writing a reflection

Engineering Project

Learning outcomes

· Describe a range of engineering projects

· Specify engineering project scope

· Define a project using WBS

What is a project?

· A complex, non-routine, one-time effort limited by time, budget, resources and performance specifications designed to meet customer needs.

Major Characteristics

· Has an established objectives

· Has a defined life span with a beginning and an end

· Requires across-the-organisation participation

· Typically involves doing something that has never been done before

· Has specify time, cost and performance requirements

Range of Engineering Projects

· International Space Station

· Fifteen nations taking part in the programme

· Permanent accommodation for six, short-term accommodation for up to fifteen.

· Largest space project so far

· Biggest structure ever to orbit the Earth

· Burj Khalifa

· The tallest building in the world (829.8m)

-- Cost: USD$1.5 billion

Project life cycle

Project Life Cycle:

· Defining

· Planning

· Executing

· Closing

Defining the Project

· The identification of Need(s)

· Stakeholder Assessment

· Specifying key project requirements

· Scoping and Formation of “TEAM“ - selection of Advisers, Consultants, and preferably, Constructors/Implementers.

· Project feasibility

· Definition of project goals and objectives

· Developing outline programme and budget.

· Technical Alternatives

· Considering financing requirements and sources.

· Initiating planning and statutory approvals.

· Formulating contractual arrangements and purchasing methods.

· Preparing for OWNER’s "Go/No Go" decision.

· Choosing Project Delivery System

Planning the Project

· Confirming contracts with “PROJECT TEAM".

· Planning and Design

· Cost Planning - Evaluation of costs to optimise methods and resource use.

· Finalising reporting system for costs, progress, etc.

· Selecting and ordering long lead items.

· Executing the project tasks in accordance with the Project Plan and through the Project Delivery System.

· Monitoring and Control

· Managing uncertainties and unexpected events

Closing the Project

· Ensuring satisfactory performance of installations

· Cataloguing and handing over service manuals.

· Completion of asbuilt drawings/designs.

· Checking off on final performance – Project Engineer checks-off completion

· Final certification and settlement of all financial matters (project close-out).

· Handing-over project to OWNER.

· Capturing learnings for future Projects.

DEFINING THE PROJECT

Step 1: Defining the project scope

· Purpose of the scope statement

· To clearly define the deliverable(s) for the end user

· To focus the project on successful completion of its goals

· To be used by the project owner and participants as a planning tool and for measuring project success

· Project scope checklist

1. Project objective

2. Deliverables

3. Milestones

4. Technical requirements

5. Limits and exclusions

6. Reviews with customer

Step 2: Establishing project priorities

· Causes of project trade-offs

· Shifts in the relative importance of criteria related to cost, time and performance parameters

· Budget–Cost

· Schedule–Time

· Performance–Scope

Step 3: Creating the work breakdown structure (WBS)

· Work breakdown structure (WBS)

· A hierarchical outline (map) that identifies the products and work elements involved in a project

· Defines the relationship of the final deliverable (the project) to its subdeliverables and in turn their relationships to work packages

· Best suited for design and build projects that have tangible outcomes rather than process-oriented projects

Step 4: Integrating the WBS with the organisation

Step 5: Coding the WBS for the information system

· WBS coding system

· Defines:

· levels and elements of the WBS

· organisation elements

· work packages

· budget and cost information

· Allows reports to be consolidated at any level in the organisation structure

· Responsibility matrix (RM)

· Also called a linear responsibility chart

· Summarises the tasks to be accomplished and who is responsible for what on the project:

· lists project activities and participants

· clarifies critical interfaces between units and individuals that need coordination

· provides a means for all participants to view their responsibilities and agree on their assignments

· clarifies the extent or type of authority that can be exercised by each participant

· Project communication plan

· What information needs to be collected and when?

· Who will receive the information?

· What methods will be used to gather and store information?

· What are the limits, if any, on who has access to certain kinds of information?

· When will the information be communicated?

· How will it be communicated?

Scheme Design

Design Development

Documentation