Master Data for Resource Planning

Resource management emphasizes how resources must be managed. The focus is especially on employees.

The following type of resources can be considered:

  • Employees
  • Machines
  • Equipment
  • Instruments
  • Material
Calendar Management

The available time for a work center is defined as a combination of the calendar code and the applicable availability type. This combination used by a department (office, work center warehouse and so on) is defined in the respective parameters and master data.

Employee

The parameters for the various packages such as Project and Service, are grouped and displayed on separate tabs in the Resource Management Parameters (tcrac0100m000) session. By integrating Resource Assignments and CRM Appointments, assignments can be displayed as appointments in the application.

If the Create CRM Appointments for Service Assignments check box on the Service tab is selected, CRM Appointments are created and updated with resource assignment data, in Service.

If the Create CRM Appointments for Project Assignments check box on the Project tab is selected, CRM Appointments are created and updated with resource assignment data, in Projects.

Skills

You can use the skills functionality for:

  • Activity budget: When a new activity budget line is created, the skills that are linked to the standard task, are considered. For the defaulted skill, you can modify the Skill Importance whether Preferred or Mandatory. New skills can be added and existing skills deleted, in the budget lines. For example, if 3 skills are linked to a specific task, 2 mandatory and 1 preferred for a specific budget line, it is possible to delete one of the defaulted skills, add a new skill that is required, and modify the skill importance from Preferred to Mandatory.
  • Estimate lines: When a new estimate line is created, the skills that are linked to the standard task, are considered. New skills hat are not part of the standard task, can also be added in the estimate line. When you launch the estimate to budget (tpest2200m000) session, the skills are also copied.
  • Service: Skills can be assigned and maintained for the planning group using the Group - Skills (tsspc3103m000) session.
Assignments

In Project, you can create project assignments to identify which employee/s must be linked to the planned work. If planned dates are specified for an activity, the planned dates of the assignment are not considered, as the work cannot start earlier than the activity or finish later. Assignment data can be modified within the duration of the activity.

The Use Assignments check box in the Project Planning Parameters (tppss0100s000) session, enables the Assignments functionality for projects.

Note

When you select this check box, the Availability Type field is enabled which allows to select the employees available for the assignment.

In Service, the Use Assignments in Work Orders check box in the Work Order Parameters (tswcs0100m000) session enables the Assignments functionality for work orders.

The Group Planning functionality implemented in Service, helps in mid term planning for resources. Based on this functionality, anonymous containers of work can be assigned to a resource. The grouping characteristics can be, for example service areas, skill, service type, project, item, contract, installation number and other data elements defined in Service.

The planning functionality is applicable for depot repair work orders, field service orders, and planned activities generated by the preventive maintenance plans.

A resource can view the activity schedule in a Gantt chart. The chart also displays the route to the location where the activity must be performed.

To enable the group planning functionality, a new Resource Planning parameter is added to the Implemented Software Components (tccom0500m000) session.