Course description

Comprehensive Project Management with Primavera and Excel

This course is designed to provide participants with a thorough understanding of project management processes, tools, and techniques using Primavera and Microsoft Excel. Covering a wide range of essential topics, this course ensures participants are equipped to handle efficient project execution, scheduling, resource management, and cost control.

Course Topics

1.Critical Path Method (CPM)

Participants will learn about the Critical Path Method (CPM), a crucial project management technique used to identify the longest sequence of activities and determine the project's minimum duration. This module will cover:

• Understanding the concept of the critical path
• Identifying critical and non-critical activities
• Calculating float and slack

2.Organizational Breakdown Structure (O.B.S) and Enterprise Project Structure (EPS)

This module covers the Organizational Breakdown Structure (O.B.S) and Enterprise Project Structure (EPS), explaining how to organize and manage projects within a hierarchical framework. Topics include:

• Defining O.B.S and EPS
• Creating and structuring the O.B.S and EPS
•  Assigning responsibilities and roles within the O.B.S and EPS

3.Calendar in Primavera

Learn how to create and manage calendars in Primavera, essential for accurate scheduling and time management. This module includes:

• • Setting up project calendars
  • Defining workdays, holidays, and exceptions
  • Assigning calendars to projects and activities

4.Creating Project W.B.S and Activities

Participants will learn how to create a project Work Breakdown Structure (W.B.S) and define activities, including how to assign durations to each activity. This module covers:

• Developing a W.B.S Breaking down the project into manageable activities.
• Estimating activity durations.

5.Assigning Relationships to Activities

This module covers how to assign relationships to activities in Primavera, ensuring a logical sequence and interdependency among tasks. Topics include:

• Defining different types of activity relationships
• Setting up dependencies between activities
• Understanding the impact of relationships on the schedule

6.Types of Relationships

Learn about the different types of relationships in project scheduling, such as Finish-to-Start, Start-to-Start, Finish-to-Finish, and Start-to-Finish, and how to apply them in Primavera. This module includes:

• Exploring each relationship type
• Practical examples of when to use each relationship
• Managing complex activity relationships

7.Scheduling the Project

Participants will learn how to schedule the project in Primavera, including running the scheduling process to determine project timelines and critical paths. This module covers:

• Running the schedule
• Understanding schedule calculations
• Analyzing the schedule output

8.Creating and Assigning Resources

This module covers how to create resource lists and assign resources to project activities in Primavera, ensuring effective resource management. Topics include:

• Defining different types of resources (labor, material, equipment)
• Creating resource dictionaries
• Assigning resources to activities

9.Creating and Assigning Baselines

Learn how to create and assign baselines in Primavera, allowing for comparison between planned and actual project performance. This module includes:

• Setting up project baselines
• Assigning baselines to projects
• Comparing baseline data with actual progress

10.Updating the Project

Participants will learn how to update the project schedule in Primavera, incorporating actual progress and adjusting future projections. This module covers:

• Recording actual start and finish dates
• Updating activity progress
• Analyzing the impact of updates on the schedule

11.Resource and Activity Usage Profile

This session covers how to create and analyze resource and activity usage profiles in Primavera, providing insights into resource allocation and activity performance. Topics include:

• Generating usage profiles
• Interpreting usage data
• Identifying resource overallocation and underallocation

12. Creating Reports

Learn how to generate and customize reports in Primavera, essential for project tracking, performance analysis, and stakeholder communication. This module includes:

• Setting up report templates.
• Customizing report content.
• Generating and distributing reports.

13. Global Change

Participants will learn how to use the Global Change feature in Primavera to make bulk changes to project data, saving time and ensuring consistency. This module covers:

• Setting up global change parameters.
• Applying global changes to projects.
• Verifying and validating changes.

14.Material Procurement in Primavera

This module covers the process of managing material procurement in Primavera, ensuring timely and efficient acquisition of project materials. Topics include:

• Setting up material procurement schedules.
• Tracking material orders and deliveries.
• Managing material inventories.

15.Generating Financial S-Curve

Learn how to generate a financial S-curve in Primavera, a graphical representation of cumulative costs over time, useful for tracking project expenditures. This module includes:

• Setting up cost data.
• Generating S-curves.
• Analyzing cost performance.

16. Resource Histogram

Participants will learn how to create a resource histogram in Primavera, visually representing resource allocation and identifying potential overallocation issues. This module covers

• Creating resource histograms
• Interpreting histogram data
• Adjusting resource allocation based on histogram insights  

Part 2: Working on a Real Project in Primavera P6

In this part of the Primavera P6 Masterclass, we move from learning the basics to implementing a complete real construction project — step by step, just like professionals do in planning offices.

You’ll not only understand the concepts but also build, manage, and analyze a real project schedule using Primavera P6.

What You’ll Learn in This Part:

BOQ to WBS Breakdown

• Start from project BOQ and convert it into a detailed Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).
• Create complete activity lists (Foundation, Superstructure, Finishing, etc.).

Project Setup and Activity Sequencing

• Define project milestones, durations, and dependencies.
• Build proper activity relationships (Start-to-Start, Finish-to-Finish, etc.) to reflect real construction flow.

Importing and Managing Data in Primavera

• Import BOQ-based activities into Primavera P6.
• Assign resources, units, and cost values to each activity.

Resource Planning and Budgeting

• Add labor, material, and equipment resources.
• Set budgeted units and costs based on productivity and market rates.

Project Baseline and Progress Updating

• Create and assign a project baseline.
• Update progress with actual start, finish, and completion data.
• Analyze variances between planned and actual progress.

Progress Monitoring and Reporting

• Generate Lookahead Schedules for weekly/monthly planning.
• Create S-Curves and Resource Histograms in Primavera and Excel.

End Result:

• By the end of this section, you’ll have a complete working project — planned, resourced, baselined, updated, and reported — just like in real engineering firms.
• You’ll be ready to handle actual project schedules confidently and professionally.

What will i learn?

• Proficiency in Primavera and Excel: Master Primavera and Excel for project management—scheduling, resource allocation, cost tracking, and reporting.
• Effective Project Planning: Develop clear project plans with Work Breakdown Structures, activity lists, and schedules.
• Accurate Resource Management: Learn to manage manpower, equipment, and materials efficiently for project success.
• Timely Project Execution: Identify critical paths and delays, ensuring projects are completed on schedule.
• Baseline Comparison and Analysis: Compare planned vs. actual performance to keep projects on track.
• Seamless Data Integration: Import/export data effortlessly between Primavera and Excel for streamlined project management.
• Effective Reporting and Communication: Generate customized reports to communicate project progress effectively.
• Efficient Change Management: Use Global Change in Primavera for bulk updates, ensuring consistency.
• Optimized Material Procurement: Manage material procurement in Primavera, ensuring timely delivery and project efficiency.
• Enhanced Decision-Making Skills: Analyze schedules, resources, and costs to make informed decisions for project success.

Frequently asked question