Combining the work rates of multiple Work From Task modelled resources

If you use the Work From Task modelling type - useful when you know the amount of work that is required to complete a task - and more than one permanent resource works on the activity, each resource is normally considered to be working on the task on its own, and the calculated parameter - for example the duration - is calculated from the allocation with the slowest work rate. This suits situations where a number of different resources - for example a Plasterer and a Painter - work on the same task: their work is completely separate, and the slowest-working resource will determine the duration of the task.

In the following illustration, a Painter resource is assigned to a task, against which an amount of task work has been specified. The Painter resource is Work From Task modelled, with a work rate of 10m2 per hour, and with a calculated parameter of 'Duration'. The work rate of the Painter resource allocation sets the duration of the task:

A task with one resource allocation

In the following illustration, a second resource - this time a Plasterer - is assigned to the task. The Plasterer resource is also Work From Task modelled, with a work rate of 5m2 per hour. This work rate shows that the Plasterer works more slowly than the Painter, so the work rate of the Plasterer resource allocation sets the duration of the task, which doubles:

A task with two resource allocations, each with a different work rate

If you have more than one allocation of the same type of resource working together to complete a task - for example, two roofers working together to tile a roof - you can configure Asta Powerproject to combine their work rates. If you do this, the combined work rate is used to calculate the calculated parameter - for example the duration - rather than the work rate of the slowest resource.

In the following illustration, a Roofer resource is assigned to a task, against which an amount of task work has been specified. The Roofer resource is Work From Task modelled, with a work rate of 10m2 per hour, and with a calculated parameter of 'Duration'. The Roofer resource has been configured to combine work rates. The work rate of the Roofer resource allocation sets the duration of the task:

A task with one resource allocation

In the following illustration, a second identical Roofer resource is assigned to the task. The second resource is also Work From Task modelled, with a work rate of 10m2 per hour, and has been configured to combine work rates. The work rates of both resources are therefore combined, and together set the duration of the task, which therefore halves:

A second Roofer resource assigned to the task, which halves the duration

To configure Work From Task modelled permanent resources to combine their work rates, select the Combine work rate check box on the Assignment tab of the Permanent Resource Properties dialog. There is a corresponding check box on the Modelling tab of the Permanent Allocation Properties dialog.

If you select this check box for two or more permanent resource allocations on a task, their work rates are combined for the purposes of resource modelling, provided that the allocations:

  • Are of the same type (ie demand or scheduled).
  • Use the 'Work From Task' modelling type.
  • Have the calculated and balancing parameters set to something other than 'Work rate'.
  • Have the Combine work rate check box selected.
  • Have the Ignore check box cleared.

Related Topics:

Questions you can answer by modelling resources

Work From Task modelled permanent resources