Using Vacancies for Long-Term Capacity Planning in planr

Accurate capacity planning is the foundation of effective scheduling. The workload control feature in planr provides a central tool for assessing medium- to long-term resource requirements realistically. With just a few clicks, it becomes clear whether the available capacity will be sufficient or if potential bottlenecks may arise in certain periods.

Planning with Vacancies

For medium- to long-term planning, the vacancy function is available. Instead of assigning specific individuals, unassigned resources are planned in. In the project or service view, it is possible to define how many people will be needed during a given period – without yet knowing who will take on the work. It is also possible to define which role these resources are intended to fulfill.

The recorded vacancies form the basis for an initial high-level plan and serve as placeholders for later, concrete assignments.

Capacity Review in the Workload Chart

Once the vacancies have been entered, the workload chart can be used to check whether the planned needs can be met with the available internal resources. It becomes visible whether an overload could occur – for example, because too few available employees are on hand.

The graphical display shows, among other things:

• Whether there are enough internal resources to cover all planned vacancies
• How many vacancies can be covered
• How many vacancies cannot be filled with existing capacity

Assigning Real People

If it is clear that a project can be executed with the current resources, the planning can be made more concrete. The originally entered vacancies can be quickly replaced with specific employees. Once all vacancies are assigned, they are automatically removed from the view.

Conclusion

The vacancy function in combination with the workload chart is a valuable tool for forward-looking capacity planning. Projects can be realistically assessed, bottlenecks identified early, and planning decisions made with confidence.

Plan ahead. Understand needs. Manage resources effectively – with planr.