Project Outcome Evaluation - Assignment Example

Unit Title: The Design, Imрlеmеntаtiоn and Еvаluаtiоn of a Рrоjесt Unit Number: 3. Qualification: Pearson Level 4/5 - HNC/HND Engineering. Assignment Title: Evaluation of the Project Assignment No: 3. Date: ------------ Tutor name: ---- Student Name: Contents 1. SUMMARY The purpose of this assignment is project outcome evaluation. The discussions in this report are going to be centered towards how the project relates to the external and internal environments and how they project affects them directly or indirectly. This assignment has been grouped into different tasks with each task handling different descriptions about the process of project evaluation. The tasks are as follows: TASK 1A: Gantt chart and a network diagram outlining the development of the project TASK 1B: Evaluation of the project TASK 1D: Features of Evaluation techniques TASK 2A: Descriptions and Results for tests carried out on the design TASK 2C: Synopsis about the project TASK 2D: Interpretation and analysis of the results TASK 2E: Own work evaluation TASK 3: Recommendations 2. INTRODUCTION Project evaluation is the process of reflecting at the process involved in the project design and figuring out what went wrong, when, where and how to correct the design process. These basically involves finding out if the project is in line with the design specifications and seeing how far the implementation has taken place. Project design specifications are paramount in ensuring that the project follows strictly physical laws and engineering principles to produce a durable, efficient, cheap yet quality product that will serve the need in society and help make work easier. This report uses varies tools like the Gantt chart and network diagrams to come up with a plan for implementation of the project. The Gantt chart helps groups’ tasks with similarities in terms of workability or resource availability together and aids in efficient time management so that the completion of the project is within time as planned. It also avoids redundancy of activities in any project. Any good project should have a good plan and stick to the plan in order to ensure that it delivers on the objective to meet the aims of the designer and the need of the stakeholders (Larson and Gray, 2013). 3. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS TASK 1A a) Network Diagram b) Gantt Chart week starting on 14.4.17 21.4.17 28.04.17 4.5.17 11.5.17 18.05.17 25.05.17 1.6.17 8.6.17 15.06.17 22.06.17 29.06.17 6.7.17 13.07.17 20.07.17 27.07.17 3.8.17 Conceptualization of the Idea     negotiating with the comp   Forming a team   collection of data   Designing the project     Design presentation   Awaiting approval       Patenting application   Patent Acquisition     Appointing team leaders   Carry out a pilot Runs     Testing the first products   Requesting for more funds     Requesting for more materials     Beginning massive production         Documentation   developing a mark. Strategy     Advertisement   Supplying     TASK 1B Project evaluation is an objective step by step assessment of an ongoing project or a project that is complete. The purpose for project evaluation is to determine the level of achievement of the project aims and objectives, efficiency, development effectiveness, impact and sustainability. The evaluation of the project can take into account several evaluation criteria such as: Relevance and Strategic fit The project design addresses the need of existence of a tool to make work easier. By being able to lift components in the workshop for example the lathe chuck head, the project also opens up to change of need where there is a requirement for lifting of other heavier material in the workshop. This project is in line with engineering requirements of offering solution to problems and it is an actual application of the engineering knowledge learnt and offers the practical side of the theories and principles learnt in class to design a component that is able to solve a problem. Project Progress and Effectiveness The project this far is making sufficient progress towards accomplishment of its set objectives. This can be seen by the fact that the basic objective of designing a component that will be able to lift load in the workshop is coming in place. Other achievements in line with the objectives are that the management and planning steps that were set for example keeping of time are in line with what was set at the beginning of the project. The project is a major contributor to making work easy in the workshop and especially in lifting the loads for example the chuck head. This is the major benefit of the project aside from the other benefits of ensuring that students learn the process of project design, implementation, and evaluation and conclusion. So far, these elements are being met by the fact we have prepared a process flow diagram, divided the project into workable portions, and implemented the project. The major restraining factor for the project however would be that the design would not be able to lift much heavy loads than the specified ones. Also, the design is limited to lifting loads that are not much larger in size/height. This limits the use of design in the workshop owing to the fact that there may exist other loads that are bigger in height and require lifting. Future consideration are to be put in place to ensure that future designs consider the fact of existence of larger and heavy loads in the workshop. This would mean that future designs should be able to lift much heavy loads to make it a universally useful machine in the workshop that is it can be able to lift any load in the workshop. Efficiency of resource use Resources have been allocated strategically to achieve results in this project. The various project planning tools for example time and expertise were distributed fairly by use of tools such as Gantt charts to ensure that time was well spent. Some project funds delivery took a long time to be delivered and thus affecting progress of the project. This however is understandable since bureaucracies involved with dissipation of money are understandable. The resources used should also be minimized in future to ensure that fewer resources especially in terms of materials used are employed in the future designs. This will ensure that the production cost is reduced greatly by using ewer and yet quality materials in the production of even better equipment. Effectiveness of Management Arrangements Management capacities for the project were adequate in my view. Technical and administrative support from the school was also helpful and sufficient owing to the fact that they were able to facilitate with technical support where need there was need to handle some aspects of the project for example material cutting and some other fabrication exercises. The school also provided the resources and the environment that as conducive for the handling of the project. By these I mean that the material used in the project was provided by the school, the time spent on the project, the technical support and the workshop were also very resourceful to this project and all these is owed to the school administration. Impact Orientation and Sustainability Observed changes in the workshop in terms of the overwhelming of a tool to aid in the lifting of the chuck heads especially can be casual linked to the project. The project has contributed to this course of overwhelming the technicians and the students and any other person working in the workshop the burden of lifting heavy loads like the chuck heads while doing operations on the lathe machine. Other loads can also be lifted by use of this equipment. This could be termed as the realistic and short term goals that the project has been able to achieve. The long-term goals would be that the project is an opening door for many other designs that would be better than this one. Designs that would be automated and with sensors for example, also designs that can be able to lift heavier loads and handle loads that are much greater in height. This project has the potentiality of use at greater levels and not just in the workshops here at school. Its use is unlimited and can be employed elsewhere in the lifting of loads to make work easier. TASK 1D Benefits/Features of Evaluation Techniques Relevance and Strategic fit The main questions addressed here are if the project addresses the relevant need and work deficit and if it fits and or is in alignment with the other activities in the surrounding. This means that a needs analysis should have been carried out at the beginning of the project. Benefits of this approach are for example: 1. Helps link the project to the society and offers the society a solution for a need present in their lives. 2. Shows the project link to external factors for example the aim and strategy of the government. It explains the aid of the project in meeting the objectives of the local administration for example. Project Progress and Effectiveness This is an evaluation criteria dealing with how the project has done so far in terms of the progress of activities the project is involved in. the criteria also addresses some questions. This evaluation criteria stands to answer questions like: 1. Is the project making enough effort towards achieving it’s set goals: this will help the people involved with the project to adjust accordingly to be in line with the set objectives. 2. If the outputs of the project are satisfactory so far?-this will also help the project adjust accordingly depending on whether the objectives are being met or are underway. 3. If the project output has been successful and the benefits to the society and stakeholders- the viability of the project depends on whether it is answering a need in the society. People around will appreciate a project is it is able to solve a problem especially. Impact Orientation and Sustainability This is a discussion of the impact the project has had on the parties concerned. It discusses the observable changes both the short-term and long-term benefits of the project are discussed here and how the project can better improve on its deliverables is also analyzed. The benefits in this section are also linked with national interest in the field of engineering training and application at both national and international level and analysis is given if indeed the project is able to show a case a case of application of engineering knowledge being taught and how its utilization has been carried out to answer problems in society. TASK 2A Load test Load (kg) Comment 75 Lifted with ease 150 Lifted with a little strain 200 Maximum load 205 Cable Snapped It can be concluded from the results that the design is capable of lifting approximately 200 kg of load due to the fact that the rope snapped at about 204.4 kg of load. TASK 2B Logbook Stages of the Project Tasks Set Day for Accomplishment Actual date for accomplishment Date Submitted Conceptualization of the Idea 7/04/2017 7/04/2017 7/04/2017 Establish a data collection plan 10/04/2017 10/04/2017 10/04/2017 Collection of data 11/05/2017 14/05/2017 14/05/2017 Project design 20/05/2017 20/05/2017 20/04/2017 Design presentation 24/05/2017 24/05/2017 24/04/2017 Awaiting approval 05/06/2017 08/06/2017 13/06/2017 Patenting 29/06/2017 29/06/2017 29/06/2017 Patent presentation 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 Carry out a pilot run 02/07/2017 02/07/2017 02/07/2017 Testing the first products 09/07/2017 11/07/2017 11/07/2017 Requesting for more resources 18/07/2017 18/07/2017 18/07/2017 Requesting for more materials 25/07/2017 25/07/2017 25/07/2017 Massive production 01/08/2017 01/08/2017 01/08/2017 Documentation 01/08/2017 01/08/2017 01/08/2017 Forming a marketing team 02/08/2017 02/08/2017 02/08/2017 Strategy development 01/08/2017 01/08/2017 01/08/2017 Doing adverts 13/11/2017 13/11/2017 13/11/2017 TASK 2C Synopsis Title: A Mechanism for Lifting Loads I the Workshop The design project is centered towards meeting the need of a lifting mechanism in the workshops at school. This is especially the case with head chucks and other heavy loads under 200 kg. The applications of the project are not limited in the workshop only but are diverse to other engineering activities even in the field. The design was conceptualized in the school’s workshop environment after seeing the difficulty the technicians and other students faced especially when carrying out maintenance activities on the lathe for example. The design uses cheap, environment friendly and easily available materials in the formulation of a mechanism for lifting objects. The basic components include: a winch, connecting bars, lever, a simple motor and a hydraulic system for movements, and wheels with locks for mobility. Some of the design parameters include: making the base stable by extending it two meters under the bed of component to be lifted, putting locks on the wheels to ensure no movement during operation and ensuring height adjustment using the hydraulic arm. Future recommendations for this project include: improvement to accommodate bigger loads in terms of weight and height. Nevertheless, the project implementation was a success as the project achieved the basic purpose of its formulation. TASK 2D Project Analysis TASK 2E Safety: the design has considered safety factors for example the chance of the load falling on the operator during the operation of the mechanism and such has been covered by the fact that the operator stands behind the lift therefore minimal direct contact. Also there cable on the winch will slip if the load exceeds the maximum limit. Manufacturing process and cost of production: the manufacturing process and production cost could be a bit tedious depending on the places, where there exist enough resources; this process is very easy and vice versa. Ease to use and reliability: the design is made from simple material but of quality and the process of putting it into application is very easy. Considering some of these Product design specifications, it is clear that the design has met most of the design considerations for a mechanism of such a kind. The design has utilized simple material in its quest to meet the need of formulating a lifting component for the workshop. However much could be still be done especially in the areas of trying to automate the system and increasing the load capacity for this mechanism. The system can also utilize other lifting, mechanism for example a winch with a base in place of a hook so that solid material with broad shapes can be lifted w ease instead of using ropes. TASK 3 4. DISCUSSION As mentioned earlier, the descriptions in this report are geared towards ensuring that the project is well evaluated and the standings as far as time of implementation of the different tasks of the project is clearly outlined. Use of Gantt chart and network diagrams as a tool for project management is very helpful because it aids in ensuring that time for the project utilized and that lapses in the project are avoided. Another very important tool for this function is the logbook which keeps record of the activities of the project as they occur. The evaluation techniques are used to discuss the process of project implementation and show the progress of the project. The project so far is in line with the objectives set at the conceptualization stage. The various tools used to come to this conclusion including the evaluation matrix prove that the project in line with Product Design Specifications. The results from the test carried out on the design show that it is able to lift a load of up to 200kg. These tests were conducted using a series of loads up to the point of yield (Ullman, 2002). Recommendations Significance of the project a) To ease the burden of manually lifting loads in the workshop b) Application of knowledge learnt in class including engineering principles c) Motivate the emergency of design aimed at meeting engineering problems Application of project results a) To improve on the future material selection for such a project b) To find out more areas where the component could be used to solve the problem of lifting objects Implications and Limitations a) The design could not lift weights exceeding 200kg b) The design is limited to lifting object its maximum height of extension Improvements In future, improvements could be made to ensure that a) The design is automated b) The height the design can elongate to is increased to accommodate larger components c) The maximum load weight is increased by use of a larger motor for example and stronger larger bars d) The mode of lifting is improved/. Can be modified to lift all shapes of components in the workshop or at least most of the components. CONCLUSION The project basically entails design of a project to lift components in the workshop up to the range of 200kg. The project evaluation has proven that the project is in line with the design specifications and time plan. References Larson, E.W. and Gray, C., 2013. Project Management: The Managerial Process with MS Project. McGraw-Hill. Ullman, D.G., 2002. The mechanical design process. McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math. Read More