PROJECT MANAGEMENT
of Product Design and Custom Capital Equipment Projects
At Solid Design Solutions Australia (Solid Design), Project Management is a primary service provided to our clients. It ensures that projects are organised properly from the beginning of the effort and is crucial to achieving your performance, cost, schedule, risk mitigation and market entry objectives. We have decades of experience managing both product development and custom capital equipment design-to-build projects. Early engagement of an experienced project manager lays the foundation for fully gathering requirements, methodically documenting risks and communicating effectively with all the project stakeholders. Contact us to schedule a call or meeting to discuss the needs of your next project.
OUR PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Solid Design has been managing design engineering projects for over 20 years. During this time we’ve developed the unique skills of managing the development of both new products and custom equipment. These two development areas have some significant similarities as well as some distinct differences. With our experience we’re able to identify the differences and manage the projects appropriately.
Product Design and Development Project Management – Providing project and program management services for the entire process from discovery and concept development through tooling approval and production start-up. Our experienced and PMI certified project managers consult closely with project sponsor(s), project stakeholders, SMEs, engineers and designers to ensure that your project stays on track every step of the way. Our extensive expertise adds value through a strategic allocation and coordination of resources, which increase efficiency and thoroughness to minimize time to market. Early engagement of project management processes is critical to fully document requirements, identify risks and build a plan that drives a proper budgeting and schedule development.
Custom Capital Equipment Project Management – Solid Design has been managing the design, build and commissioning of custom capital equipment for over 20 years. Early engagement is critical for properly managing a Custom Capital Equipment project to ensure the right requirements are documented and then tracing those requirements from the source through verification and validation testing. The right resources need to be secured often through detailed performance contracts with 3rd parties. In addition to performance requirements for the equipment, Factory Acceptance Testing and Systems Testing Requirements need to be established and documented early in the project. Project management of these projects requires the experience that Solid Design brings to the table.
To manage projects, one of our two established processes can be leveraged to structure project activities:
- Stage Gate Process structure, customised for the requirements of the specific product design and development effort or for the design, build and test of custom capital equipment.
- Technology Readiness Level (TRL) structure for products and equipment composed of multiple systems incorporating one or more technologies that need to be matured, that are new or are new to the targeted application.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN
Solid Design leverages decades of experience to tailor a Project Management Plan to the specific needs of the product or equipment, our client, the product market and the desired manufacturing pathway. This is where our expert judgement affords Solid Design a significant advantage over other companies who manage these types of projects. Within a solid Project Management Plan there are many sub plans related to the 10 PMBOK Knowledge Areas (PMI convention). The first sub plans to be created for a new project are described below. Depending on the client’s needs and desires, some of the sub plans may be combined or minimised. A cost/benefit discussion with every client will determine the magnitude of the Project Management effort needed for a particular project. Some projects will require cross functional engineering teams with both internal and subcontracted 3rd party resources located in different countries and involve engagement of stakeholders located in several countries. Other projects will require one or two internal engineering resources with all stakeholders consisting of employees of the client. We’ll work with you to determine what the right amount of project management is for your project.
SCOPE MANAGEMENT PLAN
Setting up the project for success starts with a well-defined scope statement, scope of work (SOW) and the creation of a Scope Management Plan. Building on the Project Charter, the Scope Management Plan is the first plan to be written in the process of developing the overall project management plan for your project. With the scope of your project documented we’ll know what the right level of project management is right for the project.
REQUIREMENTS MANAGEMENT PLAN
Critical to achieving the desired performance of a new product or custom equipment as well as the goals for the project itself, is creating the Requirements Management Plan. This is where your Solid Design Project Manager will document how requirements for the product/equipment and the project will be identified, categorized, communicated, prioritised, verified, validated and tracked through the course of your project. Two of the main tools used by Solid Design to support execution of this plan are the Product Requirements Document (PRD) and the Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM).
RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN
Every project has risks and creating a Risk Management Plan is a critical activity of project management. Solid Design’s Certified Project Management Professionals know from experience that risk identification and mitigation is central to a successful project. From the beginning of your project, we’ll focus on identifying, assessing, eliminating, mitigating risk and planning response to realised risk. To do this, engaging with all stakeholders is crucial.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN
From the beginning of each project, our Project Manager will identify each project stakeholder, meet with the project sponsor and key stakeholders and identify communication needs, methods and frequencies. This information forms the foundation for developing and maintaining the Stakeholder Engagement Plan that is unique to every project.
PROJECTS MANAGED AT SOLID DESIGN
Solid Design’s expertise is in managing the development and execution of new product development and Custom Capital Equipment projects. The projects managed previously range across industrial, commercial, medical, law enforcement products and custom capital equipment for industrial process automation, robotic systems, mining process automation and off road equipment. The majority of the projects we manage consist of cross functional engineering team members, contracted 3rd party resources and multiple stages of verification and validation testing.