How to Manage projects using Primavera P6 Like a Pro?

Since becoming project managers, one of the things that we have learned is how to effectively manage projects using different software. One of the best software for managing projects is Primavera P6

Primavera P6 for Managing Projects

Primavera P6 is fundamentally a project scheduling tool. But as we all know, a project’s significance can vary tremendously. And while each project has a unique ultimate result, they all have some things in common:

• The project has deliverables (what the customer is paying for)

• There is a work scope to complete the tasks necessary to complete the deliverables.

• There is the management of Time, Cost, Resources (people, materials, and Machinery), Communication among the project team, Project Documentation, Risks, Purchases, Vendors

Project Management Life Cycle in Primavera P6

There are several phases to a project, and these phases can be organized in a variety of ways using various terminology and approaches. A typical and commonly used classification is as follows:

• Initiation – deciding to go forward while sourcing cash and resources

• Planning, including defining the scope, establishing the timeline, and allocating resources

• Execution – carrying out the tasks necessary to produce the project deliverables

• Managing – monitoring development and taking remedial action as the project moves forward

• Closing up – by completing the assignment and analyzing the lessons learnt

Is Primavera P6 used only for Planning? Answer: No!

Primavera P6 may be utilized at any step of the life cycle, despite the fact that many people only link it with the planning stage

– Initiation: A first project can be made to calculate the cost and schedule.

– Planning: It goes without saying that the project plan may be created using P6. This talent should never be taken for granted since the clever use of The core of what makes P6 the highly-valued platform are CPM scheduling algorithms. 

– Execution: As the project progresses, the schedule is updated and adjusted as actual work is performed. Updated statuses can be entered directly into Primavera P6 and can be driven by timesheets.

– Controlling: As things occur locally and activities alter, the scheduling algorithms will revise the schedule to reflect when finished. Primavera P6 will show changes in anticipated resource usage and cash.

– Closing: Resources may be given to other projects when the scope is finished. Using the actual times and resources used to finish the project, the completed project may then be turned into a project template. It provides a solid foundation for new project estimation based on previous projects.

Primavera P6 primarily assists you in managing these entities by dividing a project into Activities and Resources.

Understanding Activities in Primavera P6

An activity is a logical element of work to be done. Activities can occur independently or can depend on one another. Managing the dependencies of activities is a core strength of P6.

When the project is designing, building, and commissioning a power plant, the steps involved are quite complex. There are tasks inside tasks, several teams to manage, and delivery and assembly of equipment to complete. A straightforward checklist is insufficient, and one individual is unable to remember everything. Activities keep track of the many tasks that must be completed, and the relationships between activities create a network of dependencies that P6 may manage and change.

Understanding Resources in Primavera P6

An activity can also have resources. Resources can be the people assigned to work on the task, the equipment that is needed to perform the work, or the materials to install. Each of these resources has an associated cost and potentially limited availability. Knowing what resources you will need when and where is crucial in being able to make long-term plans on complex projects. Resources also have calendars – when a given resource is available. For people, this is their work schedule. For equipment, there may be limitations on when it can be used based on weather, or a maintenance schedule.