Project Resource Load

How resource loading works

Each row gives a task start, finish and constant resource demand. Enter all times in hours from the same origin. All rows must use the same resource type. Do not add workers and machines into a single total. Fractional demand can represent a divisible quantity such as full time equivalent staffing.

Concurrent demand

Start and finish events divide the schedule into intervals. Demand is summed across tasks active during each interval. The start is included and the finish is excluded, so a task ending at hour 2 does not overlap a task starting at hour 2. Two resources from hour 0 to 4 and three from hour 2 to 6 produce a peak of 5 and a total of 20 resource hours. With capacity 4, one resource is missing for two hours.

Limits

The tool does not assign resources or automatically level the schedule. You decide whether to move tasks. Average demand includes idle gaps between the first start and last finish. Overload duration adds the intervals above capacity. Missing resource hours sum the excess demand multiplied by its duration. Up to 200 tasks can be entered.

Separate total effort from simultaneous demand

Define three example tasks. The first needs 2 resources from 0 to 3 h, the second needs 1 resource from 1 to 4 h, and the third needs 3 resources from 4 to 6 h. Total demand is 2 × 3 + 1 × 3 + 3 × 2 = 15 resource hours. Across six hours, the average is 2.5 resources. With capacity set to 2, the average alone does not show the intervals with resource shortfalls. Demand is 3 from hour 1 to 3 and from hour 4 to 6. Total overload duration is 4 h and the resource hour shortfall is 4.

Check the effect of moving a task on total effort and peak demand separately. Moving only its start, without changing duration or demand, preserves total resource hours but can change overlap. Split a task whose demand changes during the day into intervals with constant demand. The capacity field is constant throughout the period. If shifts or leave change the number of available resources, this result alone is insufficient. Check separately that available resources have the skills needed for each task. Resource hours are neither monetary cost nor task calendar duration.