In a previous issue of PIMSS Uncovered we looked at the Contracts Module and how this is used to effectively manage programmes of planned works.
In this issue we’ll be looking at the Planning Module which provides a flexible, easy-to-use, solution for conducting scenario-modelling and using evidence-based decision making to develop your programmes of major works.
The Planning Module takes the existing Stock Condition Survey information that you hold in PIMSS and allows you to carry out strategic scenario planning for:
- any group of assets you define
- any geographical groupings, property type groupings or other attribute information you hold in PIMSS
- any combination of work elements
- any set of unit rates and life cycles
- any timeframe you require
You supply the parameters and the Planning Module provides a framework for you to plan within.
Planning is simply a case of dragging and dropping work between years. This can start at a high level such as estate or scheme, and can then move down to lower levels of detail and ultimately to individual asset and work component level.
Powerful searches, filters and colour-coded overlays help you to conduct multiple ‘what-if’ scenarios so that you can:
- quickly and easily smooth costs over the lifecycle of a work programme
- ensure that you most effectively apply available budget when carrying out improvement works
- prioritise investment decisions to ensure Housing Quality Standard compliance
- calculate the impact of cost and life cycle variation
- report planning and budget costs at any level that you define (whole stock, any geographical grouping such as area, scheme, or street, work element or package)
- track where Stock Condition Survey information has changed and use this to make informed decisions on how this affects your planning
Apply filters to allow you to target investment at any subset of assets.
Quickly and easily see all of your planned work, grouped at any level of detail, and ensure the work fits within budgetary constraints.
Colour-coded overlays give a clear visual indication of where Housing Quality standard failures occur so that you can prioritise work accordingly.
The Contracts Module is fully integrated with the core PIMSS asset register and stock condition data, and work can quickly and easily be taken from a plan in the Planning Module, and moved to a contract in the Contracts Module so that the delivery of the programme can be managed there.
Our users have reported a significant reduction in costs and time by using the Planning Module over Excel spreadsheets.
Please get in touch with your PIMSS account manager, or the PIMSS support helpdesk, if you would like to find out more about the Planning Module, or any other area of PIMSS.
