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(2) It's also good to get feedback when a solution is found, return to the original post to explain how it was resolved so that more people can also use the results.
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Hi Itachi,
Spider Project has many advantages if to compare its capabilities with MS Project and P6.
Spider Project works directly with volumes of work to be done in physical units (meters, tons, etc.) and permits to create and to use databases of construction norms (material requirements per volume unit of typical activities, unit costs, etc.). Assigned resources may have productivity and the database of production norms may be created and used in all projects.
Spider Project users may create and assign construction crews (including all resources belonging to these crews).
Spider Project is the only software that simulates the work in several shifts.
Spider Project works with assigned resource quantities and workloads and not with the total workload (resource-hours) as other packages.
Spider Project works with variable resource assignments when you can assign the range of resoure quantity and workload required on activity.
Project cost consists of cost components and you may create multiple cost centers and manage parallel budgets of the same project.
Spider Project optimizes resource constrained schedules creating the schedules with the shortest possible duration. Besides it levels materials and costs.
Spider Project users may create multiple WBS for the same project.
Spider Project includes risk simulation and analysis that works for projects with resource constraints.
All listed above is unique (other packages do not have these capabilities) and that is why most Russian construction companies select and use Spider Project. In other countries (today 34) the number of Spider Project users is small (if to compare with the number of Russian users).
The list of Spider Project unique features is much longer, I mentioned those that are most appreciated by all construction managers. Spider Project exports and imports schedules to/from MS Project and P6. So communications with the users of other packages is not a problem.
And though you will be able to export everything to Excel you may need it for creating some specific reports but not for calculating anything like stock. Everything may be done inside Spider Project.
You may find more information and download Spider Project Demo at www.spiderproject.com.
Let me know if you will have any questions on Spider Project capabilities.
Hi everybody,
Which planning software is better for construction projects ? Ms project , Primavera , Spider Project
Now I use Primavera . Everyday I export all daily required quantities to Excel . After I calculate stock .
Some friends say about planning softwares new version of MS Project is better than primavera now .
In this forum people usually talk about Spider project . Which one better for construction project ?
Mike wrote:
"The latest Asta Powerproject will convert a gantt cart to a time / chain chart at a touch of a key.
I am not sure if Spider can do that yet."
That may be true. Conversely, I believe I'm correct in saying that Asta doesn't compute, but Spider does, critical path drag. This is the most crucial metric in CPM, the one that tells you how much time an individual critical activity is adding to the project duration. For an article describing the importance of critical path drag, read this article in a US Department of Defense magazine, Defense AT&L:
http://www.dau.mil/pubscats/ATL%20Docs/Jan_Feb_2012/Devaux.pdf
Of course, I am quite sure that Asta will one day incorporate drag computation. But that it doesn't do so currently is a shortcoming compared to Spider (and the add-on to MS Project from Sumatra.com).
Fraternally in project management,
Steve the Bajan
Raymund,
Spider Project is used in most large scale programs in Russia.
One of the examples: $70bln program to prepare 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi with more than 280 construction projects and hundreds construction companies included.
The usage of Spider Project for project management is not required by the contracts (it is a bad habit to dictate what to use) but all participants shall submit their schedules in Spider Project format for Program Management Office.
So contractors may use anything (and most of them use Spider) but the schedules shall be converted to Spider to submit to the PMO.
It is used in any industry, not only construction. It is aerospace and defence, banking, manufacturing, mining, shipbuilding, telecom, software development, oil&gas, energy, shutdowns, etc. At the moment Spider Project customers work in 29 countries.
Spider imports/exports projects from/to P6 and MSP. So communication is not an issue.
Mike,
time-location charts are included in Spider as one of reports (together with Activity, Resource, Material Gantt Charts, Network Diagrams, WBS and OBS diagrams, Probability distributions, multi-dimensional Scatter Diagrams, etc.) since 1996, before Linear was created.
They were first used in Caspian pipeline construction project in 1996-1997 and since then are using in hundreds infrastructure projects. What is new in Asta is a history for Spider. But please keep me informed if anything really new will appear in any PM software. For many years we develop Spider Project basing on customer needs and our expertise without real competition in innovations.
Raymund,
At home "Talk of the Town" is Microsoft Project by an overwhelming majority, perhaps 10 to 1 to all others combined.
Still most contractors like to manage their jobs using a tool under their control and not using whatever others say.
On private jobs where we have negotiating power we usually manage for the Owner to agree on using the Contractor's choice as it facilitates communication. On Government Jobs where we do not have negotiating power "Brand Name" specification is forbidden and at times only Federal Government insists on by-passing our laws.
In such cases as with the Federal Government we take the practical approach to use an outsider for the software we do not use as on every other job the Owner's choice can be P3, at times SureTrak, at times P6, at times Microsoft Project an in rare occasions one of the many WEB based software. We have been required different software by different Federal Agencies. In our opinion the Federal Government has invariably selected substandard scheduling software therefore under this scenario, at the same time the Contractor runs his own schedule using his software of choice where he has control and do not depend on a part-time outsider that lack the understanding of the job dynamics its managers do have. For many it would be like changing accounting software for every job, it makes no sense. Fortunately subcontracting for the other software is inexpensive as the offer of such services is more than the demand.
We manage our jobs using the tools of our selection. In the case we have to negotiate EOTs and delays using other software we check the math using our software in my case Spider Project as we have found the others are full of Bugs and have poor resource leveling functionality. Here the frustration of Construction Contractors with the others products is quite noticeable. I have read at PP that in other countries some respected consultants verify the math of those other software using Asta PP, similar to our experience, just that some of us use Spider Project.
There is too much at stake for us to depend on substandard software.
Best regards,
Rafael
Hi Raymund
Go to the Asta website www.astadev.com and you can download 30 day demos directly.
Best regards
Mike Testro
Mike,
Thanks for the Info.
How to obtain the Demo of ASTA?
Hi Raymund
Asta is mostly used in the UK by Building contractors.
When faced with a delay analysis using P6 or P3 I convert it to Asta to do the work and generate reports.
Best regards
Mike Testro
Rafael & Mike,
I am interested to use ASTA or SPIDER as been describe by you that it have more useful tools compare to others.
But it seems that so often the Requirements from Contract Clauses is to Present the Construction Schedules in PRIMAVERA and PRIMAVERA is like the "Talk of the Town" whenever Construction Schedule is the subject.
Is there specific Region that this or that Programs is to be used and to be specified in Contract Clauses?
Babu,
I suggest you download the demo versions of each and explore yourself. There is no better way to compare products than doing the homework yourself.
What initially you do not find most probably is because you are new to the product, so feel free to ask specific questions abut each one.
In addition to finding out that both products are excellent and that installation is at a single click of the mouse the most pleasant surprise will be the support by both teams that set them apart of the rest.
Best regards,
Rafael
Hi Sunil
Very little - they are both excelent products which outshine Primavera and MSP in many aspects.
The latest Asta Powerproject will convert a gantt cart to a time / chain chart at a touch of a key.
I am not sure if Spider can do that yet.
Best regards
Mike Testro
Hi friends,
What are the defference bet, Asta and spider project..?
any body please
Regards
Sunil
Email: PPadmin@planningplanet.com
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