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PRIMAVERA P6 AND P3.1 USER REVIEW: CH2MHILL (1 of 2)

Even in an earlier iteration, Primavera's Integrated Project Management Solution helped CH2MHILL plan a contract quickly and effectively. In version P6 of its software, the vendor addressed most of the flaws or problem areas Jim Berg encountered over his 17 years of using the product.

"Many of the items I would change already exist in the newer version of Primavera's scheduling software [P6]. I am using v 3.1 because the older schedulers that established the schedule used this software and they have not migrated to P6," he said. "I would change the Windows compatibility issues from 3.1, which was done with the newer versions of the software."

Although user documentation is better than average and its help desk is usually responsive, the quality of Primavera's support is decreasing slightly as the company releases later versions, Berg said.

Berg gave Primavera scheduling software an 8 out of 10 rating.

What kinds of construction projects do you mostly work on?
 
How long have you been using this tool?
 
Where did you obtain it?
 
How much did you pay?
 
How are you using this product?
 
Why did you pick this product?
 
Did you look at other tools on the market before picking this one? What was it you didn't like about them (or made    this product better)?
 
Comparing the way you work now with the way you worked before you bought this tool, what has changed?
 
Can you give us an example of a job where this tool really made a difference?
 
Can you estimate how much time or money you saved or other measurable benefits your firm realized using this    tool?
 
What are the best features (for your business) in this tool?
 
Do you think it's a fair value for the price you paid?
 
What would you change about the product if you could?
 
Are there features that you don't use? Why not?
 
Who would you recommend use this tool?
 
How much computer experience do you think someone needs to use this tool effectively?
 
Did it take much training (or studying) to learn to use this tool?
 
Have you ever called the company's support lines and asked for help? What was your experience like?
 
How would you rate the user documentation? Is it helpful?
 
When the next version of this software comes out, will you upgrade to it?
 
Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate this tool?


What kinds of construction projects do you mostly work on?
Various projects, actually. I'm currently working on a power plant project. However, our mainstay is wastewater. The company does architecture and planning; decontamination and decommissioning; energy management and planning; enterprise information management; security and emergency management; engineer-procure-construct (EPC) and design-build; lean enterprise solutions; operations and management (O&M) and facilities management; program and construction management; environmental management and planning; site/infrastructure planning and sustainable solutions.

How long have you been using this tool?
More than 16 years.

Where did you obtain it?
It was company issued.

How much did you pay?
I do not know.

How are you using this product?
I use Primavera for construction project scheduling. I am currently using it on a power plant upgrade project. We are using it to schedule all the engineering and construction work that's going to be performed, prior to and including, all the installation of foundations, steel and equipment. We did all the manpower, the sequencing and the durations of the activities.

Why did you pick this product?
Primavera products are the industry standard from our point of view.

Did you look at other tools on the market before picking this one? What was it you didn't like about them (or made this product better)?
Yes I did, however I wasn't part of the evaluation process.

Comparing the way you work now with the way you worked before you bought this tool…what has changed?
This construction scheduling software has been around since I joined the work force.

Can you give us an example of a job where this tool really made a difference?
On the Deerhaven power plant project where we're working today, we wouldn't have been able to perform the planning as quickly and effectively without this product. Many years ago I worked in the ship-building industry, submarines in particular, and we did all our planning on paper. It took months and months and months for this planning effort to happen. If there were changes, it could take a month or two to implement a change. It streamlined the whole industry. It's easier to make changes, it's easier to get the plan together and the information you're getting back is a timely.

Can you estimate how much time or money you saved or other measurable benefits your firm realized using this tool?
If you were doing this by hand, you'd be saving thousands of hours. If you were comparing it to another application, it would depend on the user and their proficiency. Initially, it took about a month to schedule all aspects of Deerhaven. Doing it on paper would take about six months. If it were me doing it on Microsoft Project, it might take me a month and a half.

What are the best features (for your business) in this tool?
Primavera scheduling software identifies tasks, the relationship between tasks, helps identify the plan, lets you assign resources, identifies man hours and overload situations, critical path activities, and earned value.

Do you think it's a fair value for the price you paid?
I am not sure because I do not know how much we paid.

What would you change about the product if you could?
Many of the items I would change already exist in the newer version of Primavera's scheduling software, called P6. I am using v 3.1 because the older schedulers that established the schedule used this software and they have not migrated to P6. I would change the Windows compatibility issues from 3.1, which was done with the newer versions of the software.

Are there features that you don't use? Why not?
There are many features I do not use, simply because they are not necessary for my business.

Who would you recommend use this tool?
All engineering, construction and consulting companies, any firms or organizations that are cost- and schedule-driven would benefit from Primavera scheduling software.

How much computer experience do you think someone needs to use this tool effectively?
Minimal, however being somewhat [computer] literate certainly helps.

Did it take much training (or studying) to learn to use this tool?
My formal training was minimal, with 60 hours total over a 17-year period.

Have you ever called the company's support lines and asked for help? What was your experience like?
Yes, overall it's good. Lately, however, customer support has declined for the earlier version of Primavera's scheduling software [v3.1].

How would you rate the user documentation? Is it helpful?
Good, better than most. Yes, it is basically helpful.

When the next version of this software comes out, will you upgrade to it?
Yes, the firm will. However, this particular project will not use it.

Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate this tool?
8