Engineering Problem Solving: Coal Loading Facility and Rail System

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of problem-solving in the context of developing a coal loading facility and rail system. It begins with an abstract outlining the key considerations and a step-by-step problem-solving procedure. The report then details the objective of providing a systematic approach to guide the development, including defining the problem and specifications. The procedure section delves into evaluating the client's brief, identifying assumptions and constraints, and performing data analysis to determine demand forecasts, port operating days, rail network capacity, and shipping capacity. The summary of the problem statement synthesizes the collected information, emphasizing the importance of addressing assumptions, constraints, and end-user demands. The report concludes by outlining the project's qualitative goals, such as achieving high supply demand targets and maximizing service output in the loading sector, highlighting the project's core objectives and desired outcomes.

Running Head: PROBLEM SOLVING IN ENGINEERING 1
Problem solving in engineering
Authors name
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PROBLEM SOLVING IN ENGINEERING 2
ABSTRACT
The development of a coal loading facility and rail system requires various considerations
depending on the techniques used for setting up the facilities and a step by step procedure
followed in solving problems and constraints related to it. Specifications follow the analysis
given to guide in the development of the facilities to meet client demands. In most cases the
problem-solving procedure has steps that include problem definition, developing of a
mathematical model and computations, implementations of the models and finally testing it.
Just like any other fuel, coal needs an end to end efficient transport system taking into
consideration the user of proper electrical systems to provide mechanical power for its entire
operation.
Methods of data collection to aide in solving this system problem are to be applied and
categorized according to the rising problems, that is after taking care of constraints and
assumptions.

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The need for the development of the coal loading system and rail facility is accompanied
by the pre-installment of information on the geographical, economic and demographic states of
benefit to the area of development such that the assertions made by the client are met and are all
environment and human friendly in a problem-solving bid (Larry Drbal, 2012).
Transport system existing in the area of development should be a key factor in
smoothness of operation and meeting the demands of the established system beneficial to the
client and target of operation. A geographical setting for underlay construction of a rail system to
the port facility is neither a consideration to neglect. It will help define the type of materials to be
used on rail construction leading to the port for efficiency and durability (Bolton, 2014).
In a bid to help execute all the above stated objectives and to help solve the problem on
this development, a series of tasks need to be handled step by step for a perfect solution as
expressed in the procedure section below. But first we need to refer to the main objective of this
project.
Objective
The main objective of this project is to provide a step by step problem solving procedure
by defining a problem definition and specification to help guide the development of a coal
loading and rail system facility and also to coordinate the impact of the system with the area of
establishment to create a better ecosystem that is both environment and human friendly (Bonem,
2008).
An added objective consideration may be focused on the impact of the project on the
future and how it is flexible to the changing technological regime that is taking different shapes
from time to time throughout the years.

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Procedure
EVALUATING CLIENT BRIEF
In developing the whole project several assumptions that are bound to constraints are
made by the contracting client that are sometimes biased on the execution of the actual initial
plan. These assumptions might to some extent affect the budget of the project planning and time
of functionality throughout the entire project establishment.
Given the fact that they might not be managed just like any other project plan program,
they must to some extent be given a raise of concern by both the project initiators, funders and
the project managers, hence considering the clients brief, assumptions must be drawn out clearly.
Some of the assumptions that can be withdrawn from the clients’ brief are;
 Ease of construction since the client just expects the job to be handled smoothly.
 Client expects high performance of the system to be developed.
 Smooth acceptance of the system by demands of the people that would be linked to the
system
 Favorable conducive construction environments including geographical conditions.
 Hundred percent efficiency in the work procedure output during development.
However, all these assumptions by the client are met by certain several constraints that might
be technical and might be a downfall to the efficient development of the whole project, these
include;

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 Hostility by the neighboring existing people that might oppose the whole rail system
passing through their vicinity and premises (Control, 2015).
 Poor planning of contracted building company that might lead to bogus system built that
is not efficient as per the demands.
 The geographical gradients and curves of the area that might hinder the straightness of
the rail system and this might cause some parts of the rail to be finished off poorly hence
a threat to the wagons that will be passing on it (Lewis, 2014).
 Improper funding of the whole project might be another major constraint that might
harbor several consequences prior to the initial expectations on demand and operations.

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Data analysis
A lot of information needs to be collected to help determine the demand forecast and the
major favorable port operating working days. These revolve around the rail network capacity and
shipping capacity that will determine and specify amount of load on wagons of coal to ports. the
coal pile details should be a worry as it triggers the stipulated time of operation to be well fixed
such that the amount to be ferried at a given time is well taken care of to meet the demand target
of the company. Both complex and simple data gathering procedures need to be applied
predetermining on the site and theoretically to help the project initiators develop a larger scope
of view on the whole project which might help them subdivide the project into sub sectors that
are easy to handle and execute leaving out little or no unfinished work.
A pre-feasibility study before the major feasibility study is a key benefit to data collection
and analysis. It might involve sending a team of experts to the field and setting up thesis that
enables them to gain zero tolerance from the theoretical information that they already have in
their hand notes and some sourced out from the internet.
Rail and gauge size measurements will help predetermine the coal wagon dimensions to
be built depending on coal pile to and from the port.
Application of the technology of material science is duly needed here on forecasting
strengths and material properties of materials needed for the construction of the rail system. Steel
is the major material to focus on at this moment as it got a lot of beneficial properties for
durability and strength and thus the better choice for this project.
Length of the rail system is also a major dimension to be put to consideration based on
the major constraints that would be taken care of to avoid under meeting the demands (Buie,
2017).

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Demand forecast
The demand of the coal company over the next 15 years will amount to about 500,000
tonnes of coal in exports. This amount surpasses the projected value because of certain
assumptions that can be made. After the construction of the new coal port the efficiency of
exporting would increase significantly. This is because the machinery used have proved to be
reliable over the last 25 years of operation, and an additional port increases the number of ships
that can be loaded per day during the days of operation.
Port operating days
The port can operate for 100 days per year this is because some un-controlled factors
which include;
The licensing between the export company and government that restricts operation of port
between 18th May to 15th September.
Maintenance days that cover for almost 20 days in total per year. Including planned and un-
planned maintenance of machinery.
Rail network capacity
Trains have a capacity of 2,400 tonnes and the rail network has 2 trains. But with the
construction of the new rail system the maximum capacity would be limited to one train at a time
which leaves it at 2,400 tonnes. Even though they are being loaded at different coal mines.
Shipping capacity
percentage of ships that take more than 30 hours to load;
= 3× 100
30 = 10%
so, if 10 % takes more than 30 hours so 90 % would take;

PROBLEM SOLVING IN ENGINEERING 8
= 90 ×30
10 = 270 hours.
The total time would be 300 hours and with each ship taking 3 days to be onloaded and
offloaded, this puts the shipping capacity at;
300× 1200
72 =5000 tonnes
Coal stockpile capacity
The total number of operating days is 100 days. Two trains can operate in day making it
4,800 tonnes. A ships capacity would take 12,000 tonnes, which means the trains would have to
operate for 2.5 days to fill the first ship for export. The first ship would be packed on the third
day and leave for the second ship to arrive. With a delay of a day in between due to the
movement of the ships, the stockpile would be 6,000 tonnes.
In conclusion, we can see that the exports can be delayed a bit because of the two trains
that operate one at a time. Meaning that the first export would be done on the second day of
operation and with the ship capacity exceeding the trains capacity, there will always be a delay
which is why it is vital to create a second port and rail system that would increase the train
capacity whilst increasing the stock pile which over time can increase the efficiency of the ships
going through the ports during days of operation.
Summary of the problem statement
The information collected above is then used accordingly to help summarize the problem
in details without leaving behind trails of emptiness to meet client demands.
For the benefit of the summary a lot of concentration is to be given majorly to the
assumptions and constraints as seen on the clients brief. The whole problem can then be seen as

PROBLEM SOLVING IN ENGINEERING 9
one that is quite solvable once the relevant problem-solving procedure and specification is
followed from the first to the last without skipping a step.
Knowledge on geography should also be one of the major concerns in solving the
problems on the clients brief because it is quite obvious that the whole project is to be built on
land and this must be an eye opener during problem solving as it is the one holding ninety
percent of the project as drawn in the plan.
The data collected in each category deserves different type of handling procedure starting
from the first to the last accordingly to help overcome stated constraints not the full matching
percentage but just above the accuracy level (Messler, 2012).
End user demands should also be quite another problem to be briefed out. Once the coal
is transported it will finally get to the end user who needs to give a feedback on delivery and
every other service offered as long as the rail system is used to ferry the goods from port to
destination.
Maintaining good human relation is a factor learnt from the problems that if taken care of
well will also help uplift the project significantly (Edwards, 2011). A further proper assigning of
relevant experts to work on and analyze data collection and take care of assumptions and
constraints in a bid to provide a doubt free environment that will allow for execution of efficient
plans to help solve the problems that lie in the way of the project.
DOCUMENTING QUALITATIVE PROJECT GOALS
The project certainly has several goals majorly the achievements it desires to meet by the
end of it all. These goals in most cases can be termed as the key reasons for building and
launching the whole project. It is from the goals that we clearly draw our reference of work from.

PROBLEM SOLVING IN ENGINEERING
10
It is from here that the contractor will know what to remove on the project plan or what to add
onto I to make it stand out as a full image. The goals are certainly the backbone of a fully
planned and drawn project.
Major goals of this project might be; High supply demand target to its destined destinations in time thus a time saving move. Large output of service in the loading sector and movement to destination. Large profit margins that are based on proper input efforts. Efficient service provision than other competitive firms similar to it. High reputation from clients during operation based on time to time service delivery to
the clients and even to the community (Energy Information Administration (U.S.),
Government Publications Office, 2016). Little input and higher output to help minimize on costs used and injected into the
transporting and loading sector. High accuracy level from its workers and deliverance to its clients starting from good
payments and affordable service and transportation prices. Durability of system developed that would make the system last long enough to continue
providing what it is designated for. Authenticity in execution of its orders to meet deadlines of supply. Higher acknowledgement rates from bordering communities and other reputable
companies for good and efficient service offered by the built system across the entire
region far and beyond. High product and service conversion ratio.

PROBLEM SOLVING IN ENGINEERING
11 Self-proclaimed prowess from the company. Best integration system that will ensure it coordinates with major high-end systems
including complex electrical and mechanical systems for a smooth operation thus
contracting the best companies around it to provide the system service.
IDENTIFY AND DOCUMENT PROJECT OBJECTIVES
Just like any other project, this project has several other objectives apart from the main
one outlined in the beginning of the paper. Drawing from the clients brief, an objective generally
can be defined as a want outside the goals or a want(need) coordinated with the goals of a project
or a plan. Objectives need a proper restudy before being concluded on and drafted in paper.
Objectives are a to do list of tasks to be handled. Objectives are not measurable.
These objectives might vary depending on different fields but in most cases, they are all
the same as most objectives are for the positive, for the better future of any company that is set to
develop a genuine long-lasting project like this one.
.
The qualitative objectives of this project based from its initial based goals are; To be the best coal loading facility across the region. To provide better services on rail transport of coal across the region. To improve on profit margins based on financial allocations to different sectors of the
system. To be the best of the best project developed ever in the designated region. To meet requirements of the legal team for practitioners. To meet customer demands without major disappointments of transport and supply.

PROBLEM SOLVING IN ENGINEERING
12 To promote employment opportunities to several skilled and unskilled people around the
region (International Transport Forum, 2010). To create a competitive environment for innovations and inventions that might help uplift
the economic situation. To help regulate fraudulent cases in compliance with government-based regulations. To encourage more investors to the project to help build more opportunities from it and
create an ecosystem that helps both suppliers and consumers. To provide the best conducive working environments for its current and future workers
that might help create a permanent bond relation. To be a sole prospect of high end quality service To help install another new system that is more or less related to the existing one. To restore a native habitat as initial from the surrounding that Is business friendly.
DOCUMENT PROJECT ASSUMPTIONS
With all the assumptions made in the client brief, a lot can be deduced from them basing our
argument on the fact that they might and are the major shortcomings of an upcoming project and
should be avoided at all costs by providing and working in line with good terms and conditions
that might favor proper development.
The assumptions can be given an identification and documented throughout the projects life
cycle because they are an important aspect of the project especially during risk and disaster
management. If they are failed to analyze then it might affect the project outcome at large.