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A step ahead of schedule
APP LICATIONS Project Management
A step ahead of schedule Project control p a c k a g e s can help you schedule projects, allocate resources, and, keep track of progress from start to finish. W e review some of the systems available.
Central Electricity Generating Board The CEGB has used its Smart2 program for repairs and maintenance at power stations and construction planning. Features of the system include special emphasis on providing work continuity, the ability to reflect greater scarcity in some resources than in others, dynamic manning levels along an activity, and manual overrides to scheduling. The CEGB was more concerned with realistic work scheduling than in finishhag the project as fast as possible, and Smart2 therefore produces a close to optimum schedule based on variations that are likely to occur. The system is intended to be particularly easy to use for non-programmers, and produces tabular and histogram reports, and network diagrams, plus non-standard reports. Smart2 operates on the IBM 360/370 series, is written in PL/1, and costs between £10,000 and £20,000. Circle 051 on enquiry card.
Computation Research and Development CRD offers a modular system called Internet 80s, for use in project planning, financial modelling and resource procurement. The package works on a network logic basis for project planning, with networks represented in precedence or arrow notation. There are a total of 11 project planning processors revolving around a database which holds information on networks, modelling and procurement. A network can be generated, linked to other networks, or reduced to a skeleton group of smaller activities. The most critical paths in a network can be presented in a status table. Resources allocated can be aggregated and smoothed. Input is on-line or batch, according to the operating system used. Output formats are specified by the user, and include bar charts, histograms, project 10
tables, and path status tables. Linked bar charts are networks plotted to show activities correctly represented against a tSrne scale and interconnected according to their logical relationships. Internet 80s is written in Astran, a machine protable version of Fortran, and runs on a variety of mainframes, including IBM, ICL, Univac, DEC, Perkin-Elmer, Control Data and Prime. The system is available in modular form on a leased basis from CRD, with modules costing between £1,000 and £5,000 each, or from a number of bureaux. Circle 052 on enquiry card.
Computer Associates Computer Associates offers CAQuicktrol, which will run on DOS/VS, DOS/VSE and all OS operating systems being hosted by IBM mainframes, such as the 370, 4300 and 303X systems. The product has not yet been launched in the UK, but is expected to cost £10,000 for DOS and £15,000 for OS versions. Input to the system is via successive command statements. Projects are divided into phases and then into tasks. Resources and expenditure may be allocated to the level of task. Over 35 reports are available. Personnel may be assigned individually or generically, for example, systems programmers, and authorisation is required to allocate people or equipment. Any project, phase or task may be defined as in-planning, in-progress, or complete. Circle 053 on enquiry card.
Computerline Computerline has produced Micropert, a menu-driven, modular package. The input of new network data, and its amendment is via keyboard entry in response to graphical display on the vdu. Reports may be produced to the vdu, printer or plotter in tabular, graphical or diagrammatic format. Processing features include analysis by time, resource or cost, multi-project analysis, imposed dates, holiday considerations, and resource levelling. Budgeting comparisons are possible. Depending on the disc size available, up to 5,000 activities can be included, with up to 500 activities per sub-project. Micropert is based on an annual
licence fee and costs £1,750 for the first year, and £500 thereafter. Alternatively, the system can be taken in four modules, at varying costs. Circle 054 on enquiry card.
Computex Systems Computex Systems' package, Plan, is designed for architects' practices. It produces.financial and man-day summaries, and forecasts of work in hand for each staff member, each project and for the whole firm. Plan may either be purchased, or used on a bureau service, in which case Computex receives information from customers each month, and supplies forecasts after processing. The cost of an in-house system (PDP 11/23), including hardware and software would be about £25,000. Circle 055 on enquiry card.
Datalink Datalink has produced Microplanner for micros. The package provides critical path analysis in an interactive environment. Projects are broken down into linked sub-projects, with control of up to 3,000 activities possible. Projects may last from two days to several years. Features include the establishment of optimum deadlines, the investigation of alternative actions and a suite of output formats for reports. The 5.25 floppy version in Europe is handled by Apple, while the Corvus hard disc version is being distributed by Keen Computers. From Keen a basic system consisting of an Apple micro, Corvus hard disc and Micro-Planner software costs under £6,500. From Apple the floppy version will cost around £4,300. Circle 056 on enquiry card.
Davy Computing Compaid, from Davy Computing, is a large scale system, intended primarily for the oil industry. Users are mainly contractors or sub-contractors involved in the construction of refineries, processing plants, and drilling platforms. The system aids the control of piping materials, draws fabrication and erection isometrics and monitors costs. It is available on licence or through the Davy Computing bureau service. Circle 057 on enquiry card.
DATAPROCESSING
IBM Projacs, from IBM, is a management tool for controlling complex projects with time, cost and resource interdependencies. The system consists of a main processor, for time analysis functions, and three optional processors, for resource allocation, cost evaluation, and network preparation. The features of the main processor include precedence and pert/CPM notations, four types of relationships with positive o r negative lags, five types of schedule dates, eight calendars and work-week specifications, progress reporting, and report generation. Facilities in the network preparation processor allow subnets or parts of a network to be printed out in the form of a drawing, and for modules to be stored as standard and retrieved from a library as required. Projacs costs £216.25 a month from IBM, and runs under DOS/VS, DOS/ VSE, OS/VS1, SVS and MVS. It is also offered by several bureaux. Circle 058 on enquiry card.
Premis (otherwise known as Amper) is a critical path/resource analysis system for the calculation of arrow networks. The program will handle subnets Of up to 80,000 activities. Up to 100 different resource requirement patterns may be specified over the duration of an activity, with up to 100 resources per activity. Activity durations are normally expressed with a single estimate, but optimistic and pessimistic estimates may also be given.
|:l'J'J I [1~;II/ [I] ~[~ Project Management Micromedia Micromedia offers a pert/critical path analysis package to run on any micro under CP/M. The package costs £495, and is generally sold as a hardware/ software system, on a Sirius, Rair or NEC machine, for about £4,000. Circle 061 on enquiry card.
NCR
Amper costs £25,000 and Promini £15,000 for the mini version and £4,000 for micros.
NCR-PPC helps management identify work requirements, and control projects by allowing the tracking of progress of the project against the plan, making adjustments, and analysing the effect of the adjustments. Features of the package include planning, simulation, resource allocation, progress tracking and budgeting. There is a limit of 300 resources, but no limit to the number of activities. The system is available in an interactive version, for an estimated price of £5,300, or in a batch version for £7,900.
Circle 060 on enquiry card.
Circle 062 on enquiry card,
Library networks may be stored, and called for use in a network as required. Reporting is flexible, as is the input format. Promini is similar to Amper, but obviously the restrictions are far greater. For example, Promini will handle up to 5,000 activities, with up to 16 resources on one activity.
ICL Pert is available from ICL, running on 1900, 2903 range, ME29 and 2900 machines, although there are certain variations in the versions supplied. Pert operates on arrow networks and precedence diagrams, offering network creation and update, resource scheduling, time analysis, resource analysis and report writing. There is also a cost control and analysis function on the non-2900 versions. Features include network libraries for standard networks, skeletonisation and multi-project scheduling. Barcharts and histograms can be produced by Pert. Pert Graphics offers the capability of network drawing on a plotter such as Benson, Calcomp and Versatec. A network drawing can be produced based on network logic or the calculated results of time or resource analysis. Circle 059 on enquiry card.
K & H Business Consultants K & H was formed in 1964 to develop computer software for project control and related applications. Packages are now available to run on micros, minis or mainframes. The major packages now on offer are Promini for minis and micros, and Premis for large IBM mainframes. MARCH1982
Important construction projects need careful monitoring. 11
L,lil'J I [~III / [I]~ g l Project Management Sydney Development Corporation Sydney Development Corporation was formed in 1978 to develop and market Connect II, a man-machine interface for IBM project management packages such as Projacs. Connect II offers simplified, interactive data entry, and an additional turnaround document for details of the current status of a project. This gives trend analysis information and predicts the course of the project. In the U K the licence fee for Connect II will be between £7,000 and £15,000. Rental terms are also available.
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~
,'t-~-:;~£. - "'~1~ . , ' ~ " ~ - -
Circle 063 on enquiry card.
Thorncroft Manor Services T-Pert, available from Thorncroft Manor Services, enables projects with up to 750 activities to be time analysed and monitored. T-Pert runs under CP/M and is available to end users for £465. The package carries out a time analysis and provides information in the form of bar charts and printouts on the permissible timings of activities. C i r c l e 0 6 4 on e n q u i r y c a r d .
Whessoe Technical and Computing Systems S m a r t l from Whessoe has been designed to help plan, monitor and control manufacturing and construction projects. Smartl is project network analysis based, with upper limits of 8,000 activities and 47 different resources. The use of time analysis allows a graphical model of complex single or multiple projects to be made, which can determine the shortest time in which it is physically possible to complete each project, or group of projects, and indicate the relative criticality of all jobs within them. Control of manpower and resources is effected via the schedules produced by the resources analysis module. In the aggregation phase the manpower and resource levels required are determined, assuming each job is started at its earliest possible time, together with the total work loads involved. The allocation phase enables the effect of both limited manpower and resources, and time requirements to be evaluated together. The package runs on DEC System 10, is written in Fortran, and costs £13,000 outright, or £4,000 for an annual lease. Circle 065 on enquiry card.
12
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•
. / f
./.,
~ 2 - . . 7 " ~ r . , d ~ , ~ _ , ~ t T d ~ _ ~ - ~ g ~ - L ~ g
..
Major projects can be sub-divided for easier management.
Bureaux Many computer bureaux run some of the packages mentioned here, either on a time-sharing basis, or by supplying output to supplied information. A selection of these services is listed here. BOC Datasolve
BOC Datasolve runs a variety of project management packages, including IBM's Projacs and Sydney's Connect II. Also available is a package called Fox, which prepares work plans and monitors progress of a project in terms of time and cost. Emphasis is placed on graphical output, and project plans can be presented as timerelated network diagrams and barcharts.
network plotting, CPM scheduling, progress control, cost processing, resource allocation and constraining, multiple calendars and multiprojects. Over 60 tabular and graphic reports can be given, and a report writer exists for non-standard reporting. PVS is designed for ease of use by project management without DP expertise, for simple modelling of projects, and presentation of information on a single sheet. Circle 068 on enquiry card. I.P. S h a r p A s s o c i a t e s
Computel offers ICL Pert and t E D ' s Internet 80s.
I.P. Sharp Associates offers Snap, designed to help control the planning, co-ordination and control of multi-location projects, using the file-sharing facilities from Sharp. It is also intended to use Sharp's international communications network. Snap handles projects organised in hierarchical and matrix form, with an emphasis on flexibility.
Circle 067 on enquiry card.
Circle 069 on enquiry card.
Circle 066 on enquiry card Computel
Geisco
UCSL
The two principal systems offered by Geisco are both available on local call dial-up basis. Prices vary according to usage. Projecff2 will model networks involving over 30,000 activities, defining up to four different work breakdown structures with up to I00 levels. Features include bar chart and
UCSL offers IBM's Projacs and CRD's Internet 80s on its bureau service. Systems are offered on a timehire basis, with as much support as the customer needs. Customers are mostly engineering firms with very large projects under consideration, looking at several hundred activities. Circle 070 on enquiry card.
DATAPROCESSING
A step ahead of schedule Project control p a c k a g e s can help you schedule projects, allocate resources, and, keep track of progress from start to finish. W e review some of the systems available.
Central Electricity Generating Board The CEGB has used its Smart2 program for repairs and maintenance at power stations and construction planning. Features of the system include special emphasis on providing work continuity, the ability to reflect greater scarcity in some resources than in others, dynamic manning levels along an activity, and manual overrides to scheduling. The CEGB was more concerned with realistic work scheduling than in finishhag the project as fast as possible, and Smart2 therefore produces a close to optimum schedule based on variations that are likely to occur. The system is intended to be particularly easy to use for non-programmers, and produces tabular and histogram reports, and network diagrams, plus non-standard reports. Smart2 operates on the IBM 360/370 series, is written in PL/1, and costs between £10,000 and £20,000. Circle 051 on enquiry card.
Computation Research and Development CRD offers a modular system called Internet 80s, for use in project planning, financial modelling and resource procurement. The package works on a network logic basis for project planning, with networks represented in precedence or arrow notation. There are a total of 11 project planning processors revolving around a database which holds information on networks, modelling and procurement. A network can be generated, linked to other networks, or reduced to a skeleton group of smaller activities. The most critical paths in a network can be presented in a status table. Resources allocated can be aggregated and smoothed. Input is on-line or batch, according to the operating system used. Output formats are specified by the user, and include bar charts, histograms, project 10
tables, and path status tables. Linked bar charts are networks plotted to show activities correctly represented against a tSrne scale and interconnected according to their logical relationships. Internet 80s is written in Astran, a machine protable version of Fortran, and runs on a variety of mainframes, including IBM, ICL, Univac, DEC, Perkin-Elmer, Control Data and Prime. The system is available in modular form on a leased basis from CRD, with modules costing between £1,000 and £5,000 each, or from a number of bureaux. Circle 052 on enquiry card.
Computer Associates Computer Associates offers CAQuicktrol, which will run on DOS/VS, DOS/VSE and all OS operating systems being hosted by IBM mainframes, such as the 370, 4300 and 303X systems. The product has not yet been launched in the UK, but is expected to cost £10,000 for DOS and £15,000 for OS versions. Input to the system is via successive command statements. Projects are divided into phases and then into tasks. Resources and expenditure may be allocated to the level of task. Over 35 reports are available. Personnel may be assigned individually or generically, for example, systems programmers, and authorisation is required to allocate people or equipment. Any project, phase or task may be defined as in-planning, in-progress, or complete. Circle 053 on enquiry card.
Computerline Computerline has produced Micropert, a menu-driven, modular package. The input of new network data, and its amendment is via keyboard entry in response to graphical display on the vdu. Reports may be produced to the vdu, printer or plotter in tabular, graphical or diagrammatic format. Processing features include analysis by time, resource or cost, multi-project analysis, imposed dates, holiday considerations, and resource levelling. Budgeting comparisons are possible. Depending on the disc size available, up to 5,000 activities can be included, with up to 500 activities per sub-project. Micropert is based on an annual
licence fee and costs £1,750 for the first year, and £500 thereafter. Alternatively, the system can be taken in four modules, at varying costs. Circle 054 on enquiry card.
Computex Systems Computex Systems' package, Plan, is designed for architects' practices. It produces.financial and man-day summaries, and forecasts of work in hand for each staff member, each project and for the whole firm. Plan may either be purchased, or used on a bureau service, in which case Computex receives information from customers each month, and supplies forecasts after processing. The cost of an in-house system (PDP 11/23), including hardware and software would be about £25,000. Circle 055 on enquiry card.
Datalink Datalink has produced Microplanner for micros. The package provides critical path analysis in an interactive environment. Projects are broken down into linked sub-projects, with control of up to 3,000 activities possible. Projects may last from two days to several years. Features include the establishment of optimum deadlines, the investigation of alternative actions and a suite of output formats for reports. The 5.25 floppy version in Europe is handled by Apple, while the Corvus hard disc version is being distributed by Keen Computers. From Keen a basic system consisting of an Apple micro, Corvus hard disc and Micro-Planner software costs under £6,500. From Apple the floppy version will cost around £4,300. Circle 056 on enquiry card.
Davy Computing Compaid, from Davy Computing, is a large scale system, intended primarily for the oil industry. Users are mainly contractors or sub-contractors involved in the construction of refineries, processing plants, and drilling platforms. The system aids the control of piping materials, draws fabrication and erection isometrics and monitors costs. It is available on licence or through the Davy Computing bureau service. Circle 057 on enquiry card.
DATAPROCESSING
IBM Projacs, from IBM, is a management tool for controlling complex projects with time, cost and resource interdependencies. The system consists of a main processor, for time analysis functions, and three optional processors, for resource allocation, cost evaluation, and network preparation. The features of the main processor include precedence and pert/CPM notations, four types of relationships with positive o r negative lags, five types of schedule dates, eight calendars and work-week specifications, progress reporting, and report generation. Facilities in the network preparation processor allow subnets or parts of a network to be printed out in the form of a drawing, and for modules to be stored as standard and retrieved from a library as required. Projacs costs £216.25 a month from IBM, and runs under DOS/VS, DOS/ VSE, OS/VS1, SVS and MVS. It is also offered by several bureaux. Circle 058 on enquiry card.
Premis (otherwise known as Amper) is a critical path/resource analysis system for the calculation of arrow networks. The program will handle subnets Of up to 80,000 activities. Up to 100 different resource requirement patterns may be specified over the duration of an activity, with up to 100 resources per activity. Activity durations are normally expressed with a single estimate, but optimistic and pessimistic estimates may also be given.
|:l'J'J I [1~;II/ [I] ~[~ Project Management Micromedia Micromedia offers a pert/critical path analysis package to run on any micro under CP/M. The package costs £495, and is generally sold as a hardware/ software system, on a Sirius, Rair or NEC machine, for about £4,000. Circle 061 on enquiry card.
NCR
Amper costs £25,000 and Promini £15,000 for the mini version and £4,000 for micros.
NCR-PPC helps management identify work requirements, and control projects by allowing the tracking of progress of the project against the plan, making adjustments, and analysing the effect of the adjustments. Features of the package include planning, simulation, resource allocation, progress tracking and budgeting. There is a limit of 300 resources, but no limit to the number of activities. The system is available in an interactive version, for an estimated price of £5,300, or in a batch version for £7,900.
Circle 060 on enquiry card.
Circle 062 on enquiry card,
Library networks may be stored, and called for use in a network as required. Reporting is flexible, as is the input format. Promini is similar to Amper, but obviously the restrictions are far greater. For example, Promini will handle up to 5,000 activities, with up to 16 resources on one activity.
ICL Pert is available from ICL, running on 1900, 2903 range, ME29 and 2900 machines, although there are certain variations in the versions supplied. Pert operates on arrow networks and precedence diagrams, offering network creation and update, resource scheduling, time analysis, resource analysis and report writing. There is also a cost control and analysis function on the non-2900 versions. Features include network libraries for standard networks, skeletonisation and multi-project scheduling. Barcharts and histograms can be produced by Pert. Pert Graphics offers the capability of network drawing on a plotter such as Benson, Calcomp and Versatec. A network drawing can be produced based on network logic or the calculated results of time or resource analysis. Circle 059 on enquiry card.
K & H Business Consultants K & H was formed in 1964 to develop computer software for project control and related applications. Packages are now available to run on micros, minis or mainframes. The major packages now on offer are Promini for minis and micros, and Premis for large IBM mainframes. MARCH1982
Important construction projects need careful monitoring. 11
L,lil'J I [~III / [I]~ g l Project Management Sydney Development Corporation Sydney Development Corporation was formed in 1978 to develop and market Connect II, a man-machine interface for IBM project management packages such as Projacs. Connect II offers simplified, interactive data entry, and an additional turnaround document for details of the current status of a project. This gives trend analysis information and predicts the course of the project. In the U K the licence fee for Connect II will be between £7,000 and £15,000. Rental terms are also available.
~...-~---~:-~
--m'~.. ;,~-~- ; ~ 1 "
~
".;
4"
:
---
- .-
--~:'
~
,'t-~-:;~£. - "'~1~ . , ' ~ " ~ - -
Circle 063 on enquiry card.
Thorncroft Manor Services T-Pert, available from Thorncroft Manor Services, enables projects with up to 750 activities to be time analysed and monitored. T-Pert runs under CP/M and is available to end users for £465. The package carries out a time analysis and provides information in the form of bar charts and printouts on the permissible timings of activities. C i r c l e 0 6 4 on e n q u i r y c a r d .
Whessoe Technical and Computing Systems S m a r t l from Whessoe has been designed to help plan, monitor and control manufacturing and construction projects. Smartl is project network analysis based, with upper limits of 8,000 activities and 47 different resources. The use of time analysis allows a graphical model of complex single or multiple projects to be made, which can determine the shortest time in which it is physically possible to complete each project, or group of projects, and indicate the relative criticality of all jobs within them. Control of manpower and resources is effected via the schedules produced by the resources analysis module. In the aggregation phase the manpower and resource levels required are determined, assuming each job is started at its earliest possible time, together with the total work loads involved. The allocation phase enables the effect of both limited manpower and resources, and time requirements to be evaluated together. The package runs on DEC System 10, is written in Fortran, and costs £13,000 outright, or £4,000 for an annual lease. Circle 065 on enquiry card.
12
.., :..-
.-~,~Z2~-~.,.~.~.--.~-'.-,-->~~
•
. / f
./.,
~ 2 - . . 7 " ~ r . , d ~ , ~ _ , ~ t T d ~ _ ~ - ~ g ~ - L ~ g
..
Major projects can be sub-divided for easier management.
Bureaux Many computer bureaux run some of the packages mentioned here, either on a time-sharing basis, or by supplying output to supplied information. A selection of these services is listed here. BOC Datasolve
BOC Datasolve runs a variety of project management packages, including IBM's Projacs and Sydney's Connect II. Also available is a package called Fox, which prepares work plans and monitors progress of a project in terms of time and cost. Emphasis is placed on graphical output, and project plans can be presented as timerelated network diagrams and barcharts.
network plotting, CPM scheduling, progress control, cost processing, resource allocation and constraining, multiple calendars and multiprojects. Over 60 tabular and graphic reports can be given, and a report writer exists for non-standard reporting. PVS is designed for ease of use by project management without DP expertise, for simple modelling of projects, and presentation of information on a single sheet. Circle 068 on enquiry card. I.P. S h a r p A s s o c i a t e s
Computel offers ICL Pert and t E D ' s Internet 80s.
I.P. Sharp Associates offers Snap, designed to help control the planning, co-ordination and control of multi-location projects, using the file-sharing facilities from Sharp. It is also intended to use Sharp's international communications network. Snap handles projects organised in hierarchical and matrix form, with an emphasis on flexibility.
Circle 067 on enquiry card.
Circle 069 on enquiry card.
Circle 066 on enquiry card Computel
Geisco
UCSL
The two principal systems offered by Geisco are both available on local call dial-up basis. Prices vary according to usage. Projecff2 will model networks involving over 30,000 activities, defining up to four different work breakdown structures with up to I00 levels. Features include bar chart and
UCSL offers IBM's Projacs and CRD's Internet 80s on its bureau service. Systems are offered on a timehire basis, with as much support as the customer needs. Customers are mostly engineering firms with very large projects under consideration, looking at several hundred activities. Circle 070 on enquiry card.
DATAPROCESSING