Develop reliable schedules
Analyze P6 (.xer) and NetPoint® files to improve results
The Schedule MD module for NetPoint allows project planners and schedulers to develop and analyze schedules for a more reliable project outcome. The innovative features of Schedule MD are designed to provide certainty, a key advantage of project management consulting services. Utilizing Schedule IQ™, an algorithm that scores schedule reliability based on compliance with PMA’s Core Traits of a Reliable Schedule protocol, combined with additional metrics according to the DCMA 14-Point Assessment, project planners can identify and repair the weakest parts of their schedules, resulting in more accurate overall scores.
Schedule MD Capabilities
Schedule IQ score
The Schedule IQ score is the most comprehensive schedule reliability rating system on the market. It is based on 42 individual metrics derived from the industry-leading Core Traits of a Reliable Schedule protocol. Scores are reported from 0 to 100 and provided for the overall schedule as well as in four categories: comprehensive, credible, well-built, and controlled. As a result, accuracy can be assessed at both macro and micro levels.
42 Metrics
The Schedule IQ score considers logic, constraints, float, the critical path, relationships, durations, progress, forensics, resources, WBS assignments, risk, weather, earned value, and calendars.
Smart IQ Threshholds
IQ scores adjust internally based on the progress and level of your schedule. For example, the logic index for a level 2 schedule should be lower than that for a level 3 schedule, and Schedule MD accounts for that.
Customize to Fit
Define thresholds for critical activities.
Metrics libraries
The Schedule MD metrics libraries offer over 150 metrics including the 14-Point Assessment metrics provided by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA). Altogether, they cover areas including logic, constraints, float, the critical path, relationships, durations, progress, forensics, resources, WBS assignments, risk, weather, earned value, calendars, and many more.
DCMA 14-Point Assessment
View dashboard widgets, find matching activities and deficiencies, and export a DCMA report to Excel. Thresholds and definitions come pre-defined making it easy to start analyzing and interpreting results.
Activity Tracing
Launch the Metrics Manager™ from within NetPoint to see where activities are in the network and how modifications to the schedule affect metrics in real-time.
And More
- In-app metrics dictionary
- Visual dashboard widgets
Excel reporting
Reporting is a fundamental feature of the Metrics Manager and an integral part of any metrics analysis. All table-based data can be customized and exported to Excel, making it easy to export any detail desired. Plus, a set of predefined executive reports is included for summarizing results and communicating the big picture.
Tabular Data
Drag and drop to add, remove, and rearrange columns; query any text field using universal search; and enlarge any table to make metrics data easier to work with.
Excel Integration
Choose from four print-friendly, pre-formatted Excel reports for summarizing metrics and IQ data, including the Summary Report, the IQ Report, the DCMA Report, and the Deficiency Report.
Deficiency Reports
View activities by the number of metrics they are violating, organized as a tornado diagram from highest to lowest, making it easy to focus on the most problematic activities.
Schedule review tools
The Metrics Manager includes a number of tools for reviewing schedule submittals, including checklists for verifying that the narrative document conforms to best practices and scores accordingly. It also provides the ability to record and document stakeholder approval, making schedule sign-offs more transparent.
Narrative Checklist
Unique checklists tailored to unprogressed baselines, revised baselines, and updates, including up to 47 checks spread across 8 categories.
Stakeholder Approval
Stakeholder names and roles, as well as comments on signatures are linked to targets, making it easy to see which version of the schedule stakeholders have signed-off on.
And More
Indicate the industry, budget, and delivery methods of the project
Weather analysis
The Metrics Manager includes a one-of-a-kind feature-set for planning and analyzing normal and actual weather. NOAA integration makes it easy to find and download global historical weather data, and key metrics allow you to evaluate how weather has been accounted for in your schedules.
10-year Weather Averages
View average monthly weather data for temperature, precipitation, and wind for thousands of weather stations across the world.
Observed Weather
Download actual observed weather on a monthly basis for weather submittals or forensic analysis.
Schedule MD features
Reviewing & reporting
Customizable reports, executive reports, delinquent activity browsing, activity tracing/highlighting, dashboard widgets, cloud-based benchmarking (coming soon!), time-scaled network diagrams, NOAA weather integration, schedule review checklists, stakeholder signature tracking
Metric libraries
Reliability scoring (42 metrics), DCMA 14-point assessment, schedule metrics, baseline performance, plan characteristics, earned value, weather
Integration
MS Project (via NetPoint), Primavera P6, Deltek Open Plan (via NetPoint), MS Excel