When it comes to progressing your schedule, using Primavera P6 EPPM duration percent complete type is the most efficient way to enter schedule progress.
If your project is a construction project where one can inspect the actual physical work accomplished at the job site then the physical percent complete type is the most accurate way to measure schedule progress.
On the other hand, if you are scheduling, a research project where it is difficult to gage the actual progress of the project then the duration percent complete type or units percent complete type would better suite your project situation. The units percent complete type is typically used in conjunction with the Primavera P6 EPPM time sheet module and team member. Units percent complete type is best to progress a schedule that has multiple resources working at disparate production rates. If your resources have similar burn rates then the duration percent complete type provides the quickest, and, possibly, most representative measurement of schedule progress.
This article demonstrates schedule measurement using the duration percent complete type in Primavera P6 EPPM, release 16.1, classic view.
Primavera P6 EPPM Duration Percent Complete
Below, in Figure 1, is our demonstration project.
Figure 1
This is a research project that is best progressed using the duration percent complete type. In this demonstration we are simply tracking the progress of activities and not the consumption of resources. Note the baseline, which helps to monitor activity progress.
It is important to understand that schedule updating is a three step process. You first enter the status of activities. Second you move the data date forward to the end of the performance period. Third you recalculate the schedule and the activities progress updates accordingly.
Let’s begin and progress the schedule for week one. In Figure 2 we select the Notice to Proceed activity and in the bottom details status tab mark the activity started; the software simultaneously finishes this zero duration milestone activity.
Figure 2
Continuing we check the Start Project milestone activity as started, and it simultaneously finishes. In Figure 3 we highlight Acquire Motor Component and check this activity as both started and finished.
Figure 3
Next we choose the Fabricate Test Stand and say it started and its duration percent complete is 75%, Figure 4.
Figure 4
Note when we set the duration % complete field to 75% Primavera P6 EPPM automatically computes the remaining duration of 1-day. Great! We have finish progressing the Experimental Test Setup deliverable.
But we are not done yet. We still have to progress the Motor Model deliverable for week one. In Figure 5 we progress 100% of Acquire Motor Geometry & Material Properties activity.
Figure 5
Continuing we highlight Model Motor Geometry activity, and say it started. This time we enter a remaining duration of 2-days, and Primavera P6 EPPM computes the duration % complete, Figure 6.
Figure 6
So the duration % and remaining duration fields are linked. They also go both ways. Either way enter one value and Primavera P6 EPPM calculates the other. Our week one status entry is complete. Now move the data date forward to June 12th, Figure 7, and recalculate the schedule.
Figure 7
The updated schedule appears similar to Figure 8.
Figure 8
Let’s demonstrate the status entry for week two to confirm our status entry process. We begin entering status for the Experimental Test Setup deliverable. In Figure 9 we complete the Fabricate Test Stand activity.
Figure 9
We manually enter a 1-day remaining duration for Set Up Test Equipment; Primavera P6 EPPM takes this remaining duration value and calculates the duration % compete value of 66.67%, Figure 10.
Figure 10
Proceeding we progress the Motor Model deliverable for week two. We select Motor Model Geometry and check it off as complete, Figure 11.
Figure 11
Moving forward we choose the Model Motor Material Properties activity and enter a duration % complete of 75%, Figure 12.
Figure 12
Again, Primavera P6 EPPM calculates the remaining duration, 1-day. We move the data date forward one week to June 19th, Figure 13.
Figure 13
And the final updated schedule appears in Figure 14.
Figure 14
Summary
Progressing the schedule using the duration % complete type is the fastest way to enter activity progress; it requires the least amount of input. Schedulers should be aware that the duration % and remaining duration fields are linked. Enter one of these fields and Primavera P6 EPPM automatically computes the other. It is also feasible to track resource consumption using the duration % complete type.
But, again, the duration % compete type assumes uniform production and similar burn rates for activities assigned multiple resources.