Project management for complex construction projects by monitoring subcontractors in real time

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a significant improvement in managing projects, in particular, construction projects. The invention can be applied to almost any construction project involving subcontractors. A typical application is construction of communications satellites. The more complex the project, the more likely this invention will prove effective.

[0003] This invention may be used for projects in which there is a contractor, in which, depending on the project, there might be a manufacturer which has contracted with the contractor, and, in either case, in which there will be a plurality of subcontractors who supply goods and services to the project. With this invention, the contractor easily monitors the status of each subcontractor with respect to completion of tasks that subcontractor is to perform. This monitoring is made possible through use of a real time computer program which generates a series of status displays on a display screen which can be a computer monitor or a special-purpose piece of hardware. The contractor can monitor the displays and become almost instantly aware of a variety of situations that may affect project completion. The contractor can, as a result, use the information in deciding how to keep the project on schedule.

[0004] 2. Background Description

[0005] The current process for monitoring the status of subcontractors used by contractors and manufacturers remains highly labor intensive. This high labor intensity is especially prevalent for communications satellite constructors. The high labor intensity precludes close monitoring of all subcontractors, especially major subcontractors. In addition, the current process, often relying on nothing more advanced that notes scribbled on bits of paper, does not have an efficient means for identifying potential issues that may span multiple construction programs. In the example cited, the contractor may be having multiple satellites built for it. It is just too difficult to manually keep track of how changes in one construction project can affect another of the projects. The current process does not provide notification to appropriate contractor personnel. Inefficiencies in the current process do nothing to alleviate delays caused by subcontractors. Subcontractor delays become introduced into the manufacturing process. These delays result in delayed ship dates and could have effects on the quality of the spacecraft or other device being constructed.

[0006] It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a way for contractors and manufacturers to monitor how each subcontractor is faring with respect to providing the goods or services for which the subcontractor is obligated and how that subcontractor is meeting schedules. The information is supplied by a computer program operating in real time and with the information displayed on a monitor sometimes called an “electronic dashboard”.

[0007] It is another object of the invention to provide the contractor and manufacturer, once made aware that a subcontractor might be experiencing or anticipating delays, to monitor other projects on which that subcontractor is working so that the contractor and manufacturer might act in time to affect the course of progress on the work.

[0016] The preferred embodiment of the invention assumes a situation in which there is a company, identified in this document as the “contractor”, which contracts with a manufacturer of complex devices, in particular, communications satellites, to have one or more of these satellites manufactured. FIG. 2, 20. This manufacturer will contract with any number of subcontractors who provide a variety of specialized goods and services to the manufacturer. FIG. 2, 22.

[0017] At some time, construction on the satellite begins. FIG. 2, 24. A real time computer program then begins running on a computer system which computer system is under the control of the contractor. [In this context, we mean by “real time”, a computer program that runs full time and provides results in a short period of time, usually so short a period of time that the results can affect some ongoing process.] For a major project, the earlier knowledge of potential delays is gained, the better the contractor can deal with the problems.

[0018] The computer program in the invention has already been programmed with the name of the satellite, the name of the satellite manufacturer, the name of each approved subcontractor, and the components or services that subcontractor will provide for the satellite.

[0019] Once construction of the satellite begins, designated personnel employed by the contractor will have access to a display device, the electronic “Dashboard”, so the contractor may monitor the status of the construction project. These designated personnel might be Program Managers or Engineers responsible for overseeing the project.

[0020] From time to time, subcontractors may experience or anticipate delays due to changes in design or manufacture of a component or due to specification changes. The subcontractor will have access to the contractor's computer system via an Extra-Net site on the Internet. The subcontractor's messages will pass through security firewalls established by the contractor by using passwords. The subcontractor experiencing or anticipating delays will, via the computer system and by using a “click-box”, inform the contractor of the delays by changing a status indicator from a “No-Change” status to a “Class-1” or a “Class-2” status. FIG. 2, 28, 30. [In the preferred embodiment, the system uses “click boxes”, that is, screen displays that contain images of boxes with instructions or choices in them. The user moves a mouse pointer into the desired area in the box and clicks a mouse button.] A Class-1 status indicates a major change in anticipated schedules. A Class-2 status indicates a minor change. The subcontractor may also provide a brief summary description of the change, its implications to the process, and any proposed actions. All changes are saved in a database.

[0021] The Dashboard display, FIG. 3, will be altered to reflect the change in status for this subcontractor. FIG. 2, 34. In the preferred embodiment, the portion of the Dashboard designated for each subcontractor will show green for each subcontractor with a No-Change status, yellow for a minor change (Class-2), and red for a major change (Class-1). Thus, the contractor personnel will easily notice any status changes and be instantly aware of the importance of each delay to the overall project. FIG. 2, 36. The status change should be posted to the system within three hours of the subcontractor's determining that the change is desirable. In addition to sending the status change to the Dashboard, a change notice is sent to a user-selected list of recipients.

[0022] The Program Manager or responsible Engineer will review the change notice and, via the e-Subcontractor Management application, electronically approve or disapprove the change request. FIG. 4. In some cases, more information will be requested from the subcontractor. The choices to approve, disapprove, or request more information may be contained in a choice menu. Responses by the Program Manager or responsible Engineer are selected from an Approval Menu, one of the choice menus. An electronic copy of the response is sent to a user-selected list of recipients chosen from the contractor, the manufacturer, and even the subcontractor, if appropriate. The response is also recorded in the computer program.

[0023] If the Program Manager or responsible Engineer does not explicitly approve or disapprove the change notice or request, the e-Subcontractor Management system will leave the status of the change notice or request as “Open”. Thereafter, an electronic reminder is sent to a predetermined distribution list every day until the change notice or the request is resolved. Once the change notice or request is resolved, the system will retain the change notice or request for on-line review and the Dashboard indicator will be changed to green.

[0024] The recipient of the change notice or request will take action as directed by the Program Manager or responsible Engineer. FIG. 2, 40. If no action is taken, the system may continually send reminders. The system may also be programmed with a set time after which reminders are no longer sent.

[0025] The system and Dashboard give the contractor the additional capability of determining if a problem with one subcontractor is common to a number of subcontractors or if that subcontractor is having problems on more than one satellite. When a subcontractor reports a problem and the status indicator on the Dashboard changes from green to yellow or red, the contractor may click on the status indicator on the Dashboard. The Subcontractor Early Alert screen appears. FIG. 5. The contractor then knows how widespread are the problems affecting that subcontractor on that project.

[0026] The contractor can, by clicking on the appropriate locations on the Dashboard, move from the Dashboard to the On-Line Review and Approval screen, FIG. 6, or from the Dashboard to the Subcontractor Early Alert screen back to the Dashboard, then to the On-Line Review and Approval screen. This may be repeated as many times as may be required to solve the problem.

[0027] This process is repeated until the satellite construction program is complete.

[0028] In this document, actions that are said to be taken by a contractor, manufacturer, or subcontractor can be taken by persons representing the contractor, manufacturer, or subcontractor.

[0029] While the invention has been described in terms of its preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.