facility, which may be fine for your application, but not for mine, since we have a totally different timekeeping system.

However, Clarizen does not appear to do resource levelling, on the grounds that it causes more problems than it solves.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[KENAT]

Honestly, the only time I've seen the resource loading tracking done anywhere near well, it was by a dedicated design office accountant who did it all in excel!

I remember it well because to keep on schedule I apparently needed to work 80 ish hour weeks, peeking to 100+ at times!;-)

Posting guidelines faq731-376

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(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[Mattpro]

I am using VisionProject and am really happy about how it works.
It is a brilliant tool for tracking projects, issues, time, etc. Even though it has a lot of functionality it is still very easy to use.