SOLUTION 1

A DOD Company needed a temporary connection from their MRP system to their EVMS controlled project Integrated Master Schedule (IMS). The long term solution would not be completed for another year, so a quick and solid solution was needed to satisfy the deficit in their current system description.

Goals

• Use of IMS by CAMs as part of the EVM System on a more frequent Basis
• MRP and IMS Dates are "Aligned"
• A Semi-automatic method of updating the IMS from the MRP data

Result

Created IMS compare application using the control account manager?s line of balance (LOB) and raw data from the MRP system to show IMS baseline information and use IMS logic to show forecasted impact on deliveries. Also show parts available and other pertinent information. Options available to Semi-auto statusing the IMS via the LOB information and auto statusing parts by the starting assemblies.

SOLUTION 2

A Fortune 500 company needed modification to their portal application so that SharePoint users can be seamlessly logged into portal and placed in the Global Activities Progressing view with the appropriate project selected.

Goal

Provide 2 links from SharePoint; one within the context of a project and the other within the context of a team page. When the link is clicked from within the project page, the portal will be launched and using NT Authentication the user will be automatically logged in and deposited in a global activity progressing view. This view?s project selection will be set to match the project page from which the SharePoint user came and the activities will be filtered based on the activity filtering attributes of the associated portal project.

Result

OPDEC modified the portal to accomplish the goal, all in 1 week.

SOLUTION 3

A Software company hired OPDEC to modify their project portal to allow CAMS (Control Account Managers) to perform project cost activity within all security parameters. The CAMS would update their estimate to complete (ETC), view the CAMS last status and view and report from a custom dashboard.

Development Methods

The approach for development for this solution was to develop each modification at the OPDEC facility, simulating the customer?s environment. The following are examples of our methods

• Reuse of existing software components to implement various parts/features of the system
• The customers coding conventions will be respected
• Changes to existing portal code files will be commented.
• Software will be tested at OPDEC by multiple personnel on the development system. The documentation will be reviewed during testing before sending to customer
• Each modified or added file will have a header comment inserted. The header comment will identify the developer name, date and the changes made to the file. If the file is new, its function will be stated.
• A separate list of modified or added files will be kept
• A deliverable will consist of a .zip archive of the files necessary for the completed module and any applicable release notes.
• Full documentation of any database changes that is necessary for the customization.

Result

Created a method for CAMS to update their accounts easily and provided information quickly to manage the projects. Save the customer thousands of dollars in client license fees since the updating of ETC was now possible via the web.

SOLUTION 4

A DOD company used ?QUAD? charts to report on IPT (Integrated Product Team) performance on many of its non EVMS controlled projects. OPDEC was asked to look for ways to cut down the amount of manual time it took to maintain these charts. The charts have information on cost, schedule, manpower and variance reporting. After a quick analysis, it was determined to first automate the schedule performance and milestone award information directly from Microsoft Project.

Solution

The OPDEC custom application is run by the business person at the end of the reporting period. The OPDEC application updates the ranges of charts within each IPT Excel workbook. The Excel Quad program updates the IPT workbook spreadsheets in three main areas:

• Updates the chart formats, to adjust for the sliding 6-9 month period
• Updates the schedule performance trend chart data
• Update the milestone listings to reflect current milestones and their status. Used for award or performance measurement

Result

This one OPDEC application reduced the effort to produce these charts by two days every reporting period. The application processed in less then a minuet and eliminated any transposition errors in reporting. This also enabled a period of review by the IPT leads before the executive review.

SOLUTION 5

A DOD company going through internal EVMS audits needed to ensure that the integration between the cost application (Planview® Micro-Frame Program Manager? (MPM?) and the schedule system application (Microsoft® Project) can be traced. OPDEC was hired to produce an web based application to show how the two tools are integrated and to highlight any issues stemming from the integration.

Approach

OPDEC emulated the customer?s infrastructure environment, researched both products internal structure and developed formulas that tested and compared the two systems for correct integration. Performance dates, cost, actuals, estimates, earned value type and other information were compared. For user ease of use, the output from this application was exported as a Microsoft Excel workbook. The workbook contains a dashboard that scores the comparison and hyperlinks to any of the issues identified.

Result

The project analysis personnel can now use this application after each period ending to do a reconciliation of the project schedule/cost integration. It is also used during Integrated Baseline Review (IBR) to reassure the customer that the project performance is compliant and accurate.