Project Description

The new computer$-$controlled conveyor belt is an exciting project that moves and positions items on the conveyor belt within $<1$ 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.

TABLE A$2\mathrm{.}9$

Conveyor Belt Project; WBS

Conveyor Belt Project

Hardware

Hardware specifications Hardware design Hardware documentation Prototypes Order circuit boards Assemble preproduction models

Operating system

Kernel specifications Drivers Disk drivers Serial I$/$O drivers Memory management Operating system documentation Network interface

Utilities

Utilities specifications Routine utilities Complex utilities Utilities documentation Shell

System integration

Architectural decisions

Integration first phase System hard$/$software test Project documentation Integration acceptance testing

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!

Part $2$

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

Each work package will represent an activity. The project begins January $4,2010.$

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 $26.$

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.

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:

When is the project estimated to be completed? How long will the project take? What is the critical path$($s$)$ for the project?

Which activity has the greatest amount of slack? How sensitive is this network?

Identify two sensible milestones and explain your choices.

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

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

Description

Architectural decisions

Harduare specifications

Kernel specifications

Uiities specifications.

Hardware design

Disk divers

Memory management

Operating system documentation

Route utes

Complex uiities

Utites documentation

Hardvare documentation

Intagraion fist phase

Prototypes

Serial U$0$ divers

System hardisoftuare test

Order circu boards.

Netvork interface

Shall

Project documentation

Assemble preproduction models

Integrated acceptance testing

Resource

Design

Development, design

Design

Development, design

Design, development

Assembly, development

Development

Design, documentation

Development

Development

Documentation, design

Documentation, design

Assembly, development

Assembly, development

Development

Assembly

Purchasing

Development

Development

Documentation, development

Assembly, development

Assembly, development

Duration $($days$)$

$5$

$0$

$2$

$15$

$7$

$100$

$$

$=$

El

El

Preceding Activity

$1$

$17$F$-5,1$ag $50$ days

$18,19,20,21$

Note: F$-$S refers to a Finish$-$to$-$Start lag.

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

ChatGPT

First, let's develop the Work Breakdown Structure $($WBS$)$ outline based on the provided information:

mathematica

Copy code

Conveyor Belt Project WBS

$1.$ Project Management

$1\mathrm{.}1$ Project Planning

$1\mathrm{.}2$ Project Execution

$1\mathrm{.}3$ Project Monitoring and Control

$1\mathrm{.}4$ Project Closure

$2.$ Hardware

$2\mathrm{.}1$ Hardware Specifications

$2\mathrm{.}2$ Hardware Design

$2\mathrm{.}3$ Hardware Documentation

$2\mathrm{.}4$ Prototypes

$2\mathrm{.}5$ Order Circuit Boards

$2\mathrm{.}6$ Assemble Preproduction Models

$3.$ Operating System

$3\mathrm{.}1$ Kernel Specifications

$3\mathrm{.}2$ Drivers

$3\mathrm{.}2\mathrm{.}1$ Disk Drivers

$3\mathrm{.}2\mathrm{.}2$ Serial I$/$O Drivers

$3\mathrm{.}3$ Memory Management

$3\mathrm{.}4$ Operating System Documentation

$3\mathrm{.}5$ Network Interface

$4.$ Utilities

$4\mathrm{.}1$ Utilities Specifications

$4\mathrm{.}2$ Routine Utilities

$4\mathrm{.}3$ Complex Utilities

$4\mathrm{.}4$ Utilities Documentation