What is Zümmer?
Zümmer (pronounced [zoo-mer]) is a tool developed by FoxQuest Systems, Inc. to analyze and compare Critical Path Method (CPM) Schedules created using Primavera P6.
History of Zümmer
The development of Zümmer began in 2007 and was created to analyze the multitude of CPM schedules involved in the Miami International Airports $3 Billion North Terminal Development Program.
Some modules have roots that can be traced as far back as the early 1990’s where data from Primavera P3 was exported into a database file and then reports and graphs were generated from data records across multiple projects and project updates.
Zümmer Features
Although there are many analysis and comparison tools in the market today, Zümmer has many benefits and features that make it an excellent choice over other options.
1) Zümmer allows the user to pick and choose reports to either preview or print. This is an important consideration since most other options force you to generate a mountain of reports from which you then must wade through and select reports you really need.
2) Zümmer reads data in real time. There’s no need to import XER files to print reports then re-import after changes are made. Zümmer uses SQL Connection Strings to connect to the data source. Once the connection is established, Zümmer reads from the same data source as P6.
3) Zümmer generates reports and graphs in a presentable, easy-to-read format that can be directly inserted into a presentation package or displayed on screen in a visual presentation scenario. None of the Zümmer Reports or Graphs appears like hard-to-read computer-lab generated lists.
4) For Schedulers submitting P6 Schedules to clients, Zümmer helps to ensure that your deliverables are the best quality schedules compliant with typical scheduling specifications. Zümmer can help you avoid common scheduling miscues such as “Open Ends”, “Non-Overlapping Lags” or “Duplicate Descriptions”.
5) For Clients receiving P6 Schedules, Zümmer ensures that you are receiving the best possible specification compliant schedules. By producing and returning Zümmer reports to your submitter, you can demonstrate your commitment to high quality schedules throughout the life of the Project.
6) Zümmer allows you to generate graphs of Task Count Histograms, Float Distribution, Cash Flow, and others that are simply not possible in P6. Furthermore, the graphical reports are generated using Microsoft’s “Office Automation” capabilities. This means that the graphs are generated from the same high-quality graphing engine found in Microsoft Excel. Zümmer automatically generates a copy of the graph along with the source data, saved and output to a distinct Excel spreadsheet. The spreadsheet is stored in Zümmer’s “output” folder which allows for further customization and pasting into other file formats.
7) Zümmer contains a unique and powerful module named ‘Activity History’. This module allows the user to report and graph the historical status and Start/Finish date of any activity for all Projects maintained in up to 10 different Enterprise Project Structure (EPS) nodes. Given an activity’s progress over multiple Project updates, Zümmer can even generate a trend analysis projection that predicts a forecasted activity completion date.
8) Zümmer even performs maintenance analysis at the “Enterprise” level. Zümmer check for anomalous Enterprise level usage relating to Global Calendar & inheritance usage and Global Activity Code usage. Zümmer also facilitates the review of Baseline usage and assignments and helps maintain a ‘lean & mean” database file size.
9) Zümmer has 2 coding management modules (Work Orders and Issues) that allow users to track and report Work Order and Issues across multiple Projects.
10) Zümmer also keeps track of your Analysis & Comparison reporting efforts. By maintaining a record of each Analysis/Comparison run known as a ‘Series’, users can analyze historical submittal results and compare the quality of each submittal. This step allows users to determine if the quality of schedule submittals are improving or getting worse.
11) For larger construction Projects and Programs, consultation and customization is possible for additional reports that can be stored in the Monthly or Other Reports module.
Zümmer is distributed by:
Contact:
Mr. Keith Wylde, CEO
keith@miamimicro.com
305-669-3006
Zümmer is a product developed and Copyrighted by:
