We started a projected schedule towards the end of September of 2017.  The objective is to build a rolling chassis, and steering Ultra4 race car by the middle of June 2018.  The team compiled a list of everything they thought that would be necessary to build a buggy.  First the team picked out key categories of the build, most of which were then sub-divided further; for Example: the engine has its own category, with subcategories of rebuilding, tuning, and ordering parts.  Next the team decided how long they thought it would take to complete each section of the build.  We estimated lead and manufacturing times by referencing similar parts and situations that gave more accurate estimates.

The team started the schedule on a whiteboard and it progressed from there.  There have been a few amendments to the schedule including entering the projected times into Microsoft Project, and an update to the schedule for each term.

Estimating material and machinery allocation times has been a learning curve.  The necessary machines have all been attained by the start of each project.  Items such as vertical drills, chop saws, drills, grinders, and notchers have all been gathered beforehand.  The team has been diligent in keeping ahead on what they may need. However, it is the small everyday items that were not as obvious to pre-purchase, such as the proper PPE, or something as simple as kerosene for the shop heater.  These items were bought on the spot as needed.  The metal for the shop was purchased at a discount from a local metal supplier.  All of the metal for the project was purchased and bought at the same time.  KC also purchased extra tube in foresight of mistakes.  Even with proper planning we found that we may still need a few pieces of metal.

To manage the team members, they were all assigned according to skill level to different subsections of the buggy build.  It was difficult to manage people’s time because there have been multiple terms of classes, and schedules were constantly changing.  The team members worked independently conducting research on the subsections.  A lot of the physical build need KC or James Wray’s attendance because their skills were the most proficient with the tube-notcher and welding.  They have also had previous experience in fabrication.

 

It will be crucial to culminate the skills of the different team members to complete the project in the necessary time and budget.  There is an understanding that the time and cost are major factors in the project management triangle.  The only thing we can change is the scope.  If necessary we can scale back the scope in hopes to contribute a project that meets the requirements and gives us skills in the engineering environment.

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Note: Link to Gantt Chart in Microsoft Project Format

Task Mode	Task Name	Duration	Start	Finish	Predecessors	Baseline1 Estimated Start	Baseline Estimated Finish	Baseline Estimated Duration
Auto Scheduled	Ultra4 4800	132 days?	Thu 10/5/17	Fri 4/6/18		Wed 11/1/17	Mon 4/9/18	114 days
Auto Scheduled	Frame Bench	94 days?	Wed 11/1/17	Mon 3/12/18		Wed 11/1/17	Wed 1/31/18	66 days
Auto Scheduled	Design/Size	10 days	Wed 11/1/17	Tue 11/14/17		Wed 11/1/17	Mon 11/6/17	4 days
Auto Scheduled	Jigs	3 days	Sat 1/27/18	Wed 1/31/18		Sat 1/27/18	Wed 1/31/18	3 days
Auto Scheduled	Jig Round 2	1 day?	Mon 3/12/18	Mon 3/12/18		NA	NA	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Get Material	2 days	Thu 11/16/17	Fri 11/17/17	6	Thu 12/21/17	Fri 12/22/17	2 days
Auto Scheduled	Build	7 days	Fri 12/1/17	Mon 12/11/17	9	Wed 11/22/17	Thu 11/30/17	7 days
Auto Scheduled	Chassis	96 days?	Tue 10/31/17	Tue 3/13/18	5	Thu 11/30/17	Thu 2/1/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Wheel Base	2 days	Tue 10/31/17	Wed 11/1/17		Thu 11/30/17	Fri 12/1/17	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Seats	1 day	Thu 11/30/17	Thu 11/30/17		Thu 11/30/17	Thu 11/30/17	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Maintenance	2 days	Thu 11/30/17	Fri 12/1/17		Thu 11/30/17	Fri 12/1/17	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Model	1 day	Thu 12/14/17	Thu 12/14/17		Thu 11/30/17	Wed 12/6/17	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Order Tube	2 days	Mon 2/5/18	Tue 2/6/18		Sat 12/9/17	Tue 12/12/17	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Bend	1 day	Tue 2/6/18	Tue 3/13/18	16	Wed 12/13/17	Tue 12/19/17	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Engine/Trans. Mounts	2 days	Sat 12/23/17	Tue 3/13/18	20	Sat 12/23/17	Thu 2/1/18	0 days
Manually Scheduled	Notch	1 day?	Mon 2/5/18	Mon 2/5/18	17	Thu 12/21/17	Thu 12/21/17	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Weld	1 day?	Thu 12/21/17	Mon 2/5/18		Thu 12/21/17	Thu 12/21/17	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Engine/Transmission	110 days	Thu 10/5/17	Wed 3/7/18		Wed 11/1/17	Fri 3/2/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Teardown/Inspect	1 day	Thu 10/5/17	Thu 10/5/17		Wed 11/1/17	Wed 11/1/17	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Rebuild	2 days	Thu 11/16/17	Fri 11/17/17	25	Thu 11/16/17	Fri 11/17/17	0 days
Auto Scheduled	CNC Port and Polish	2 wks	Thu 2/22/18	Wed 3/7/18		NA	NA	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Order Parts	10 days	Thu 11/30/17	Wed 12/13/17	22	Thu 11/2/17	Wed 11/15/17	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Fix Trans Leak	1 day	Sat 11/18/17	Mon 11/20/17	23	Sat 11/18/17	Mon 11/20/17	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Torque Converter	1 day	Tue 11/21/17	Tue 11/21/17	26	Tue 11/21/17	Tue 11/21/17	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Installation	2 days	Thu 3/1/18	Fri 3/2/18		Thu 3/1/18	Fri 3/2/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Brakes	58 days	Sat 12/23/17	Wed 3/14/18	11	Sat 12/23/17	Fri 1/5/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Pull Drums	1 day	Sat 12/23/17	Mon 12/25/17		Sat 12/23/17	Mon 12/25/17	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Disk Conversion	2 days	Wed 12/27/17	Thu 12/28/17		Wed 12/27/17	Thu 12/28/17	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Design	2 days	Thu 3/1/18	Wed 3/14/18		Sun 12/24/17	Mon 12/25/17	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Order	1 day	Fri 12/29/17	Fri 12/29/17	32	Fri 12/29/17	Fri 12/29/17	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Mount	1 day	Mon 1/1/18	Mon 1/1/18	33	Mon 1/1/18	Mon 1/1/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Plum	1 day	Tue 1/2/18	Tue 1/2/18	34	Tue 1/2/18	Tue 1/2/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Parking Brake	1 day	Thu 1/4/18	Thu 1/4/18	35	Thu 1/4/18	Thu 1/4/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Manual	1 day	Fri 1/5/18	Fri 1/5/18	36	Fri 1/5/18	Fri 1/5/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Cooling	10 days	Fri 3/2/18	Thu 3/15/18		Fri 3/2/18	Thu 3/15/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Design	2 days	Fri 3/2/18	Mon 3/5/18		Fri 3/2/18	Mon 3/5/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Fans	2 days	Fri 3/9/18	Mon 3/12/18		Fri 3/9/18	Mon 3/12/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Order Parts	2 days	Tue 3/6/18	Wed 3/7/18	39	Tue 3/6/18	Wed 3/7/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Plum	2 days	Tue 3/13/18	Wed 3/14/18		Tue 3/13/18	Wed 3/14/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Torque Converter Stall Speed	1 day	Thu 3/15/18	Thu 3/15/18		Thu 3/15/18	Thu 3/15/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Axles	23 days	Tue 2/6/18	Thu 3/8/18	53	Thu 2/1/18	Tue 2/13/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Design Trusses	2 days	Wed 3/7/18	Thu 3/8/18		Thu 2/1/18	Fri 2/2/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Clean	3 days	Thu 3/1/18	Mon 3/5/18		Sat 2/3/18	Mon 2/5/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Re-Gear (end)	1 day	Tue 2/6/18	Tue 2/6/18		Tue 2/6/18	Tue 2/6/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Re-Build (end)	1 day	Wed 2/7/18	Wed 2/7/18		Wed 2/7/18	Wed 2/7/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Long Adapter (end)	1 day	Thu 2/8/18	Thu 2/8/18		Thu 2/8/18	Thu 2/8/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Weld	1 day	Tue 2/13/18	Tue 2/13/18	52	Tue 2/13/18	Tue 2/13/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Brackets	1 day	Fri 2/9/18	Fri 2/9/18		Fri 2/9/18	Fri 2/9/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Fab Truss	1 day	Sat 2/10/18	Mon 2/12/18		Sat 2/10/18	Mon 2/12/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Suspension	12 days	Wed 2/14/18	Thu 3/1/18	11	Wed 2/14/18	Thu 3/1/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Design	5 days	Wed 2/14/18	Tue 2/20/18		Wed 2/14/18	Tue 2/20/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Trailing Arm Design	3 days	Wed 2/21/18	Fri 2/23/18		Wed 2/21/18	Fri 2/23/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Trailing Arm Build	2 days	Sat 2/24/18	Tue 2/27/18		Sat 2/24/18	Tue 2/27/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Front Arm Design	2 days	Wed 2/28/18	Thu 3/1/18		Wed 2/28/18	Thu 3/1/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Wiring	87 days	Thu 11/30/17	Fri 3/30/18	44	Wed 3/14/18	Fri 3/30/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Engine Harness Research	7 days	Thu 11/30/17	Fri 3/16/18		Wed 3/14/18	Thu 3/22/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Gauges	1 day	Fri 3/23/18	Fri 3/23/18		Fri 3/23/18	Fri 3/23/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Off-Road Lights	1 day	Sat 3/24/18	Mon 3/26/18		Sat 3/24/18	Mon 3/26/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Winch	1 day	Tue 3/27/18	Tue 3/27/18	61	Tue 3/27/18	Tue 3/27/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Install	1 day	Wed 3/28/18	Wed 3/28/18	62	Wed 3/28/18	Wed 3/28/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Cooling Fans	1 day	Thu 3/29/18	Thu 3/29/18	63	Thu 3/29/18	Thu 3/29/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Fuel pumps	1 day	Fri 3/30/18	Fri 3/30/18	64	Fri 3/30/18	Fri 3/30/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Fuel System	63 days	Wed 1/10/18	Fri 4/6/18	58	Sun 4/1/18	Mon 4/9/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Design	2 days	Wed 1/10/18	Mon 4/2/18		Sun 4/1/18	Tue 4/3/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Order	1 day	Wed 4/4/18	Wed 4/4/18	67	Wed 4/4/18	Wed 4/4/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Plum	2 days	Thu 4/5/18	Fri 4/6/18	68	Thu 4/5/18	Fri 4/6/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Cell	1 day	Fri 3/9/18	Fri 3/9/18		Sat 4/7/18	Mon 4/9/18	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Steering	98 days?	Wed 11/1/17	Fri 3/16/18		NA	NA	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Design	10 days?	Mon 3/5/18	Fri 3/16/18		NA	NA	0 days
Auto Scheduled	Order Parts	1 day?	Wed 11/1/17	Wed 11/1/17		NA	NA	0 days