As a project manager it is imperative to ensure there is a solid plan for projects, whether it is for updating new processes and procedures or even implementing something new for the company.

As a project manager it is imperative to ensure there is a solid plan for projects, whether it is for updating new processes and procedures or even implementing something new for the company. A part of the plan is to effectively use the project life cycle as a guide to stay on track and meet project deadlines. The project life cycle consist of five phases; initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closeout (Barkley, 2014). Additionally, a project charter points out the objectives, any specific goals, the responsibilities of the individuals that may be assisting with the project, those that may be most impacted by the project, and the authorizing level of a project manager leading the assignment. Within this paper, a discussion regarding the Roto Air’s project charter will be demonstrated to explain the transitioning of the latest product to Florida. As a part of that information being discussed; a business case, scope statement, logical sponsors, top level schedule, budget, and safety standards will be presented. 

Business Case for Transitioning to Florida

The transitioning of the Roto Air’s new product, Quick Drop 100 to central Florida shows that it will have an approved budget of $1M. This amount is expensive, however, the end result is expected to save the company on expenses. Other alternative were reviewed to understand what the best benefit was going to be for the company. After careful analysis, it was determined the plant in Central Florida was the best. This alternative provided lower property and utility costs, and is also non-union. Additionally, the support functions such as; human resources, manufacturing engineering, and facility maintenance are already in place in the Florida location. Since Roto Air will not be paying for the startup for support functions and the lower property and utility costs, the company on average should save $250,000 per year. With an on time project completion, after 4 years, the company will have broken even for the initial $1M approved budget.   

Scope Statement

The location change for the Roto Air’s new product, Quick Drop 100 will result in the following:

1. An annual saving to the company in average amount of $250,000.

2. New equipment that must be built with a lead time of 5 months.

3. The creation of a product manual for assembly and specification instructions for training and development.

4. Product manufacturing to begin in six months.

5. Project sponsor assigned to oversee and ensure implementation of all phases of the project. To also be a subject matter expert in the event issues arise after project completion date. 

6. The project will be a stand-alone process to ensure all equipment, phases, training, safety standards are properly documented and communicated by the closeout of the project.

Logical Project Sponsor

Out of the four team members that will be working in Florida for the Quick Drop 100 project, Jackie was selected to be the most logical project sponsor. She has 20 years of experience working with various projects and holds a masters degree in project management with emphasis on organizational leadership. Additionally, she has been an VP of operations for Ford Motor Company. In regards to the remaining team members; Ken, Jose, and Shawn, they each have a total of 10 years of experience of working with various projects, but they have not had any leadership experience, nor do they have their masters degree. 

     Top Level Schedule

The top level schedule is like a road map, identifying what the next steps are and by what time. The top level schedule is also put in place to help differentiate one project from another, in the event there are multiple projects going on simultaneously. Additionally, the top schedule assist in presenting project based performance and serves as a guide to understanding where there may be issues (Colin & Vanhoucke, 2015). Quick Drop 100 has several deliverables, one of which is the allocation of space that has been designated for the product. The deliverable of the new equipment has an expectation build date within 5 months. Additionally, a manual for training and the assembly of products will be completed to ensure the technicians are fully aware of the how and whys of the job functions they will be doing.  

Overall Budget

The overall budget for the transition is $1M and it includes a few variables. Those variables consist of the below items. They are as follows:

1. Custom built equipment.

2. Travel and lodging expenses for employees to go back and forth from Florida to New York.

3. Testing expenses associated with the new equipment for the Quick Drop 100 product.

4. Safety equipment for product production.

Once the overall budget has been released, the project manager will be responsible for ensuring all phases of the project stay within those limit amounts. This includes the above mentioned items that will be payable throughout the course of the product.  

Safety Standard

The safety standards for the Quick Drop 100 project will be eye goggles, steel toe boots, ear protection equipment, and hard hat equipment will be the standards for safety for the technicians. Additionally, equipment notifications near and around the designated work areas will be posted. Also, there will be on the floor guides and phone numbers listed in the event there is an emergency. The technicians will be required to leave all hanging jewelry, food items, and personal paraphernalia in a designated area (work locker). In order for the project to be implemented and successful run smoothly right after completion, a safety management system is required. This system would ensure operations is in a closed area where hazards are controllable (Ivensky, 2016). Additionally, different safety issues would be identified to build safety processes that would prevent any future issues (Ivensky, 2016). 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the project charter identifies some key components that are necessary for the project to meet its timeline and within budget. The budget is the basis for ensuring payments are made for required equipment, the human capital needed for the new project, travel and lodging, testing, and safety gear. The different components listed in the charter, assist upper management in understanding the flow process of the project, where funding will be allocated, as well as timelines on how long different pieces of the project will require. Additionally, by ensuring a safety program is in place, the project can successfully be completed with high performance expectations.

References

Barkley, B. (2014). Modern project management. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education.

Colin, J., & Vanhoucke, M. (2015). A comparison of the performance of various project control methods using earned value management systems. Expert Systems With Applications, (42) 3159-3175.

Ivensky, V. (2016). Safety Expectations Finding a Common Denominator. Professional Safety, 61(7), 38-43.

 

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