314,877 research outputs found

    Software project management with GAs

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    Information Sciences, 177 (11), 2007, pp.2380-2401.A Project Scheduling Problem consists in deciding who does what during the software project lifetime. This is a capital issue in the practice of software engineering, since the total budget and human resources involved must be managed optimally in order to end in a successful project. In short, companies are principally concerned with reducing the duration and cost of projects, and these two goals are in conflict with each other. In this work we tackle the problem by using genetic algorithms (GAs) to solve many different software project scenarios. Thanks to our newly developed instance generator we can perform structured studies on the influence the most important problem attributes have on the solutions. Our conclusions show that GAs are quite flexible and accurate for this application, and an important tool for automatic project management.Ministry of Science and Technology (MCYT) and Regional Development European Found (FEDER) under contract TIN2005-08818-C04-01 (the OPLINK project). Francisco Chicano was supported by a Grant (BOJA 68/2003) from the Junta de Andalucía (Spain)

    An intelligent portfolio management approach to gas storage field deliverability maintenance and enhancement

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    The main goal of this thesis is to modify and apply the state-of-the-art intelligent, optimum portfolio management to the gas storage field in order to optimize the return on investment associated with well remedial operations. It continues the development of a methodology for candidate selection and stimulation design and optimization using Artificial Intelligence techniques. The project used the data of an actual gas storage field to test the results.;The project data include Well-bore, Completion, Perforation, Stimulation, Well-test and Reservoir Data. The software developed in parallel with this selection methodology includes an easy to use interface that allows the user to edit the data for a gas storage field, perform well-test analysis and use neural networks in association with Genetic optimization tool. The software ranks the well according to maximum change in skin value for a well and thus a decision to re-stimulate the well or not is made accordingly

    An Integration of Project Management Body of Knowledge and Project Management Information System to Improve On-time Deliverable of Liquefied Natural Gas Station Construction Projects

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    The objective of this study is to improve the liquefied natural gas station construction project to achieve on-time delivery. Diverse tools and techniques are integrated to make various interrelated activities in the project occur effectively as planned with less cost, suggested by the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) guideline and the Project Management Information System (PMIS). To implement the PMIS along with the PMBOK, the project management software and Internet of Things (IoT) are utilized for real-time long-distance monitoring and control of the project. The proposed approach is implemented at a real demonstration project. The results reveal that the proposed approach is quite effective, which help increase the number of projects completed on schedule from 75% in the last year to 100% this year. Moreover, the implementation of the PMIS also results in substantial reductions in the employment allowance for routine site inspections and the travel expense for round-trip vehicles travelling from the company to the site

    Utilising a systematic knowledge management based system to optimise project management operations in oil and gas organisations

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    Purpose: This research examined the efficacy of knowledge management based systems and best practices that could be used to address operational issues in the oil and gas sector. Design/methodology/approach: Given little was known empirically about the strategies and practices which contribute to improved performance, innovation and continuous improvement in the oil and gas sector qualitative method was used. Semi-structured interviews were used to derive senior managers’ constructs of project delivery efficiency and knowledge management based systems. The interviews were analysed through the use of a qualitative analysis software package NUDIST NVivoTM. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Validity and reliability were achieved by first assessing the plausibility in terms of already existing knowledge on some of the operational issues raised by participants. Findings: These were synthesised into a framework capturing seven-well defined stages. All these steps emerged as being related; they are comprised of independent variables. These steps were found to comprise of knowledge management technology approaches, knowledge management people approaches, knowledge management strategies and value enhancing practices. Research limitations/implications: Although the findings are pertinent to oil and gas organisations, it will be important to conduct follow-up research validating the potential for using the results of this study to establish frameworks for knowledge and information management in different organisations and contexts. This will provide not only data about the validity of the framework in generic terms but will also generate additional data on the application of knowledge management strategy. Practical implications: As shown in this study, successful knowledge management based systems requires the aligning of business strategy, technology for knowledge management, project management operations with an enterprise-knowledge sharing culture. Such sharing requires managing the behaviour of project personnel such that knowledge transfer becomes part of the organisation’s norm. Social implications: The implementation of knowledge management based systems requires deliberate planning and action to create the conditions for success and put in place the strategy, leadership, goals, process, skills, systems, issue resolution, and structure to direct and exploit the dynamic nature of project work. The strategies proposed in this research cannot be expected to resolve all knowledge management issues in the oil and gas sector. However, their use defines an approach that is superior to the traditional approaches typically adopted and consequently merits far wider application. Originality/value: The proposed framework presents a better way of optimising the performance of project-based operations thus enabling oil and gas organisations to reform their poor performance on projects and empower them to better manage emerging cultural challenges in their future projects. Reflecting on their experiences, the participants confirmed that the proposed knowledge management framework and its seven well-defined stages were central to the effectiveness of knowledge management in oil and gas operations. Although the scope of this research was restricted to projects in Nigeria and the UK, the geographical focus of this research does not invalidate these results with respect to other countries. The fact is that the oil and gas sector globally shares some common fundamental characteristics

    Perencanaan Pekerjaan Combustion Inspection Untuk Memperpendek Durasi Shutdown Turbin Gas Ms-6001-B Ge Di Pt. Petrokimia Gresik

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    Combustion inspection (CI) merupakan salah satu jenis perawatan shutdown maintenance pada turbin gas MS-6001-B yang dimiliki oleh PT. Petrokima Gresik. Turbin gas dibuat oleh General Electric (GE) ini mampu menghasilkan daya listrik sebesar 33,64 MW. Turbin gas ini mampu memenuhi kebutuhan listrik pabrik dan beberapa fasilitas yang dimiliki perusahaan. Pelaksanaan CI dilakukan setiap 12.000 running hours. Pada perencanaan pelaksanaan CI, durasi pengerjaan tidak sesuai dengan kondisi di lapangan. Pelaksana mengalami kendala pada perencanaan yang kurang detail dan urutan pekerjaan yang tidak sesuai dengan petunjuk Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Pengerjaan CI juga belum memiliki manajemen risiko, padahal pelaksanaannya lebih sering dilakukan dari pada shutdown maintenance lainnya. Perencanaan CI dievaluasi dan dibuat manajemen proyek baru yang lebih sesuai dan detail dengan kondisi di lapangan. Software manajemen proyek digunakan untuk membantu perencanaan CI. Critical Path Method digunakan untuk mencari lintasan kritis dari pelaksanaan CI. Standar ISO 31000 digunakan sebagai acuan membuat manajemen risiko pada pelaksanaan CI dan dengan matrik risiko dapat menentukan langkah pengendalian risiko yang tepat. Hasil yang didapat pada penelitian ini yaitu perencanaan yang baru sudah memenuhi 5 aspek manajemen proyek, yang terdiri dari project scope management, project time management, project cost management, project quality management, dan project resource management. Perencanaan ini sudah detail dan mampu mempermudah pelaksana dalam proses perawatan. Kelebihan perencanaan ini mampu memperpendek durasi penyelesaian perawatan 50,86 jam dari 169 jam menjadi 118,14 jam dan penghematan biaya sebesar Rp 635.208.759,00. Risiko proyek telah dianalisis dan yang menjadi sorotan yaitu penanganan pada risiko tinggi dan ekstrim agar risiko tersebut tidak terjadi, karena memiliki dampak yang signifikan terhadap keberhasilan proyek perawatan turbin gas =================================================================================================== Combustion inspection (CI) is one kind of shutdown maintenance treatment in gas turbine MS-6001-B owned by PT. Petrokima Gresik. Gas turbines made by General Electric (GE) is capable of generating electrical power of 33.64 MW. The gas turbine is able to meet the electricity needs of the plant and the facilities of the company. CI implementation is done every 12,000 running hours. In planning the implementation of CI duration of the work does not match with the conditions on the field. Executor suffered constraints on the planning which less details and sequence of work that is not in accordance with the instructions of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). The execution of CI also does not have a risk management, even though the implementation is done more often than other maintenance shutdown. The planning of CI is evaluated and new project management is created which more suitable and detail to the conditions on the field. Project management software used to assist the planning of CI. Critical Path Method is used to find the critical path of the CI execution. ISO 31000 standard is used as a reference to make risk management on the CI execution and the risk matrix can determine the appropriate risk control measures. The results obtained in this research that the new planning has met five aspects of project management, which consists of project scope management, project time management, project cost management, project quality management, project resource management. This plan has been detailed and is able to facilitate executor in the treatment process. The advantages of this planning is able to shorten the duration of treatment completion 50.86 hours from 169 hours to 118.14 hours and cost savings of IDR 635,208,759.00. Project risk has been analyzed and the spotlight is handling at high risk and extreme risks that should not happen, because it has a significant impact on the success of gas turbine maintenance project

    Process Safety Management Expert System (PSMES)

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    Unexpected releases of toxic, reactive, or flammable liquids and gases in processes involving highly hazardous chemicals have been reported for many years in various industries that use chemicals with such properties. Regardless of the industry that uses these highly hazardous chemicals, there is a potential for an accidental release any time they are not properly controlled, creating the possibility of disaster. To help ensure safe and healthful workplaces, OSHA has issued the Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals standard (29 CFR 1910.119), which contains requirements for the management of hazards associated with processes using highly hazardous chemicals. The objective of this project is to develop Process Safety Management Expert System (PSMES) (1). PSMES treats seven out of total of fourteen elements of Process Safety Management. PSMES is intended to serve as a tool to assist employers and employees in complying with the safety requirements. The tool is built using Visual Basic 2005 (Vb. net programming language). The project begin with the literature search on PSM. An expert system is software that attempts to provide an answer to a problem, or clarify uncertainties where normally one or more human experts would need to be consulted (2). This expert system will be a solution to the current Process Safety Management (PSM) weak point which its elements are treated separately, inconsistent, disintegrated and uncorrelated between one element to another. Early stage of the developing this tool starts with preparation of framework of each elements that are covered in scope of the project and to prepare all documents needed under each PSM elements to comply with OSHA requirements. The module is relevant to the current industry needs because it create a systematic approach to manage PSM in controlling the process hazards in the workplace especially in oil and gas industry like PETRONAS. The field test for this expert system is Natural Gas Dehydration Unit of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS. This tool will be at its best fit for use, conformance to requirements and will able to satisfy the PSM implied needs. The expected outcome of this Process Safety Management Expert System (PSMES) is to replace the `paper based' conventional way in managing the PS

    Search based software engineering: Trends, techniques and applications

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    © ACM, 2012. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of ACM for your personal use. Not for redistribution. The definitive version is available from the link below.In the past five years there has been a dramatic increase in work on Search-Based Software Engineering (SBSE), an approach to Software Engineering (SE) in which Search-Based Optimization (SBO) algorithms are used to address problems in SE. SBSE has been applied to problems throughout the SE lifecycle, from requirements and project planning to maintenance and reengineering. The approach is attractive because it offers a suite of adaptive automated and semiautomated solutions in situations typified by large complex problem spaces with multiple competing and conflicting objectives. This article provides a review and classification of literature on SBSE. The work identifies research trends and relationships between the techniques applied and the applications to which they have been applied and highlights gaps in the literature and avenues for further research.EPSRC and E

    Critical Factors and Multisite Implementation of ERP: A Case Study in the UAE

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    Despite extensive studies in the ERP literature, little empirical understanding has been reached in relation to ERP implementation experiences in developing markets, particularly in the UAE context. Derived from the notions of critical successful factors and multisite implementation, two of widely researched areas in ERP studies, this paper thus seeks to provide practical insights about organizations’ ERP implementation experiences in the UAE setting. More specifically, it describes and contrasts critical factors and multisite implementation experiences in two case organizations situated in the UAE. These case organizations, one being categorized as a global company and the other local, provide interesting comparison of ERP implementation because of their complementary organizational structure and business strategies. In contrast to traditional ERP frameworks’ suggestions, these case organizations’ experiences reveal that contemporary ERP implementations might be more complex than previously expected since none of these case organizations’ ERP experiences follows suggestions made by frameworks based. Further discussion about how to better understand and examine maturing ERP technology in an increasingly globalized business environment such as the UAE is provided

    Understanding Occupational and Skill Demand in New Jersey's Utilities Industry

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    The utilities industry provides essential electricity, gas, water and sewer, and local telephone services to residents and businesses throughout New Jersey. This report summarizes the skill, knowledge, and educational requirements of key occupations in gas, electric, water and sewer, and telephone services. It also identifies strategies for meeting the workforce challenges facing the industry
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