Resource Capacity Planner – Excel Template – Support
This page will host supporting information for the Resource Capacity Planner Excel Template which can be used to plan resource capacity, compare versus demand and identify over-utilization and under-utilization.
To know the features of this template, please visit the product page.
The latest version (v2) was published in July 2018.
The following are the support articles to help you get started with using the template. If there are any questions not addressed here, please drop a comment and I will add article/video demo about that topic.
- Please see this article on Important Tips before using the template
- Do not edit calculated cells
- Input Data is always visible & can be edited easily
- Backup by saving file regularly
- Refresh Calculations when Pivot Tables are used
- This template uses Excel tables for data entry. If you are not very familiar with Excel tables, please see this article on How to enter data using Excel Tables?
- What is a Table?
- Why do we use Tables?
- Components of a Table
- 3 Basic Data Entry Operations
- 5 Essential Tips to avoid mistakes
- Step by Step User Guide
- Step by step user guide to Resource Capacity Planner Excel template.
- Learn how to enter input data on capacity and demand.
- Find how to use the Capacity planning Dashboard and Calendar to identify over-utilization and under-utilization.
- Learn how to address over-utilization and under-utilization to improve the plan
If you have any questions on the template, please post them in the comments section below. I will respond as soon as I can. If it will benefit others, I will also publish a blog post and video answering your question.
175 Comments
I purchased your template. How could I compare two projects’ capacity on the same spreadsheet?
Thanks for purchasing.
The template is not project specific. It compares the total capacity by skill against demand by skill.
In the next version, we are planning to implement the following,
1. Each resource will be assigned to a Project. If a resource works on 2 projects, then we create two resources (Resource 1 Proj A, Resource 1 Proj B).
2. For demand, we can enter tasks each of which is assigned to Resource, Skill Group and Project
3. The report will provide capacity vs demand for Resource level, Skill Group level and project level
However, the capacity has to be assigned to specific projects by the user. The template will not schedule automatically.
For project planning, please try the free Project planner template. https://indzara.com/2013/02/project-planner-basic-excel-template/ This allows calculating demand by project, then schedules the tasks automatically and calculates how much of the work can be completed in each project.
Please let us know if there are any questions.
Thanks & Best wishes.
Do you have this version available yet where i can assign i resource to 3 projects for a specific number of hours?
Yes, the current version can support a resource being assigned to multiple projects/skill groups as long as we are specifically splitting the capacity number of hours.
You can see the detailed step by step instructions in this page https://indzara.com/2018/07/resource-capacity-planner-excel-template-step-by-step-user-guide/.
Please let us know if there are any questions.
Best wishes.
Hello
This template is designed to plan capacity based on the Skill Group.
Thanks
Good Night,
I work in a manufacturing company, the production resources are machines. Can I change the columns and formatting to adapt the worksheet?
Hello
Please change the planning unit to resource count.
Best wishes & regards
Can I enter one Week vacation in one line? Or do I have to do it for each day? I did not exactly understand your video, but you explained only the case for one day. What if the employee is having vacation for one week?
Hello
Thank you for your interest in our template.
This template is designed to check the availability of resources on a particular day/week. However, the calculation of available hours and demand is calculated using hours. Hence, if a person is on a one week leave, the availability has to set to -ve that many hours for each day of the days.
Best regards
Hello,
Currently the demand aggregation can be set to a scale measured in weeks, but the max duration is 52 weeks. How can I increase the duration to 104 weeks? I would like to map out our capacity for the next two years in the same document.
Hello
Thank you for using our template.
The current version of the template can handle 52 weeks of data. Changing the duration would require changes at multiple locations. This is not feasible.
We have noted down your feedback and would try to incorporate this in the future versions of the template.
With best wishes.
Hi,
I want to purchase this one, can i know how much its going to cost in INR.
Thanks. The cost mentioned in US$ in the product page https://indzara.com/product/resource-capacity-planner-excel-template/ will be converted to INR based on exchange rate at time of purchase.
Please let me know if there are any questions.
Best wishes.
Thanks, this would add significant value to this planner. Do you an idea when it will be developed and published?
You are welcome.
We plan to develop and publish in 2 months.
Best wishes.
Is it possible to link demand to certain projects? and see demand/capacity per project?
Thanks. It is currently not supporting demand/capacity per project. It is a feature we would develop soon and publish.
Currently, Skill Group is the only dimension (apart from date) by which we can aggregate capacity/demand.
Best wishes.
Morning
Does this sheet take into account utilization ?
Iian
Please provide some more explanation of your question. This template compares the demand and capacity. Capacity is calculated based on availability of resources. Demand is directly entered by Skill Group and date.
Thanks & Best wishes.
Hi,
I would like to increase the Daily max duration to 2 months. Is this possible. If yes, please let me know how can this be done.
Thanks & Best wishes
Thanks for purchasing.
When we choose ‘Daily’ option, we can have up to 52 days.
It would require changes in almost all sheets to implement an increased number of days.
Please let me know if there are any questions.
Thanks & Best wishes.
Hi
Can I able to have the Employee Leave with date range so that if a resource goes for vacation for few weeks then don’t need to enter in multiple rows?
When are you planning to release an updated version? Will it be free down load for the current customers.
Cheers
Thanks for feedback.
There is currently no scheduled date for updated version. However, when it is published, all customers will receive it for free by email.
Best wishes.