Alternative to MS Project 2007 for production scheduling?

Question

OK... Im coming to grips with the fact that MS Project 2007 may not be the correct tool for my production scheduling.

We serve 120 to 150 projects a year with durations from 6 weeks to 12 months. The task are simple (6 to 8 per project) and the resource pool is stable (15 to 20 people). It's really an assembly line product but with extremely varied durations. I need to be able to prioritize the projects for production and run projects concurrently to fully utilize my resources. What are the feelings of the stackoverflow community. Am I using the wrong program? I was really hoping to make this simple for non-programer types to input project data into a form and have the schedule software automated enough to make most of the decisions.

Is there a better solution available commercially? I'd like to hold on writing a custom spreadsheet as a last resort but if that's the best route then so be it.

Thank you so much for your input.

Answer 1

Don't give up quite yet. Take a look at Microsoft Project Server. There is a concept called 'programs' that seems to constitute multilpe projects.

Answer 2

Oracle's Primavera Project Management may suit your needs

Answer 3

You could also try out Asta Teamplan. It's based on the same underpinnings of the extrremely powerful (and enterprise-level Teamplan), but is MUCH simpler to use and is designed specifically for smaller projects like the ones you mention. Asta Easyplan also has a set of wizards that help setup and manage projects much more efficiently.

Plus because it's based on the bigger software, it can help you with multiple tasks easily.

Answer 4

John,

In my view, the production scheduling software, Schedlyzer of Optisol is just ideal for your needs.

PV

Answer 5

Sorry, I am perpetually late in answering... have you looked at Open Workbench already?

http://www.openworkbench.org/

Answer 6

Intuit's quickbase has an amazing Project Management application.

Check it out... here

Answer 7

hmm, from what youve described MS project is well suited (it should work).

if you were doing software development, i would say otherwise (yes, i dont think too much of ms project for project scheduling)

--LM