Understanding Project Tasks

After you have set up a project, you create a work breakdown structure (WBS) that provides a hierarchy of tasks and subtasks that must be completed for the project. You can also add all of the detail information that enables you to plan for and run the project, such as the project schedule. You can also enter resource information that the system does not use for processing, but that you use for reference only. Finally, you can add cost estimates that enable you to generate a quote for the customer.

After setting up a project header record with information such as project description, branch/plant, planned start and end dates, and so on, you can add to the project individual tasks that represent the steps that are required to complete the project. The set of tasks that comprise the project is referred to as the work breakdown structure (WBS). You can add tasks to the work breakdown structure, if it is not yet locked. If you lock the WBS, the Lock WBS option on the Project Status in the Add/Revise Project program (P31P011) is automatically selected.

When you set up a project to prepare a quote for a customer, you might want to add only high-level or summary tasks to enable you to identify the steps that are required to complete a project and to enter the costs that are associated with a task. By using this approach, you can determine a quote amount without having to expend more effort than necessary to develop a project before you actually receive an order from a customer. However, the business requirements and practices of a company determine the stage at which you add tasks and the level of detail for the task structure. The procedure for adding tasks to projects remains the same regardless of when you do it. The system enables you to develop a work breakdown structure with an unlimited number of subordination levels. When you enter tasks, the system creates a record in the Work Order Master table (F4801) for each task and assigns the project number as parent work order number. You can create new tasks by copying tasks from an existing project or by entering new task information. You can also move tasks within the WBS or cancel tasks.

When you add tasks to the detail area of the workbench, you must specify the order type. If you add an equipment maintenance or service order task to the project, this task becomes the model work order. From the model work order, the system generates the assigned maintenance or service order and loads it to the Project Workbench program (P31P001). If you add a task that contains a configured item work order, which is identified by its stocking type (C), the Project Workbench program calls the Configured Item Revisions program (P3210) to complete the item configuration. Subsequently, the system creates all new work orders that are required by the configuration and adds them to the configured item task as child tasks.

You can use the processing options to set default values for tasks that you add to the WBS. For example, you can use processing options to set default values for the order type and the beginning status for new tasks. You can also specify whether the system automatically expands the project tree to display the task hierarchy.

On the Project Workbench form in Edit Tasks and Edit And Lock All Tasks modes, you can copy, move, and delete tasks. You can copy tasks from an existing project into the WBS. To move a task, you can use the cut and paste function, indent/outdent, or up arrow and down arrow.