ME 481 Mechanical Engineering Design Projects Project Management

Many of our BSME graduates early in their careers find themselves managing projects. Following years of project management, a good number go on to program management. It ’ s What ME ’ s do …

Effectively and efficiently using the resources available to bring the project to a successful conclusion. Project Management

Time Money Facilities and Equipment People Resources

Once it ’ s gone, it ’ s gone Manage project time w/ Gantt chart Manage individual time w/ schedule/calendar 2nd most difficult resource to manage Time

A graphical representation of the duration of tasks against the progression of time Use for scheduling & planning (Begin with course calendar) List tasks and their time periods Living document Identify critical time paths Gantt Chart

Typical Gantt Chart From:

Progress Problems Plan Weekly Meetings

Financial Planning Budget Tracking Budget Overages Any projects that will expend more than $1000 must provide a rationale to their faculty advisor, who must submit a budget overage request to Dr. R. Money

Budget Report

Computers & Data Projectors Digital Cameras Computer Software Shared Computer Drives Machine Shop Meeting Rooms - Teleconferencing ME IPL (Industrial Projects Lab) Video Conferencing Facilities and Equipment

Professional Advisor Faculty Advisor Other Faculty Dr. R. Jill Bielawski Roy Bailiff Craig Gunn Software Consultants People

Act professionally Communicate Maintain high morale Organize a fair workload Identify major groups of tasks People Your Student Design Team

Major Task Groups Liaison –Communication Logistics –Order and Order Tracking Planning –Gantt Chart, Meeting Chair Reports & Records –Web, Network files, Report Follow-up

Your First Team Task: Define The Problem A good Problem Definition is –A set of REQUIREMENTS for good solution –A set of SPECIFICATIONS for good solutions A good Problem Definition allows –UNAMBIGUOUS SELECTION of the best solution to THE problem from a set of possible solutions.

Definition Parameters (see Design Parameters.pdf on the web) 26 are listed… Don’t use them all Pick a smaller relevant set Function/performance, Product cost, Delivery date, Quantity, Environmental issues, Safety, Quality, Energy consumption, Reliability, Maintenance, Mechanical loading, Size, Weight, Spatial constraints, Aesthetics, Transportation and packaging, Personnel, Service life, Noise radiation, Operating instructions, Human factors, Health issues, Government regulations, Shelf-life storage, Operating costs, Environmental conditions, …

Bad Definition The design must be Light Inexpensive Safe Small Easily used Asthetically pleasing … (The list is long) These are unusable to evaluate & rank potential solutions because they do not allow unambiguous selection of the best design

Better Definition … The design must be lightweight. Acceptable designs will weigh less than 5 pounds. Design quality is inversely related weight measured in pounds. (W 5, W>10 lb => 1 in decision matrix) Be inexpensive. Acceptable designs will cost less than $9.59 to produce. Design quality is inversely related to manufacturing cost in US dollars ($). (Cost 5, Cost>$10 => 1 in decision matrix)

Definitions Include both –Constraints: Limits of measurable performance qualities –Objectives: Statement of what measurably objectively changes as solution quality changes. May be Qualitative or Quantitative –BUT all elements must be unambiguous –DEFINE Qualitative Scale

Qualitative Scale On a 1-5 point Scale … (You can do better) 5  Best in Class performance 4  Better than 90% of Competitors 3  Better than 75% of Competitors 2  Better than 50% of Competitors 1  Worst in Class performance The key… Define how you will evaluate solutions BEFORE you develop them