Project & Quality Management
Day 3 Technology
Project Management
Syllabus Core: PQM
Three main topics
Project Management
• Quality Management
• Reliability Management
Structure of the Presentation
Project Management
• Overview of project management,
• Project planning;
→Work Breakdown Structure,
→The Gantt Chart,
→Network Diagram,
→Critical Path Diagram,
• Project planning for Technology projects,
• Using Microsoft Project to generate charts.
What is Project Management?
A set of techniques used for managing
projects
Origins in industry - large projects
• Bridge Building
• New Product Development
• Road Building
What is a Project?
“Any task within an organisation that does
not fit neatly into ‘business-as-usual’”
• Port Tunnel
• Luas
• Development of New Engine
• Set up a Quality System in Company
• Technology Design & Make project.
What is a Project?
Projects have the following characteristics:
• Each project is specific and unique.
• Each project has a specific deliverable item when
complete.
• This deliverable is aimed at meeting a specific need
or purpose.
• There is usually a specific due date for completion of
the project.
Design is not necessarily a central part of the project
activity.
What is Managed?
PM focuses on the management of
resources and time in a systematic
manner.
• The administration of the project
• The supervision of the project
• The organisation of the project
What is Managed?
For the student it means:
•
•
•
Analysing the objectives of the project,
Defining the tasks needed to achieve
these objectives,
Controlling the execution of them.
Who manages the projeect?
Large projects usually involve a project team.
Project Manager
Specialist
Specialist
Specialist
What do Project Managers do?
Projects have 3 objectives,
Finish on time.
Meet the specifications that satisfy
the brief.
Meet the budget.
Students are the project managers of
their own tasks!
Importance of Planning
Unexpected events may happen during the
project and may cause delays.
Breakdown of machinery,
Problems with resources/supplies,
Labour shortages, etc.
Project planning can minimise the effect of these
unexpected delays.
Project Planning
What is a project plan?
• Can be as simple as a list of
sequences for a small
project
• Can be more complex with
charts, tables, costings etc.
for a larger project
Project Planning
1. Analyse the brief,
2. List the steps involved,
3. Draw up a Work Breakdown Structure
(WBS).
A WBS is a diagram that shows
→ Primary Tasks
→ Sub-Tasks
Example
Draw up a Work Breakdown Structure
for the erection of a garden shed.
1. The shed will come prefabricated but
will need to be assembled.
2. A foundation will need to be prepared in
advance.
List of Tasks
No.
Activity
1
Order Shed
2
Buy Blocks, Sand &
Cement
3
Build Foundation
4
Assemble Shed
WBS for Garden Shed
Place order for
shed
Buy Blocks and
Cement
Prepare
Foundation
Assemble Shed
when it arrives
Garden Shed
The Gantt Chart – a Preview
A Gantt Chart is a horizontal bar chart
showing the times for each task
Looking at the Gantt Chart
•
•
•
•
Delivery time for the shed is nine days,
One day for buying materials,
Two days for making the foundation,
One day for assembly.
Note:
• Making the foundation is timed so that it is ready
just in time for the delivery of the shed
• Could have been completed at an earlier date if
desired.
Exercises
Redraw the Gantt chart so that the
maximum amount of time is allowed for
the curing of the foundation.
Day
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Order Shed from Supplier
Buy Blocks
Build Foundation
Assemble
Exercises
Shown is a picture of a Christmas Tree Star
1. Draw a WBS for the Star
2. Draw a Gantt chart for manufacturing
the Star
List of Tasks:Star
No.
Activity
Time
1
Mark Out Star
1
2
Drill Holes
1
3
Cut Out & File
3
4
Solder Circuit
2
5
Assemble
2
6
Test
1
WBS for Star
Mark Out
Cut Out &
File
Drill
Structure
Sub Task
Assemble
Test
Star
Sub Task
Solder
Circuit
Circuit
Gantt Chart for Star
Day
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Mark
Out
Drill
Cut Out & File
Solder Circuit
Assemble
Test
9
10
Network Diagrams
For larger or more complex projects a
network diagram is required.
Network Diagrams show:
1. The relationships between the tasks,
2. The sequence in which each task is
performed,
3. The interdependencies between the
tasks.
Drawing up a Network Diagram
WBS
Network Diagram
Gantt Chart
• Start with task list and draw up a WBS
• Decide on the order of tasks
Sample WBS
A WBS needs to be
analysed and redrawn
frequently to arrive at
the best production
sequence.
(Use ‘Post its’)
Network Table
Task
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
Predecessor
A
B
B
C,D
E
The tasks
and their
predecessors
can be drawn
as a table
Part Complete Network Diagram
Note that task C has A as a predecessor
D and E have B as predecessors.
A and B have no predecessors and are connected to the
starting node.
Complete Network Diagram
Task
Predecessor
A
-
B
-
C
A
D
B
E
B
F
C,D
G
E
Exercise:
Complete the diagram using
the remainder of the tasks
Network Diagram for Garden Shed
Draw up a network diagram for the garden
shed project described previously.
Some Definitions and Terms
Terms used for network diagrams:
Activity – A task or set of tasks required by the project.
Network – Diagram of nodes representing activities
connected by directional arrows that defines the project
and shows the relations between all of the activities.
Networks are usually drawn with a ‘Start’ node on the left
and a ‘Finish’ node on the right.
Path – A series of connected activities in the network
Critical Path – the set of activities on a path from the
project’s start event to its finish event that if delayed, will
delay the completion date of the project.
Critical Time – The time required to complete all activities
on the critical path.
Adding Times to the Network Diagram
• Duration of each task can be added to
network diagram
• From this, start and finish times can be
found for each task
• Some tasks can be allowed to vary their
start and finish times without affecting
overall time taken
Example
Consider the following project
Task
Predecessor
Duration
A
-
5 (days)
B
-
4
C
A
3
D
A
4
E
A
6
F
B,C
4
G
D
5
H
D,E
6
I
F
6
J
G,H
4
Network with Tasks & Times
Adding Further Information
We can add the following information to each node
in the diagram:
Earliest Start Time (EST)
Earliest Finish Time (EFT)
Latest Start Time (LST)
Latest Finish Time (LFT)
Critical Path Diagram
Critical path in orange
See notes for a detailed explanation
Conclusions from Critical Path Diagram
• Critical path is path that requires the most
time (A-E-H-J)
• Critical time is 21 days which is the
earliest possible completion time
• Any delay on critical path will delay the
project
• Some delay (within limits) can be tolerated
on other tasks.
Critical Path Diagram for the Garden Shed
Complete the critical path diagram for
the garden shed
State critical path and critical time
Solution
CP: Order Shed – Assemble
CT= 10 Days
Calculating Activity Slack
Slack or Float is the amount of time a non-critical
task can be delayed
Slack = Latest Finish Time – Earliest Finish Time
or
Latest Start Time – Earliest Start Time
Slack = LFT-EFT = LST-EST
Slack Times from Shed Example
Both non-critical tasks have a slack of
(9-3)=(7-1)=(7-1)=(6-0) = 6 days
The Gantt Chart
• Generated from network diagram
• Gives visual representation of activities
and times
• Gantt charts can show:
• Timeline for each task
• Dependencies of tasks
• Critical path
Network Diagram
Using the Network Diagram from previous example
Application of PM to Tech. Projects
Now we will apply the techniques we have
met to a hypothetical LC project.
The procedure for project work is:
• List the tasks and sub-tasks involved
• Draw up a WBS
• Draw up a Network Table
• Draw up a Network Diagram
• Insert times and determine the Critical
Path
Consider the following project brief
Design and manufacture a personal alarm that
will incorporate an electronic circuit as well as
a suitable casing
From analysing the brief:
• General plan on how to approach the project
• Identify the main tasks involved
• Derive a Work Breakdown Schedule
• Draw up a Network Diagram
• Add times and find the critical path, critical
time and slack for the activities.
A possible WBS for the project
Research
Circuit
Design
Circuit
Order
Components
Circuit
Sub Task
Manufacture
& Assemble
Test
Personal
Alarm
Sub Task
User Survey
Design
Specification
Design
Casing
Order
Materials
Casing
Network Table
First draw up a list of tasks and preceding tasks
Task
Description
Duration
Predecessor
A
Research Circuit
14
-
B
User Survey
7
-
C
Device Spec
1
B
D
Circuit Design
3
A
E
Order Components
10
D
F
Design Casing
7
C
G
Order Materials
7
F
H
Manufacture and
assembly
7
E,G
I
Test
4
H
Network Diagram
7
7
Critical Path Diagram
CP = Circuit Research -Circuit Design-Order Components-Build-Test
CT = 38 class periods
Gantt Chart for Project
Student Workbook
List the tasks needed to complete the project
Example 2
List the tasks
Estimate the times
Draw up WBS and Gantt chart
Example – Contains circuit
List the tasks & Estimate times
Order tasks and optimise them
Draw up WBS and Gantt chart
Estimate project duration
Example:
Example