PRIMAVERA P6 USER REVIEW: PINNELLBUSCH
- Contract Manager: Hill International
- Contract Manager: Parsons
- Contract Manager: Schuff Steel
- P6: Hill International
- P6: Parsons
- P6: PinnellBusch
- P6 and P3.1: CH2MHILL (1 of 2)
- P6: CH2MHILL (2 of 2)
- P6: Traylor Brothers
- P5.1: SNC-Lavalin
- P5: Ntnada
- Pertmaster: Bechtel
- Project Planner (P3.1): Tutor-Saliba
- Project Planner (P3): University of Cincinnati
- Project Planner (P3): Demonstrated Performance
- Project Planner (P3): LCO Associates
- Project Planner (P3): Suncor Energy
- Suretrak: University of Cincinnati
- Suretrak: University of Louisiana at Monroe
- Suretrak: MBTA
FEATURED VENDORS
REVIEW SUMMARY |
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PinnellBusch Inc., a firm of construction management consultants, would like all its clients to toss out Microsoft Project and replace it with Primavera P6, the latest iteration of Primavera's Web-based project management software designed to facilitate collaboration and information access.
Although the learning curve, both in terms of the software and the vocabulary associated with Critical Path Scheduling, can be steep for Primavera P6, a user's educational exertions are rewarded by dramatically improved productivity, said Blake Marchand, project manager at the Portland, Oregon-based consulting firm.
"I can't specifically estimate our savings, but we've most likely saved thousands of hours since we'd have had to do much math by hand, which is extremely time-consuming," he said. "To be honest, I don't remember how I functioned without it."
Despite the software's capabilities, it suffers from poor documentation and, as Marchand put it, it "has too many features for what the industry really needs."
However, Primavera's technical support staff is generally helpful, he noted.
Overall, Marchand rated Primavera P6 software an 8 out of 10.
USER PROFILE |
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| User: | Blake Marchand, Project Manager |
| Company: | PinnellBusch Inc. |
| Location: | Portland, OR |
| Website: | www.pinnellbusch.com/ |
| Type of business: | Construction management consultant |
| Business size: | 10 employees |
| Experience: | 28 years |
| Software tools used: | Primavera P6 |
| Tool & Version | Primavera P6 |
REVIEW DETAILS |
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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?
Was this product compatible with the software programs you were already using?
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)?
Before you bought this product, were you using a different one to do the same job? If so, what tool were you using?
How many people are using this software?
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?
PinnellBusch works on various construction projects, including buildings, treatment plants, road, energy, utility, process plants and industrial. The 33-year-old firm provides project management services to the design and construction industry, and to organizations in other industries that manage projects.
I have been using Primavera software for about 15 years.
Where did you obtain it?We bought it directly from Primavera.
How much did you pay?
It cost $2,500.
How are you using this product?
We use Primavera P6 for construction scheduling and construction project management.
Why did you pick this product?
We had been using earlier versions of Primavera software and wanted the latest version of the application.
Was this product compatible with the software programs you were already using?
Yes.
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)?
No.
Before you bought this product, were you using a different one to do the same job? If so, what tool were you using?
No.
How many people are using this software?
Two project managers are using the tool.
Comparing the way you work now with the way you worked before you bought this tool, what has changed?
To be honest, I don't remember how I functioned without it.
Can you give us an example of a job where this tool really made a difference? Most of my projects require this software for planning and scheduling. Also, all major construction projects need Critical Path Scheduling and Primavera P6 software is the best tool in the industry.
Can you estimate how much time or money you saved or other measurable benefits your firm realized using this tool?
I can't specifically estimate our savings, but we've most likely saved thousands of hours since we'd have had to do much math by hand, which is extremely time-consuming.
What are the best features (for your business) in this tool?
The benefit is to our clients, who need the expertise and ability to use the software for managing their projects.
Do you think it's a fair value for the price you paid?
Yes.
What would you change about the product if you could?
There are too many to mention here, but the first one that comes to mind is the functionality within Project Control Software, such as ProLog or Buzzsaw.
Are there features that you don't use? Why not?
There are many that we don't use. Actually, Primavera P6 has too many features for what the industry really needs.
Who would you recommend use this tool?
All my clients should use Primavera instead of Microsoft Project.
How much computer experience do you think someone needs to use this tool effectively?
It takes between six months and a year of good training. Users must also understand the method behind the computations of the software.
Did it take much training (or studying) to learn to use this tool?
Yes, it takes hundreds of hours of training. The vocabulary for the critical path method and the learning curve just to learn Primavera P6 software is very steep.
Have you ever called the company's support lines and asked for help? What was your experience like?
Yes, I've called many times. Primavera's telephone support is generally very good.
How would you rate the user documentation? Is it helpful?
I find it to be very poor.
When the next version of this software comes out, will you upgrade to it?
Yes, but it may be a year or two down the road after Primavera releases it.
Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate this tool?
8.