Project Report
Updated
Monday, November 05, 2007 01:21:39 PM.
NOTE: The report should be submitted as a printed hard-copy and handed in
to the MIE Office, 3131 Seamans Center by 12 Noon, Friday November 30.
The report is the main mechanism you will use to present the worth of your
proposed design activities to the chief executives of Amazing Products Ltd.
Remember that a highly professional standard is required. Use page numbers.
Include the names of project team members at the start of the document. Avoid
the use of the first person personal pronoun ( I and we) and use the passive
voice (e.g. it was determined).
Give sources for any drawings etc.
The design project report is a very important exercise. It is intended to
demonstrate your understanding of the design process, your plans for completing
the project and your communication skills. We would like you to use the
following format in the preparation of your report. Associated with each
section of the report, we have also noted the points that will be used to
grade each section.
See the web page for the project for further
details.
Format for the Report
The report should be a maximum of 20 pages (font size 12pt, single space with 1 in.
margins). Additional supporting material can be contained in an appendix. The
report should contain the following sections. Further details are contained in
the relevant homework descriptions. Note that the report will contain mostly
an amalgamation of Project 1, 2 and 3, updated and improved where necessary.
Title page (0.5 points):
Project name
Course number and name
Date
Team name and members
Table of Contents (0.5 points)
Using the Word styles utility to insert automatic ToC
Executive summary (1 points):
A 1/2 page overview of the main points of your report including
- Purpose of report
- The main points about your design
- Estimated cost and economic analysis of your design.
The aim of an executive summary is to summarize the main points of your
proposed design. Include only the points that pertain to the decision as to
whether to accept your report.
Project Schedule(2 points)
Include:
- Gantt chart listing tasks, duration of tasks and relationships among
tasks. Include activities of each team member. Remember that gaining the
most from team work means dividing up the tasks.
- Major milestones (measurable accomplishments/completion date).
- Schedule for meetings with team & TAs (include on Gantt chart).
- A short written description of the project plan.
The activities covered should include all those up to and including the end
of the prototype demonstrations in early December. The web pages on the
project and project report contain relevant information.
The Gantt chart will involve using Excel with shading and patterns to show
activities of different team members and shapes from the drawing toolbar to
show more precise dates.
Grades will be awarded based on the quality and depth of the plan.
Design Analysis (2 points)
Review of Existing Designs:
- You will need to use your initiative to dig out some existing designs.
Give an overview of the designs and classify them where possible. What are
the advantages and disadvantages of each category?
- Grades will be awarded based on the quality and depth of the
examination of existing designs and on the comparisons made.
Initial Proposed Design
- This involves describing your initial proposed design. This should be
based on your assessment of the existing designs and on the materials
available for the project.
- You will need to produce a drawing of the proposed design and describe
some of it's main features. Alternatively you can use a computer
drawing program.
- Describe the reasons that you decided on this design.
- Grades will be awarded based on the quality and depth of the design
rationale.
Force Analysis
- Briefly describe how you would use vector force analysis to determine
the forces on each girder
- Grades will be awarded based on the quality of the description.
Initial Testing Results
- This involved building a prototype of the prototype and testing it to
destruction.
- Note especially the failure points and mode.
- Indicate how you revised your design.
- Take photos if possible and paste these into your report. Low
resolution is preferred.
- Grades will be awarded based on the quality and depth of the reported
work.
Proposed Design(2 points)
Detailed Proposed Design
- This involves determining a detailed proposed design, based on your
assessment of the existing designs, your testing of your initial design and
on the materials available for the project.
- You will need to produce a drawing of the proposed design and describe
it's main features. The drawing can be drawn, scanned and then pasted into
your report. Alternatively you can use a computer drawing program.
- Describe the reasons that you decided on this design.
- Grades will be awarded based on the quality and depth of the design
rationale.
Economic Analysis
- Economic Analysis Calculation: Given the costs and benefits described in
Project 3, calculate the Net Present Value and the Internal Rate of Return,
assuming an interest (discount) rate of 8%.
- You will need to produce an Excel spreadsheet to do this portion. Paste,
using Paste Special, as an Excel object into your report.
- Grades will be awarded based on the quality and depth of the economic
rationale.
Performance of Design
- Give the final load bearing capacity of your
design.
- Describe, as far as possible, the failure points in the design.
Discussion, Conclusions and Further Work(1 points)
- Describe the main elements of your report.
- Indicate where you think further engineering analysis and/or testing would
improve the design.
References (1 points)
- List references in alphabetical order.
- Grades will be awarded based on the quality and depth of the references
used.
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