Fundamentals of Project Management: Automation Factory Project Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of an automation factory project, focusing on the application of project management fundamentals. It begins with an executive summary and an introduction to key project management components. The report delves into project definition, emphasizing the importance of the iron triangle parameters (scope, time, and cost) in setting project objectives and the creation of a risk register. Planning aspects are covered, including network diagrams and Gantt charts. The report also addresses managing project progress and spending through earned value analysis. Furthermore, the report includes recommendations for project options and a reflection on the challenges faced and characteristics of a good project manager. Overall, the report provides a practical application of project management concepts within the context of an automation factory project.

Fundamentals of project
management
1

Executive summary
In this report it has been described about a project of automation factory. Here, it is
explained about importance of iron traingular parameters in setting project objective. Moreover,
the risk that can occur within project is mentioned. Along with it, the network diagram and
ghantt chart and project has been included in it. However, earned value analysis and managing
overall project progress is discussed in report. At last certain recommendations are given of
several options to be used in project. Furthermore, reflection is written to find out challenges
faced and characteristics of good project manager.
2

3

INTRODUCTION
In project management, there are various significant components which is required to be
estimated. It helps in tracking progress of project tasks so that it is completed on time. Also, the
project manager is required to monitor and control all activities. Usually, in large and complex
projects it is necessary to break down into several stages. This is because it helps in doing
effective planning about organising activities and allocating resources. Moreover, fundamentals
of project management are risks, cost, parameters, etc. which enable in its completion.
Furthermore, developing a project schedule gives detailed info about start and end date of each
stage. With that the project manager is able to find out duration of each activity and do further
planning. Alongside, time and cost are major factors that can impact on overall progress. S
In this report it will be described about an automation factory project. Also, it will be
explained of importance of iron triangular parameters in project objectives. Besides that, risk
register and planning and cost of AF PLC project is mentioned.
PART A
1. Project definition
a). importance of iron triangular parameters in setting overall project aim
In every project it is required by project manager to set proper and specific goals and
objectives. This is because it gives insight to manager about why project is undertaken and what
are their overall goals (Brockhoff, 2020). A project management can be termed out as the
document that assist to define each phase of the project. Therefore, there are number of the
components that is inclusive of the activities such as initiating, planning, executing, monitoring
and controlling, and closing Besides that, setting of goals provide a direction to project manager
and team to do planning (Rew, Cauvin and Johnson, 2020.). The iron triangle is a constraint
factors which needs to be included during planning of any project. They are scope, time and cost.
It state that making changes in any one of them will also need to change another one. It is done
to balance the effect of one constraint on another. Thus, interrelationship between all these three
is known as triangular parameter. The project manage gets insight about what are tradeoffs in
project and how it will impact on other aspect.
It has been analyzed that Success in project management has been traditionally associated with
the ability of the constraint parameters of projects in scope, time, cost, and quality called iron
triangle. This triangle when used in making the project enhances the quality of project and can
4

also constrain by project budget. It has been analyzed that this triangle is based on tree domains
that includes time, scope and cost. In this aspect cost means that preparing the overall budget for
the project to be a success. It can assist managers in knowing about the areas where expenses
will be incurred. This really important so that project managers can be involved in arranging the
funds that can be required for successful completion of project. This will also assist them in
recording the activities related to cost, so that project managers will be able to know about the
areas where expenses has been made. They can try to cover the expenses which have been made.
The time of domain of triangle assists in knowing about the time which will be required so that
project can be completed without any delay. This will help project managers in going success as
there will be no delay in completion of project. If the project is completed without any delay, this
will also help the project managers in attracting potential investors so that they can invest in their
project. It will help them in growing and achieving the objectives. Timely completion of project
can assist project managers in enhancing the effectiveness of project. Scope of project is linked
with the success criteria. It means how much are there chances that success can be garb by the
project managers because of the project that has been implemented or launched by them. If scope
of the project is not known than it cannot be completed on time.
Cost – it is a financial parameter which describe the overall cost of project. Usually, it is known
as budget. It consists of many elements such as fixed, variable cost, etc. along with resources
required (Larsson and Larsson, 2020). The preparing of budget helps in creating a baseline of
cost. The manager gets to known about how to control cost. Thus, any fluctuation in cost result
in impacting on time and scope. Thus, cost of each activity needs to be recorded so that the
things can be done in the better and efficient manner. With hel0p of estimating the cost the
overall things can be undertake in the better manner.
Time- in this time required to completed entire project is estimated. For that a schedule is
prepared. Basically, a WBS is used for breaking project into activities. With help of it, project
manager is able to collaborate all tasks and ensure that project is on track (Burns and Ziegler,
2020). Time plays the crucial role as this aids to undertake the task in effective manner. With
help of giving the proper deadline to each task the things can be accomplished and proper results
can be achieved.
Scope – it consists of task required in completion of project goals and objectives. If activities are
not completed on time, then it can result in increase in cost. Thus, if scope is not controlled then
5

project cannot be completed on time. With help of it, project manager is able to assign and
prioritize tasks. Besides that, stakeholder demand can change so it directly effects on scope.
Hence, project manager has to ensure that their expectations are fulfilled. Through it, time and
quality of project can be controlled.
b) Risk register
It is a document which is made to identify and regulate risk in project. it is a tool in risk
and project management (Naeni and Salehipour 2020). Henceforth, it includes all info about risk,
that is its nature, level, who is responsible and what are the mitigation measures (Mac, Donald
and Baker, 2020). Therefore, this can be stated that The risk register can lead towards the
directly to risk handling, such as risk mitigation. It is a tool which enable in providing
information about nature of risk, its level of impact, mitigation measures etc. similarly. The risk
register is been maintained by the project managers so that they can identify potential risk that
can affect the success rate of project. It has also been analyzed that this aspect will help project
managers in taking appropriate measurement so that risk can be controlled. In this project as well
a risk register is developed which is as follows :
Risk Likelihood Impact Mitigation
measures
Risk factor
1= low
5 = high
Increase in cost 2 3 Here, budget is
prepared
3
Lack of resources 3 3 In this proper
monitoring of
resources will be
done
4
Delay in project 2 3 The schedule will
be prepared to
ensure activities
start and end on
5
6

time.
Technical failure
in installation
3 4 Proper testing
will be done
2
Damage of
automation
equipment
2 3 In this equipment
safety will be
ensured during
transportation.
1
Software failure 4 5 The software will
be checked and
tested properly.
3
Issue in product
line
3 4 Product line will
be tested and
maintained
through software
4
Insufficient labor 2 3 More labor will
be hired
immediately.
2
Ineffective
training to TTF
engineer
2 3 Training plan will
be developed and
expert help in
taken.
5
Failure in product
production
4 5 Production
process will be
checked and
tested.
5
7

2. Planning and cost
a) Network diagram
A network diagram is a systematic presentation of overall project tasks and activities. It
represents flow of task and how each one is related to one another (Mac, Donald and Baker,
2020). A network diagram can be termed out as the graphical representation of the project and
shows inter relation within activities which are being carried out in the project. The Boxes in it
shows its description and the arrow defines relationship among it. Network diagram in project
management can be known as systematic ways of presenting the activities that can be used in
completion of any project. It can be made by using arrows and boxes so that inter-relationship
between each activity can be shown perfectly. It assists in describing the activities.
b) Ghantt chart
A Gantt Chart can be termed out as the timeline that can be used project management tool
and this helps to illustrate that how the project will run to accomplish the desired result (Mac,
8

Donald and Baker, 2020). Henceforth, this is very helpful as this assist to view individual tasks,
their durations and the sequencing of these tasks. Therefore, this can be stated that this defines
the view in which the overall timeline of the project and the expected completion date noted.
Henceforth, Gantt chart outlined in following context as-:
Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
Project initiation 1 wk Mon 7/8/19 Fri 7/12/19
Factory design 3 wks Mon 7/15/19 Fri 8/2/19 1
Outline of design of
equipment automation 2 wks Mon 7/15/19 Fri 7/26/19 1
Commission outline design
inverter product 1 wk Mon 7/15/19 Fri 7/19/19 1
Complete design of factory 8 wks Mon 8/5/19 Fri 9/27/19 2
Complete design of
automation equipment 8 wks Mon 7/29/19 Fri 9/20/19 3,4
Development of software 10 wks Mon 9/23/19 Fri 11/29/19 6
Production of equipment 10 wks Mon 9/23/19 Fri 11/29/19 6
Production of factory units 9 wks Mon 9/30/19 Fri 11/29/19 5,6
Construction of site in
Germany 8 wks Mon 12/2/19 Fri 1/24/20 9
test automation equipment 6 wks Mon 12/2/19 Fri 1/10/20 7,8
Transportation of equipment 4 wks Mon 1/13/20 Fri 2/7/20 11
Installing automation 6 wks Mon 2/10/20 Fri 3/20/20 9,12
install software for
automation equipment 4 wks Mon 3/23/20 Fri 4/17/20 13
install software for inverter
product line 5 wks Mon 4/20/20 Fri 5/22/20 7,14
testing of product line 6 wks Mon 5/25/20 Fri 7/3/20 14,15
9

Train TTF engineer 6 wks Mon 7/6/20 Fri 8/14/20 16
Completion of project 0 wks Mon 8/17/20 Mon 8/17/20 17
10

c)
Expenses
Per
hour
Electrician 69 1656000
Technician 39 936000
2 Assistant
Project
Manager
and 2
Project
Planner 5500 5500
2
Commercial
Manager 2750*2 5000
Total 2602500
3. Managing progress and spending
a)
11

Task Planned Actual
PI 1 1
A 3 3
B 2 2
C 1 1
D 8 6
E 8 8
F 10 3
G 10 4
H 9 4
b)
Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
Project initiation 1 wk Mon 7/8/19 Fri 7/12/19
Factory design 3 wks Mon 7/15/19 Fri 8/2/19 1
Outline of design of
equipment automation 2 wks Mon 7/15/19 Fri 7/26/19 1
Commission outline design
inverter product 1 wk Mon 7/15/19 Fri 7/19/19 1
Complete design of factory 6 wks Mon 8/5/19 Fri 9/13/19 2
Complete design of
automation equipment 8 wks Mon 7/29/19 Fri 9/20/19 3,4
Development of software 3 wks Mon 9/23/19 Fri 10/11/19 6
Production of equipment 4 wks Mon 9/23/19 Fri 10/18/19 6
Production of factory units 5 wks Mon 9/23/19 Fri 10/25/19 5,6
Construction of site in 8 wks Mon 10/28/19 Fri 12/20/19 9
12