How does Resource Shift Calendar in Primavera P6 work?

In the Resources window under the Units & Prices tab, you’ll find a field called Shift Calendar. What does it do? Let’s explore.

Purpose of the Shift Calendar

The Shift Calendar controls the Price/Unit for a resource based on the time an activity starts and finishes. This is useful when a resource has different rates for different shifts.

Example Scenario

Suppose Resource B works in a 3-shift operation with different hourly rates:

1. In the Shift Calendar field, select 3-Shift Operations.
2. Define rates for each shift:
   • Shift 1: $15/hour
   • Shift 2: $10/hour
   • Shift 3: $13/hour

Shift 1: 15 $/hour

Shift 2: 10 $/hour

Shift 3: 13 $/hour

Check Shift Timings

To see shift start and end times:

• Go to Enterprise → Resource Shift.
• Select 3-Shift Operations and click Modify.
• You’ll see:
  • Shift 1: 00:00 – 08:00
  • Shift 2: 08:00 – 16:00
  • Shift 3: 16:00 – 00:00

Select 3-shift Operations and click Modify

Now we can see :

• Shift 1 start at 00:00, finish at 08:00
• Shift 2 start at 08:00, finish at 16:00
• Shift 3 start at 16:00, finish at 00:00

Apply to Activities

Now, let’s create three activities:

• Each activity has 1-day duration (8 hours).
• Calendar: 7-Day Workweek (24 hours/day).
• Assign Resource B to all activities.

Because each activity starts at a different time, Primavera applies the correct rate:

• Excavation: 00:00 – 08:00 → $15/hour (Shift 1)
• Steel: 08:00 – 16:00 → $10/hour (Shift 2)
• Concrete: 16:00 – 00:00 → $13/hour (Shift 3)

Conclusion

Primavera automatically calculates resource costs based on the shift in which the activity occurs. This ensures accurate cost planning for projects with multiple shifts and varying labor rates.