Generate S Curve from Primavera P6.

An S-curve is a graphical representation of cumulative progress over time in a construction project. It is typically used to show the progress of key metrics like cost, resource usage, or physical progress in terms of percentage completion. In Primavera P6, you can generate an S-curve using physical weightage distribution by following a systematic process. The curve helps track the progress and compare actual vs. planned performance over the course of the project.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to generate an S-Curve from Primavera P6 using physical weightage distribution.

Step-by-Step Process to Generate S-Curve from Physical Weightage Distribution in Primavera P6

Step 1: Ensure Proper Project Setup in Primavera P6

Before generating an S-Curve, make sure the following elements are set up in your Primavera P6 project:

1. Project Activities: All project activities must be clearly defined in your schedule with appropriate durations, relationships, and constraints.
2. Baseline Schedule: A baseline schedule should be created and assigned. This is your reference point for planned progress.
3. Physical Percent Complete: Make sure the method for progress calculation is set to Physical Percent Complete. This ensures that actual progress reflects the physical completion of tasks, which is essential for accurate weightage distribution.
4. Activity Weightages: Ensure that weightages have been assigned to activities. Weightage can be based on cost, effort, duration, or any other factor relevant to your project.

Step 2: Assign Physical Weightage to Activities

• Primavera P6 allows activities to be measured in terms of Physical Percent Complete. To ensure the S-curve reflects physical progress correctly:

1. Assign weightage to each activity based on its contribution to the total project scope. This weightage is reflected in the project’s total budgeted cost or effort, depending on how you measure progress.
2. Go to the Activities screen, and assign Budgeted Units or Budgeted Costs to each activity, depending on your weightage criteria.

Step 3: Calculate Progress Based on Physical Percent Complete

In Primavera P6, progress can be tracked using Physical Percent Complete. Here’s how:

1. Go to Activity Details: In the Activities tab, select each activity to update its Physical Percent Complete.
2. Enter Physical Progress: For each activity, under the General tab, you will find the Physical Percent Complete field. Input the actual physical progress for each activity.
3. This ensures the project’s actual progress reflects the real physical progress on site, as opposed to only considering duration or cost progress.

Step 4: Assign a Baseline

Before generating the S-curve, it’s crucial to have a baseline to compare against the actual progress.

1. Go to the Project menu and select Assign Baseline.
2. Choose the baseline you want to use for tracking.
3. The baseline helps compare actual progress against planned progress.

Step 5: Configure Columns and Filters for Progress Data

You need to configure Primavera P6 to display the necessary columns for generating the S-curve. Do the following:

1. Right-click on the column headers in the Activities view and select Columns.
2. Add the following columns:

• Planned Units (or Planned Cost) – This represents the baseline or planned progress.
• Actual Units (or Actual Cost) – This tracks the actual progress made.
• Physical Percent Complete – Reflects the progress based on physical completion of activities.

Step 6: Use the ‘Activity Usage Profile’ to Generate the S-Curve

Primavera P6 has built-in functionalities to create graphical representations of project data.

1. Go to View > Show on Bottom > Activity Usage Profile. The Activity Usage Profile will show a graph based on the physical progress of the activities.
2. Customize the Profile:

• Right-click on the graph area of the Activity Usage Profile and select Activity Usage Profile Options.
• In the dialog box, choose the following under the Data tab:
  • Select Planned Units (for the baseline curve).
  • Select Actual Units (for the actual progress curve).
  • You can also choose Remaining Units if you want to show future projections.
  • If you’re using cost data, select Planned Cost and Actual Cost.

1. Adjust the Time Scale:

• Under the Timescale tab, set the timescale to a suitable unit (weeks, months, etc.) depending on the duration of your project.

Step 7: View the S-Curve

• Once you’ve set up the Activity Usage Profile to track both Planned Units/Cost and Actual Units/Cost, Primavera P6 will display the S-curve showing cumulative progress over time.
• The baseline curve (planned) will be smooth, representing the planned progress, while the actual curve will show how the project is progressing in reality.

Step 8: Export and Refine the S-Curve

• You can export the S-curve data to Excel for further manipulation or fine-tuning if needed. To do this:

1. Go to the Activity Usage Spreadsheet or Resource Usage Profile view.
2. Right-click and select Export to Excel.
3. From Excel, you can create your own custom charts or refine the S-curve presentation.

Alternatively, you can use Primavera P6’s built-in Reports function to generate progress reports that include S-curves.

Real-Life Example of S-Curve Generation

Imagine you’re managing the construction of a residential complex, with the following major activities:

At Day 30:

• The planned cumulative progress is:
  Site Preparation (5%) + Foundation Work (15%) + Structural Framework (25%) = 45%
• The actual cumulative progress is:
  Site Preparation (5%) + Foundation Work (12%) + Structural Framework (6%) = 23%

You now have a clear discrepancy between the planned S-curve (45%) and the actual S-curve (23%). The S-curve visually represents this difference and helps identify lagging areas, such as the structural framework, which is behind schedule.

Conclusion

Generating an S-curve from Primavera P6 using physical weightage distribution helps project managers track progress more effectively. By visualizing the planned vs. actual progress, it becomes easier to identify delays, allocate resources more efficiently, and take corrective actions to bring the project back on track.