Showing papers on "Project engineering published in 2008"

Project Acceleration via Activity Crashing, Overlapping, and Substitution

Abstract: It is an established fact that projects are almost always behind schedule. Consequently, there is a great need for the allocation of additional resources with a view to accelerating projects, so as to ensure delivery on the planned date. These resources are obtained from project budget contingency, whose purpose is to foresee and budget for delays arising from disruptions, inaccurate activity time and cost estimates, and resource nonavailability when required for the execution of project activities. This type of problem arises both in the planning phase of a project, particularly in the context of bidding, as well as in ongoing projects, including new product development projects. The research reported in this paper provides a mixed-integer nonlinear programming model for the acceleration of projects, employing the simultaneous crashing, overlapping, and substitution of project activities. In order to ensure convergence, this model is transformed exactly into a mixed-integer linear programming model. The assumptions of the model are presented and discussed with engineering project management practice in mind. Application of the model to four examples of different sizes and nature, three of which are practical cases, demonstrates the efficiency of the model, implemented in commercial optimization software, in solving practical project acceleration problems.

Organisational Management of Project and Technical Knowledge over Fleet Lifecycles

Abstract: Complex engineered products are all knowledge intensive. It is crucial for suppliers and operators of such “fleets” of equipment to manage and minimize product costs and risks. Many schedule delays, cost overruns, accidents, excessive operating costs, and premature product failures result from ineffective management of product data, information, and knowledge. This paper reviews solutions based on integrating structured authoring and product lifecycle management systems and data warehousing implemented by a large project engineering and management organization and the development of an alliance organizational form to support the product to reduce costs, risks and hazards through comprehensive and coherent management of project data, information and knowledge.

A two-phase fuzzy decision making methodology for bridge scheme selection

Abstract: Bridge scheme selection (BSS) which includes superstructure types is a complex project engineering that is built up in the present paper. By presenting some novel criteria and considering a fuzzy decision making process, we propose a new hybrid quality function deployment (QFD) for TOPSIS approach and applied to BSS project. At last the best type of scheme is obtained.

A biosignal acquisition and conditioning board as a cross-course senior design project

Abstract: In a single-semester course that incorporates both lecture and design, time constraints make it difficult to provide students with a substantive design experience that addresses multiple system elements. This paper presents a design experience that addressed numerous facets of a biomedical signal acquisition system by merging design credits for two undergraduate, senior-level courses: EECE 773 - Bioinstrumentation Design Laboratory and EECE 628 - Electronic Instrumentation. The innovative effort joined the sensor circuitry and signal display elements of a bioinstrumentation course with the data acquisition and serial communication topics often taught in electronic instrumentation courses. The overall goals of this project were to (a) create a substantial, design-driven learning experience for electrical engineering seniors and (b) increase student interest by attaching a biomedical context to an instrumentation project that would otherwise be generic. These goals were supported by 11 learning objectives that address clinical context, project planning, project roles, signal conditioning, signal management, printed circuit board development, biomedical data display, and written communication. In the initial project offering, 18 students were divided into three teams, each of which designed and built a system to acquire, process, and display data from multiple biomedical sensors, where the signal conditioning functionality for each sensor was remotely programmable. Each acquisition board communicated with a custom Lab VIEW interface via a Universal Serial Bus link. Development foci for each team changed over time as technical choices led to unexpected design complexities. Assessment of the experience was provided via a post- project survey that addressed the 11 learning objectives, learning in 16 technical areas, interpersonal team dynamics, and project administration. Survey results mirrored informal student comments: while this effort required a substantial time commitment relative to a typical course project, the learning and satisfaction derived were worth the investment.

Research on the Risk Assessment of Engineering Project Based on Grey Theory and Fuzzy Mathematics

Abstract: The risk assessment of engineering project is an important basis for the risk management countermeasure in project actualization phase. This paper brings forward design discipline of risk assessment index system, and founds risk assessment index system of engineering project based on it. In view of the shortcomings of traditional fuzzy assessment, which are coarse quantification of qualitative indices and unconsidering holistic information in the assessing process, grey theory is introduced into risk assessment, and establishes comprehensive assessment models based on grey theory and fuzzy mathematics. The fundamental and calculation steps of this method is clarified, an actual application indicates that this model is valid and feasible. The method can combine qualitative analysis with quantitative analysis effectively and synthesize expert group opinions adequately, which provides a good way for risk assessment of engineering project, as well provides a mathematical tool of analysis on risk assessment for such projects with limited number of samples and amount of information.

Final year projects with involvement of industry and high schools

Abstract: In the final year of undergraduate degree programs in the School of Electrical and Information Engineering at the University of South Australia (UniSA), students accomplish hands-on design projects that account for a quarter of the yearpsilas academic credit load. The majority of the projects, depending on a year - between 60% and 80% - are industry sponsored, i.e. industry defines the project specification and provides industry supervisor(s) and resources in cash and/or inkind contributions. This gives students an opportunity to develop links with industry and build up their skills, knowledge and industry-relevant practical experience in a specialised engineering field, facilitating their rapid industrial employment. Recently also high school students have been involved in these projects, as reported in the paper. The program has been successfully running for the past 3 years and proved to bring benefits to high school students, university students and also to companies that participate in the program.

Organisational Management of Project and Technical Knowledge Over Fleet Lifecycles

Abstract: Complex engineered products are all knowledge intensive. It is crucial for suppliers and operators of such “fleets” of equipment to manage and minimise product costs and risks. Many schedule delays, cost overruns, accidents, excessive operating costs, and premature product failures result from ineffective management of product data, information, and knowledge. This paper reviews solutions based on integrating structured authoring and product lifecycle management systems and data warehousing implemented by a large project engineering and management organisation and the development of an alliance organisational form to support the product to reduce costs, risks and hazards through comprehensive and coherent management of project data, information and knowledge.

The Research on Cost Control Method in Power Plant Construction

Abstract: It is crucial to control the cost of power plant. The paper starts with the fund flow that has an influence on construction cost, the cost control method in power plant installation engineering based on the time value of funds is proposed, it requests the condition that there is no influence on the project's duration and quality, uses the time value of funds theory to optimize the project's installation process, puts the equipment which occupy large fund to the later project as much as possible, so that we can reduce the interest in the construction duration, and the cost of construction can be reduced ultimately. Finally, an example is given to verify the reliability of the method.

Improved Multi-Attribute Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation in Project Delivery Decision-Making

Abstract: Project delivery methods not only define the roles, responsibilities and risks of the parties involved but also set the framework for project execution. The decision made in the selection of a project delivery method for a project impacts all phases of execution of the project. In view of the shortcomings of the attribute weight setting method used currently in the decision model of choosing project delivery methods, which is typically characterized by subjective evaluations, the theory of 'entropy weight' is applied to modify the experts' subjective weight and produce the comprehensive weights. A multi-attribute fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model is thus established, and the technique for order preference by the similarity to ideal solution is applied to rank the alternatives. Finally; an example is given to demonstrate the use of such model and it is proved to be more scientific and reasonable.

Organizational simulation of complex process engineering projects in the chemical industry

Abstract: In this paper, we demonstrate that, with a suitable instrument for project engineering, the project structure and resource allocations can be modeled and simulated even for weakly structured and distributed development projects. The instrument was developed with the goal of providing project planners and project leaders with a simple tool for fast and intuitive model development for project planning. For this reason the tool should make the comparison of different work organizational project constellations under the consideration of various boundary conditions possible. First results from industrial application of the instrument indicate that project concepts can be compared with each other and then optimized with regard to selected target criteria.

10.3.2 Functional Capabilities In Complex Project Engineering

Abstract: Recent performance in the acquisition of large scale defense systems has not met expectations. The acquisition community in the U.S. Department of Defense has been challenged by the department's transition to network-centric warfare, which leverages complex system collaborations to achieve significant new capabilities. Developing systems of systems or systems of services requires evolved system engineering and project management practices, and better integration of both. This paper presents early learning in this regard from one ongoing system-of-systems development program, the Single Integrated Air Picture (SIAP). A “functional capability” concept evolved to become a potentially unique definition of a project that has proved useful in a system-of-systems development context. This paper then explains a recommended structured-development approach built on Functional Capabilities that yields artifacts promoting communication, specification, and work phasing. It also compares the approach to the CMMI™ to demonstrate the wide process applicability of Functional Capabilities.

Managing Network Security Projects: Classification models and Scale Effect

Abstract: Network security projects present several differences with software engineering projects. Managing security projects and evaluating the effort needed to conduct them is more complex. We propose in this paper three models aiming at managing three classes of security projects. We address here the models definition methodologies, the effort estimation, and the projects classification methodology. We discuss also the scale effect related to security projects.

Outsourcing detail design work to Low cost Centers for engineering and construction projects

Abstract: The almost uncontrollable increase of the costs of new projects forced mining- and project houses to outsource the detail engineering to low cost centrepsilas. However, these cost cutting exercises bring their own unique challenges because engineering and fabrication standards differ from country to country. Understanding the problems expected should enable the engineering manager to put the necessary strategies in place to manage the risk associated with outsourcing of detail engineering to low cost centers.

Technical-Economic Analysis of Wind Energy Projects in China

Abstract: The renewable energy consumption has been increased rapidly with high economic growth in China. As one of the most promising renewable energy resource, wind energy has become a major part of the plans for sustainable development. The technical-economic analysis of the project reveals that the revenue from certified emission reductions (CERs) of clean development mechanism (CDM) project can increase the profitability of the project but it doesn't play a decisive role. The sensitivity analysis of single parameter shows that investment, electricity price and production are the key parameters influencing the effectiveness of projects. The status of wind energy projects in China is elaborated and the four approaches of developing wind energy projects are proposed.