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Production Rates and Custom Properties

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Tom Khachatryan

This article outlines everything you need to know to work with Production Rates (PRs) and Custom Properties (aka User Defined Fields, UDFs) in ALICE. Please note the terms Custom Properties and User Defined Fields (UDFs) will be used interchangeably throughout.

 

When to Use Production Rates vs. Custom Properties

In ALICE, production rates and custom properties (UDFs) can both be used to parametrize a duration. They can both represent a variable within the duration formula (e.g. duration = quantityUDF / PR). However, the use cases for each are different. In this section, you'll learn when to create and use one type over the other.

Custom properties, or user defined fields (UDFs), are used to enhance the information for activities in the schedule. These fields can contain text and/or numbers and are typically used to store data, filter and analyze information, and perform calculations. Some common examples of custom properties include:

  • Trade codes (e.g. 0300CONC for all concrete scope work)
  • Area/zoning information (e.g. A1, A2)
  • Quantities (e.g. 500 each)
  • Notes (e.g. I added this activity due to RFI#XX)

Production rates are numerical fields and are used to measure a quantity of production accomplished over a specific period of time. 

There are 2 key differences between production rates and custom properties in ALICE:

  1. Custom properties are tied to activities (e.g. Activity A with UDF1 = 100, Activity B with UDF1 = 200, etc.). Whereas production rates are not tied to individual activities (e.g. Activity A and Activity B can both have PR = 500).
  2. Production rates can be edited in the Explore page under the Rates tab when running scenarios and optioneering. Custom properties cannot be edited in the Explore page. Therefore, if you want to be able to adjust a custom numerical lever when optioneering, it is recommended to use the production rate functionality. See how the production rate functionality is used in this example to represent a custom numerical value that can be adjusted on the Explore page.

 

How to Create Production Rates (PRs)

In order to use production rates in your schedule, the production rate must first exist in the Resources tab.

For a more hands-on experience, navigate through the player for an interactive walk-through, or if you prefer a more detailed approach, scroll down for a step-by-step guide:


Create Production Rates:

  1. In the Resources tab located in the upper right, go to Metadata
  2. Go to Rates
  3. Enter the Name - recommend to input the unit of measure in the name
  4. Enter the Qty /Hr - enter production rate per hour
  5. Click Create Production Rate to complete the process

Note: 

  1. Production rate does not have a defined unit type and can be implemented as units, sets, m3, m2, etc. 

 

How to Create Custom Properties (UDFs)

In order to use custom properties in your schedule, the custom property must first exist in the Resources tab.

For a more hands-on experience, navigate through the player for an interactive walk-through, or if you prefer a more detailed approach, scroll down for a step-by-step guide:

 

Create Custom Properties:

  1. Go to the Resources tab located in the upper right 
  2. In the Metadata, go to the Custom Properties tab
  3. Define Custom Properties name
  4. Click Create Custom Property to complete the process

Add Custom Properties to Gantt Chart:

  1. On the Gantt chart, click the right mouse button and Edit Columns (CTRL+T)
  2. Scroll to the bottom and select the required custom property to add to the Gantt Chart
  3. On the Gantt Chart, double-click on the specific custom property row to add project data

 

How to Calculate Task Duration Using Production Rates and Custom Properties

In ALICE, there are many ways to use production rates and custom properties. In this section, you'll learn the basics of how these are used to calculate task durations. To learn more about how parametric duration formulas work, check out this article. 

For a more hands-on experience, navigate through the player for an interactive walk-through, or if you prefer a more detailed approach, scroll down for a step-by-step guide:

 

 

Duration formula:

  1. In the Gantt chart, "right-click" and select "Edit Columns."
  2. Select "Planned Duration Formula (hours)" and "Custom Property: Concrete Quantity" and click "Done" to add those columns to the Gantt chart. 
  3. Click More Info next to Planned Duration Formula (hours)
  4. This opens the window containing all possible variables that can be used in duration formulas
  5. In the Custom Properties tab, click to copy the task.udf.Concrete_Quantity parameter
  6. Go back to the Gantt chart, double-click on the Planned Duration Formula cell for specific operation, and paste the copied parameter
  7. Once pasted, continue to enter the required mathematical action. In this case, use the division "/"
  8. Go back to the Production Rates tab and copy the required parameter
  9. Come back to the formula cell and paste the last parameter to complete the formula
    • Formula example: task.udf.Concrete_Quantity / pr.concrete_pouring_m3_hour
  10. Once the formula is complete, the Planned Duration will be updated accordingly

 

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