Conveyor Belt Project

Part $1$

Project Description

The new computer$-$controlled conveyor belt is an exciting project that moves and positions items on the conveyor belt within $<mn\; id="EditorElement\_7119032">1</mn>$ millimeter. The project will produce a new system for future installations, and for replacement of those in the field, at a low cost. The computer$-$ controlled conveyor belt has the potential to be a critical unit in $30$ percent of the systems installed in factories. The new system is also easier to update with future technologies.

The Project Priority Matrix for the Conveyor Belt Project $($CBP$)$ is:

Time Scope Cost

Constrain X

Enhance X

Accept X

Table A$2\mathrm{.}9$ has been developed for you to use in completing the project exercises.

Assignment

Develop the WBS outline using the software available to you.

Question

Does this information $($WBS$)$ allow you to define any milestones of the project? Why or why not? What are they?

Remember: Save your file for future exercises!

TABLE A$2\mathrm{.}9$

Conveyor Belt Project; WBS

Part $2$

Use your file from Part $1$ and the information provided below to complete this exercise. $($See Table A$2\mathrm{.}10.)$

$1.$ Each work package will represent an activity.

$2.$ The project begins January $4,2010.$

$3.$ The following holidays are observed: January $1,$ Memorial Day $($last Monday in May$),$ July $4$th$,$ Labor Day $($first Monday in September$),$ Thanksgiving Day $(4$th Thursday in November$),$ December $25$ and $26.$

$4.$ If a holiday falls on a Saturday then Friday will be given as an extra day off, and if it falls on a Sunday, then Monday will be given as a day off.

$5.$ The project teams work eight$-$hour days, Monday through Friday.

Warning: Experience has taught students to frequently make separate backup files for each exercise. The software is never as friendly as users expect!

Construct a network schedule for the conveyor belt project and prepare a memo that addresses the following questions:

$1.$ When is the project estimated to be completed? How long will the project take?

$2.$ What is the critical path$($s$)$ for the project?

$3.$ Which activity has the greatest amount of slack?

$4.$ How sensitive is this network?

$5.$ Identify two sensible milestones and explain your choices.

$6.$ Compare the advantages$/$disadvantages of displaying the schedule as a network versus a Gantt chart.

TABLE A$2\mathrm{.}10$ Conveyor Belt Project; Schedule

Activity Description Resource Duration $($days$)$ Preceding Activity

$1$ Architectural decisions Design $25$

$2$ Hardware specifications Development, design $501$

$3$ Kernel specifications Design $201$

$4$ Utilities specifications Development, design $151$

$5$ Hardware design Design, development $702$

$6$ Disk drivers Assembly, development $1003$

$7$ Memory management Development $903$

$8$ Operating system documentation Design, documentation $253$

$9$ Routine utilities Development $604$

$10$ Complex utilities Development $804$

$11$ Utilities documentation Documentation, design $204$

$12$ Hardware documentation Documentation, design $305$

$13$ Integration first phase Assembly, development $506,7,8,9,10,11,12$

$14$ Prototypes Assembly, development $8013$

$15$ Serial I$/$O drivers Development $13013$

$16$ System hard$/$software test Assembly $2514,15$

$17$ Order circuit boards Purchasing $516$

$18$ Network interface Development $9016$

$19$ Shell Development $6016$

$20$ Project documentation Documentation, development $5016$

$21$ Assemble preproduction models Assembly, development $3017$F$-$S$,$ lag $50$ days

$22$ Integrated acceptance testing Assembly, development $6018,19,20,21$

Note: F$-$S refers to a Finish$-$to$-$Start la

TABLE A$2\mathrm{.}11$

Organization Resources

Include the following printouts:

$$ A Gantt chart.

$$ A network diagram highlighting the critical path.

$$ A schedule table reporting ES$,$ LS$,$ EF$,$ LF$,$ and slack for each activity.

Hint: the project should be completed in $530$ days. Remember: Save your file for future exercises!

Part $3$

Remember the old saying, $$A project plan is not a schedule until resources are com$-$ mitted.$$ This exercise illustrates this subtle, but very important, difference.

Part A

Using your files from Part $2$ input resources and their costs if you have not already done so$.$ All information is found in Tables A$2\mathrm{.}10$ and A$2\mathrm{.}11.$

Prepare a memo that addresses the following questions:

$1.$ Which if any of the resources are overallocated?

$2.$ Assume that the project is time constrained and try to resolve any overallocation problems by leveling within slack. What happens?

$3.$ What is the impact of leveling within slack on the sensitivity of the network? Include a Gantt chart with the schedule table after leveling within slack.

$4.$ Assume the project is resource constrained and resolve any overallocation problems by leveling outside of slack. What happens? What are the managerial implications?

$5.$ What options are available at this point in time?

Include a Gantt chart with the schedule table after leveling outside of slack.

Note: No splitting of activities is allowed.

Note: No partial be assigned $100$ percent.

Table A$2\mathrm{.}9$ has been developed for you to use in