What’s Going to Happen on My Project?

The recent presentation, led by industry stalwarts Roberto J. Arbulu and Chet Carlson, conducted a deep dive into the pivotal challenges confronting project management. Arbulu initiated the discourse by shedding light on the prevailing issue of project delays, debunking the misconception that schedules equate to production systems. He emphasized that schedules merely serve as indicators of demand, urging a nuanced analysis of production systems’ capacity to meet that demand. This marked a paradigm shift towards production management, where four key production activities-design, make, transport, and build/commission-became the focal points.
Chet Carlson, in a practical extension, elucidated the application of analytical modeling and discrete event simulation in engineering production systems. Case studies showcased the successful optimization of processes, notably in steel structure installation. Carlson introduced the five levers-product design, production process design, capacity, inventory, and variability-as instrumental in steering project outcomes, distinct from conventional project management approaches.
The presentation concluded by urging professionals to pivot their focus to how work is produced, presenting a roadmap for enhancing predictability and optimizing project outcomes. The speakers advocated a cultural shift, emphasizing technology’s role in revolutionizing project management and the incorporation of new digitalization frameworks. The presentation concluded with a call to rethink conventional thinking and prioritize the production system’s capacity for successful project outcomes.

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It is very important to design project production system for dealing bottlenecks and avoid overruns.