SOP: Using the Resource Leveling Dialog Box in Microsoft Project
The Resource Leveling dialog box helps you automatically or manually resolve resource overallocations (when the same worker, crew, or equipment is assigned more work than available).
Based on your screenshot, here is the recommended SOP for construction scheduling.
Step 1: Complete Your Schedule First
Before leveling:
✅ Create all tasks
✅ Define durations
✅ Link tasks correctly (FS, SS, FF)
✅ Assign resources (Mason Team, Electrical Team, Steel Team, etc.)
✅ Save a Baseline
Reason:
Resource Leveling changes task dates. Always
save a baseline first.
Step 2: Open Resource Leveling
Go to:
Resource Tab → Leveling Options
The dialog box shown in your screenshot appears.
Section 1: Leveling Calculations
Automatic
Project levels resources every time you make a change.
❌ Not recommended for construction schedules.
Why?
Dates move unexpectedly
Schedule becomes difficult to control
Manual ✅ Recommended
Project only levels resources when you click:
Level All
Best choice for contractors and engineers.
Your screenshot already uses:
✅ Manual
Section 2: Look for Overallocations On
Current setting:
Day by Day
Minute by Minute
Very detailed.
Not recommended for construction.
Hour by Hour
Useful for factory shifts.
Not usually needed.
Day by Day ✅ Recommended
Best for construction projects.
Example:
| Day | Mason Team |
|---|---|
| Monday | 150% |
| Tuesday | 50% |
Project detects overload.
Recommended setting:
✅ Day by Day
Week by Week
Too broad.
May hide daily problems.
Month by Month
Only useful for high-level planning.
Section 3: Clear Leveling Values Before Leveling
Current setting:
✅ Checked
Recommended:
✅ Keep Checked
Purpose:
Removes previous leveling calculations.
Then Project recalculates from scratch.
This prevents:
Old delays remaining
Incorrect resource shifts
Section 4: Leveling Range
Level Entire Project
Current setting:
✅ Selected
Recommended for Master Schedule.
Project checks every task.
Level From / To
Use only when:
Working on a specific floor
Working on a specific phase
Testing a schedule section
Example:
Level only:
01 June → 30 June
Section 5: Resolving Overallocations
Leveling Order
Current setting:
Standard
ID Only
Levels according to task ID.
❌ Not recommended
Can create strange results.
Standard ✅ Recommended
Considers:
Priority
Dependencies
Slack
Best for most construction projects.
Priority, Standard
Uses task priority first.
Useful for advanced scheduling.
Level Only Within Available Slack
Current setting:
⬜ Unchecked
Recommended:
Usually leave unchecked.
Checked
Project can only move tasks within float.
Critical tasks will not move.
Sometimes overloads remain unresolved.
Unchecked ✅
Project can move tasks as needed.
Better for solving overallocation.
Leveling Can Adjust Individual Assignments on a Task
Current setting:
✅ Checked
Recommended:
✅ Keep Checked
Example:
Mason Team assigned to:
Wall Work
Plaster Work
Project may delay only one assignment instead of the entire task.
Produces smoother schedules.
Leveling Can Create Splits in Remaining Work
Current setting:
✅ Checked
Use carefully.
Example
Wall Work = 10 days
Project may create:
Day 1–3 Work
Pause 2 days
Day 4–10 Work
This is called a split.
For Construction
Often NOT desirable.
Workers usually want continuous work.
Recommended:
⬜ Uncheck if you want uninterrupted site activities.
✅ Check only when resource flexibility is needed.
Level Resources with the Proposed Booking Type
Current setting:
⬜ Unchecked
Recommended:
⬜ Leave unchecked
Mostly used with enterprise resource pools.
Level Manually Scheduled Tasks
Current setting:
✅ Checked
Recommended:
Only if you use manually scheduled tasks.
If your project is fully Auto Scheduled:
⬜ Uncheck
Step 6: Run Leveling
Click:
Level All
Project will:
Find overallocated resources
Delay conflicting tasks
Remove resource conflicts
Update schedule dates
Step 7: Review Results
After leveling:
Go to:
Resource Usage View
Check:
No red overallocated resources
Daily workload is balanced
Team Planner View
Check:
Workers distributed correctly
No overlapping assignments
Gantt Chart
Check:
Critical Path
Milestones
Floor-by-floor sequence
Recommended Settings for Sarim's Construction Projects
| Option | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Leveling Calculations | Manual |
| Look for Overallocations | Day by Day |
| Clear Leveling Values Before Leveling | Yes |
| Level Entire Project | Yes |
| Leveling Order | Standard |
| Level Only Within Available Slack | No |
| Adjust Individual Assignments | Yes |
| Create Splits | No (usually) |
| Proposed Booking Type | No |
| Level Manually Scheduled Tasks | Only if needed |
Important Warning
If after clicking Level All your Floor 1 WBS moves above Mezzanine WBS, it usually means:
Tasks were not linked properly.
There is no dependency between floors.
Resource Leveling is free to rearrange work.
Before leveling, create logical links such as:
Mezzanine Structure → Floor 1 Structure (FS)
Mezzanine Brickwork → Floor 1 Brickwork (FS)
This keeps the construction sequence realistic and prevents Microsoft Project from reordering floors unexpectedly.