Academic literature on the topic 'Critical causes of project delay'
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Journal articles on the topic "Critical causes of project delay"
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Ismaila, Usman, Wooyong Jung, and Chan Young Park. "Delay Causes and Types in Nigerian Power Construction Projects." Energies 15, no. 3 (January 23, 2022): 814. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en15030814.
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Numerous events cause delays to entire power projects’ completion timelines, leading to loss. This paper focuses on revealing the critical delay causes in Nigerian power projects and identifying the delay types such as excusable delay, compensable delay, critical delay, and concurrent delay from the different perspectives of owner and contractor. Based on the survey of the 84 industrial experts in power distribution and transmission projects in Nigeria, this study provides the mean score and rank of 39 delay causes. Among the causes, 14 are identified as critical in the Nigerian power project. The top three critical delay causes are corruption and bureaucracy in government, inadequate fund/budget allocation, and price fluctuation/inflation. Owner and contractor do not show the difference in classifying the 14 delay causes into excusable and compensable delays. However, there was a difference between owner and contractor in categorizing whether a cause is critical or not and concurrent or not. A different viewpoint of types of delay cause can lead to a dispute which may lead to other delays and losses, and thus it is meaningful to understand the types of delay perceived from owner and contractor. Even though the delay cause and types are different depending on an individual project, the results of this study serve as a reference and would be beneficial for the practitioners in the construction industry to help identify the delay causes to manage them effectively.
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Amoatey, Charles Teye, and Alfred Nii Okanta Ankrah. "Exploring critical road project delay factors in Ghana." Journal of Facilities Management 15, no. 2 (May 15, 2017): 110–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/jfm-09-2016-0036.
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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the causes of road construction delays in Ghana and identify appropriate mitigation measures. Design/methodology/approach The initial approach involved an empirical analysis of 48 road projects to quantify the extent of time. This was followed by a survey of the perception of road agency and donor partner officials of the critical causes of road project delays. Findings About 70 per cent of road projects experience delays and 52 per cent experience cost overruns. The average time overrun and cost overruns of road projects in Ghana was 17 months and US$1.15m (or 22.5 per cent), respectively. The five most critical causes of road construction delays were delay in finance and payment of completed work by owner (client-related); inadequate contractor experience (contractor-related); changes in scope by the owner during construction (client-related); delay to furnish and deliver the site to the contractor (client-related); and inflexible funding allocation for project items (donor-related). Research limitations/implications The most critical constraint of this study is the fact that findings are based on only the views of industry professional experts. It may be assumed that despite using broadly used terminology to refer to the causes of project delays, the interpretations by respondents may have differed from those intended. Further research could look at the correlation between time overrun and cost overrun using principle component analysis. Practical implications The identified delay factors are not unique to the road sector. From both academic and practical perspectives, the results emphasizes on the need for a holistic and integrated risk management model for the entire construction industry in Ghana. Originality/value The paper examined the causes of road project delays in the Ghanaian context and recommended remedial measures.
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Amoatey, Charles Teye, Yaa Asabea Ameyaw, Ebenezer Adaku, and Samuel Famiyeh. "Analysing delay causes and effects in Ghanaian state housing construction projects." International Journal of Managing Projects in Business 8, no. 1 (January 5, 2015): 198–214. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ijmpb-04-2014-0035.
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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the causes and effects of delays in public sector housing projects in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach – A purposive sampling approach was used in selecting the respondents for the study. These were experts working on various state housing construction projects in Ghana. Findings – Results from the study showed that the critical factors that contribute to project delays in Ghana are; delay in payment to contractor/supplier, inflation/price fluctuation, price increases in materials, inadequate funds from sponsors/clients, variation orders and poor financial/capital market. The critical effects of delays are cost overrun, time overrun, litigation, lack of continuity by client and arbitration. Research limitations/implications – This paper is limited to causes and effects of project delays in Ghana based on data collected from only one state institution. Due to geographic constraints the researchers were unable to sample state institutions across Ghana involved in various housing projects. Practical implications – This paper has documented the critical state housing construction project delay factors in Ghana. The results will help project managers and policymakers appreciate the effects of these delays on project outcomes. Social implications – Measures aimed at reducing cost of housing projects in Ghana can translate into significant benefits to the poor and support achievement of government objective of providing affordable housing to low income citizens. Originality/value – This research focussed on the key factors and best practices that lead to the success of state housing projects within the Ghanaian context.
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K.V., Prasad, Vasugi V., Venkatesan R., and Nikhil Bhat. "Analysis of causes of delay in Indian construction projects and mitigation measures." Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction 24, no. 1 (April 1, 2019): 58–78. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/jfmpc-04-2018-0020.
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Purpose Construction projects in India continue to suffer excessive delays. This paper aims to investigate the delay causes in India by project sector (transport, power, buildings and water) and carry out a comparative study of delay causes in design build (DB) projects with that of design bid build (DBB) projects along with mitigation measures. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire survey was conducted among major clients, contractors and consultants in India. Importance Index was used for ranking of the delay causes. Projects were categorized based on the type, and causes of delay in each project type were identified. Projects were also categorized based on type of contract, and delay causes in DB and DBB projects were compared. Statistical analysis of responses by Cronbach’s alpha, one-way analysis of variance, Kruskal–Wallis tests was carried out with Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with senior industry professionals to develop exhaustive mitigation measures. Findings The research findings indicate finance-related causes as the most critical causes of delay in Indian projects. Delay in settlement of claims, contractor’s financial difficulties, delay in payment for extra work/variations by owner, late payment from contractor to subcontractor or suppliers, variation orders/changes of scope by owner during construction and changes in design by owner were the highly ranked delay causes. The research found no significant difference in the delay causes in DB and DBB projects. Originality/value This is the first study wherein delay causes for various project types within a single country are identified. In addition, the study has identified and compared the delay causes in DB projects and DBB projects. Mitigation measures developed in this study will help professionals and project managers not just in India but other developing countries as well to alleviate delay causes and in improvement of project timelines.
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K.L., Ravisankar, and Bragateeswaran T. "Detailed Study on Critical Delay Factors Affecting the Construction Industry." International Journal of Civil, Environmental and Agricultural Engineering 1, no. 1 (May 30, 2019): 45–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.34256/ijceae1917.
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The Construction industry of India is an important indicator of the growth as it generates investment opportunities across various related sectors. Delay in construction projects is considered one of the most common problems causing a multitude of negative effects on the construction projects. Construction delays can be defined as the late completion of work compared to the planned schedule or contract schedule. Construction delays can be minimized only when their cause are identified. The objective of this study was to identify the major causes of construction delays. In this context the management of the delay may influence the financial performance of the project, since the overall value of contractual penalties may exceed ten percentage or more than that of the project budget.
This study was carried out based on literature review and a questionnaire survey. The data for this study will be gathering through a detailed questionnaire survey. The questionnaire consists of total factors of seventeen group were contributed to the causes of construction delay based on literature review. In that seventeen groups have been consist of total 50 factors for delay. The questionnaire form is forwarded to various construction industries through email and in personal. The objectives of the study were successfully achieved. The top five most important factors that contributed to the causes of delays were Delay in financial support by owner to the contractor (Stage by stage payment), Design errors made by designers due to unfamiliarity with local conditions & environment, Equipment allocation problem, Poor site management & Inaccurate site investigation, Fluctuation of prices. To minimize delay in construction projects it has been identified that the top three effective methods of minimizing construction delays includes: site management and supervision, effective strategic planning, and clear information and communication channels.
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Alenazi, Essa, Zulfikar Adamu, and Ali Al-Otaibi. "Exploring the Nature and Impact of Client-Related Delays on Contemporary Saudi Construction Projects." Buildings 12, no. 7 (June 22, 2022): 880. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/buildings12070880.
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In rapidly developing countries such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), where the construction of buildings and supporting infrastructure is critical to achieving strategic developmental milestones, delays to capital projects can derail other sectors of the economy and could derail the Vision 2030 agenda. Attempts have been made over the years to explore the causes of construction project delays, including those in Saudi Arabia. Many of these studies are either outdated, narrow in scope, or tend to use only qualitative data, and not many have focused on the client-related delay factors affecting projects critical to Vision 2030. This study investigates client-related delay factors in terms of their correlation with key characteristics of recently completed construction projects in KSA. This objective necessitated the use of historical data; hence, an archival analysis was conducted for 37 projects among three different public sector ministries. The data were subjected to manual extraction, descriptive statistical analysis, and the use of established models such as schedule performance index (SPI) and cost performance index (CPI), and inferential (correlation) in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) using point-biserial correlation coefficient (rpb, where p > 0.05) to explore association and impact of project characteristics on themselves and on client-related causes of delay. Results revealed eight unique client-related causes of delay, with SPI values of 0.71 to 0.82, as well as CPI values ranging from 0.84 to 0.89, suggesting very poor time and cost performance across all projects, as well as the magnitude of correlation of key project characteristics (cost, duration, additional time, and additional cost) with the eight client-related causes of delay. The findings can help the client (authorities) understand and curb delays that are due to their own making, and it is recommended that such delay factors, whose likelihood are now established and whose potential impact can be measured against key project characteristics, be developed into a delay risk impact tool. International joint ventures can bring technical expertise for Vision 2030, but they cannot eliminate delays due to government practices.
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Pall, Goutom K., Adrian J. Bridge, Jason Gray, and Martin Skitmore. "Causes of Delay in Power Transmission Projects: An Empirical Study." Energies 13, no. 1 (December 19, 2019): 17. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en13010017.
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Power transmission (PT) projects are vital for the power sector. However, worldwide PT projects experience delay. There is an urgent need to understand the unique causes of delays in PT projects. This paper presents the first empirical study on causes of delays in PT projects via a comprehensive literature review. Based on this literature review, 63 potential delay factors are identified and divided into ten major groups. These include two new groups of delay attributes, comprising sector-specific factors (SSF) and general factors (GF), where SSF pertains solely to PT projects and GF contributes to minimizing the bias of project participants. A questionnaire survey of 311 PT stakeholders is conducted to determine the overall ranking of the delay factors using the relative importance index. The results indicate that SSF, GF, and external/unavoidable factors are the most critical groups of delay factors, with the top-ranked factors being right of way problems of transmission line (TL), frequent changes in TL routes, and accessibility to the TL tower locations. Finally, recommendations are made to help minimize time overruns in PT projects, as well as in other linear power and non-power construction projects in general.
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Umeesh Kumar Suppramaniam, S., Syuhaida Ismail, and Subaashnii Suppramaniam. "Causes of delay in the construction phase of oil and gas projects in Malaysia." International Journal of Engineering & Technology 7, no. 2.29 (May 22, 2018): 203. http://dx.doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i2.29.13318.
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The drop-in oil price in recent years has seen the oil and gas projects affected negatively. Thus, most Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) companies are opting to optimise the project especially in terms of mitigating delays in construction to achieve the project expectation. Delay causes threat to a project objectives in terms of time, cost and quality. It is also a crucial element in deviating from the client’s expectation in terms of productivity, safety and standards. This paper aims at examining the causes of delay in the construction phase of oil and gas projects in Malaysia. A comprehensive literature review from various sources through books, conference proceedings, the internet, project management journals as well as oil and gas industry journals was made to materialise this paper. There were a few studies that related to this problem and shared a similar view with general construction projects, yet only a fraction of the factors was accepted due to the differences between the two industries. Other variances of the papers included on regional basis or on specific countries. The factors of these attributes were still accepted since it was still applicable to the oil and gas industry and there were not any major variances between countries. The paper has found that there are several significant factors that cause delays in the construction phase of oil and gas projects in Malaysia. The similarity of these delay factors can be grouped into six major groups, namely client, contractor, engineering, external, project and resources. This initial study is based purely on literature review, comparison of similar cases, cross referencing and critical judging. The causes of delay specific to the construction phase in oil and gas projects in Malaysia should be further researched with focus only in the Malaysian projects and industry players.
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Mbatha, Samuel Kiilu, Ahmad Omar Alkizim, and Titus Kivaa Mbiti. "Delay Management as a Mitigation Strategy for Conflicts in Construction Projects in Kenya." East African Journal of Engineering 5, no. 1 (November 9, 2022): 205–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.37284/eaje.5.1.947.
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The problem of conflicts in construction projects is a fact that happens in many countries, one of which is conflicts associated ensuing from delays. Delay management is exceedingly arduous and remains ineffective as the majority of the construction projects are tardy in time performance. The study aimed to investigate the role of delay management in mitigating project conflicts caused by delay factors by examining the causes and management approaches to these delays during the project implementation process. Empirical evidence from a review of the literature has unveiled that delay conflicts have detrimental impacts. Consequently, understanding the causes of delay has become a critical component of improving the construction industry’s performance. In Kenya, more than 70% of projects being executed are likely to increase by a factor of more than 50% over time. The study embraced a cross-sectional research design. Questionnaires were sent to randomly sampled consultants, contractors, and project developers. The data collected was then analysed using the Relative Importance Index (RII) and Spearman’s rank correlation. The study established the inevitability of conflicts attributed to delays amongst project stakeholders, with delays in progress payments being the leading cause. Other factors in the top five list were; inadequate site management and control, delays in approving major changes in scope, materials price fluctuations, delays in handing over the site, and difficulties in financing the project. It is recommended that clients ensure that works are aptly planned and veritable costing executed during the pre-contract stage and that interim payment certificates are settled promptly within the defined time frame, both to avert invoking interest penalty clauses and also to promote better progress of the works, to ensure smooth completion. Additionally, the contractor should ensure proper planning and scheduling of the works, as well as effective site management and supervision. These results have significant consequences since they give practical, scientific, policy, and social values that contribute to a better understanding of delays and delay management from a global perspective
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Elawi, Ghazi Saad A., Mohammed Algahtany, Dean Kashiwagi, and Kenneth Sullivan. "Major Factors Causing Construction Delays in Mecca." Journal for the Advancement of Performance Information and Value 7, no. 1 (December 1, 2015): 75. http://dx.doi.org/10.37265/japiv.v7i1.55.
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Delays are a major cause for concern in the construction industry in Saudi Arabia. This paper identifies the main causes of delay in infrastructure projects in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and compares these with projects around the country and other Gulf countries. Data was obtained from 49 infrastructure projects undertaken by the owner and were analyzed quantitatively to understand the causes and severity of delay. 10 risk factors were identified and were grouped into four categories. Average delay in infrastructure projects in Mecca was found to be 39% of the estimated projects schedules. The most severe cause of delay was found to be the land acquisition factor. This highlights the critical land ownership and acquisition issues that are prevailing in the city. Additionally, other factors that contribute to delay include contractors’ lack of expertise, haphazard underground utilities (line services), and re-designing. It is concluded that the majority of project delays were caused from the owner’s side as compared to contractors, consultants, and other project’s stakeholders. This finding matched with the research findings of the Gulf Countries Construction (GCC) industry’s literature. This study fills an important practice and research gap for improving the efficiency in delivering infrastructure projects in the holy city of Mecca and Gulf countries at large.
Dissertations / Theses on the topic "Critical causes of project delay"
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Pall, Goutom K. "Causes of delay in power transmission projects in Bangladesh." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2021. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/211479/1/Goutom_Pall_Thesis.pdf.
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Power transmission (PT) sits at the heart of the electric power sector linking power generation and power distribution to contribute to global economic growth. This study presents the first empirical study on causes of delays in PT projects to identify the critical delay attributes with a recommendation to minimize the delay. This research determines the overall ranking of the delay factors with the top-ranked factors being right of way problems of transmission line (TL), frequent changes in TL routes, and accessibility to the TL tower locations. Finally, recommendations are made to help minimize delay in PT projects across the globe.
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Staflund, Johan, and Rickard Östblom. "Identification of the Critical Delay Factors in the Subway Tunnel Construction in Stockholm : An explanatory Study Investigating the Project Delay and its Consequences on Property Developers." Thesis, KTH, Fastigheter och byggande, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-298227.
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Stockholm is one of the fastest growing conurbations in Europe, to accommodate for the increased population and urban growth, the current subway system needs to be extended. Appropriately, a joint initiative regarding housing and infrastructure development was signed in January 2014 by the Swedish government, Stockholm County Council and the afflicted municipalities Stockholm, Solna, Nacka and Järfälla. The joint initiative, the 2013 Stockholm negotiation, presented an extension of the current subway system with a total length of 19,6 km and 11 new stations in Stockholm, Solna, Nacka and Järfälla. Large-scale infrastructure projects often suffer from cost and time overruns. The Stockholm subway construction is no exception and has since the project started collected a delay equivalent of five years for Järfälla and Nacka, and a cost overrun of SEK 9,3 billion. The aim of this thesis is to objectively identify the critical delay factors of the subway tunnel construction in Stockholm and unveil the delay implication on property developers with housing projects in the adjacent areas to the new stations. The thesis will be limited to mainly focus on the extension to Järfälla and Nacka. To investigate the research questions, a systematic integration of quantitative and qualitative data has been collected through literature reviews, 9 interviews with the client, designers, consultants and a survey with 13 property developers. This thesis has identified one critical delay factor, linked to the poor project performance regarding the time overruns. With support from the literature review, interviews and surveys, the observed delay can be described as a consequence of political-economic explanations. The cause for the delay is rooted in the inaccurate estimations and unrealistic expectations presented in the 2013 Stockholm negotiation. Thus, the project delay is to be categorized as non- acceptable, due to a five-year prolonged time plan. Additional delay factors have beenidentified but are not to be viewed as critical. This thesis has also identified a general frustrationamongst the developers in Järfälla and Nacka as they have perceived negative implications as a consequence of the delay of the subway extension.Stockholm är en av de snabbast växande storstadsregionerna i Europa och för att tillgodose den ökade tillväxten behöver regionen utveckla sin infrastruktur och kollektivtrafik. I januari 2014 undertecknades en överenskommelse, avseende utveckling av bostäder och infrastruktur, mellan regeringen, Stockholm Läns Landsting, Stockholm- och Solna stad, Nacka samt Järfälla kommun. Avtalet benämns som 2013 års Stockholmsförhandling och omfattar en utbyggnad om 11 nya tunnelbanestationer i Stockholm, Solna, Nacka och Järfälla, med en total spårlängd om 19,6 km. Stora infrastrukturprojekt har historiskt sett blivit försenade och haft budgetöverskridande projektkostnader. Tunnelbaneutbyggnaden mot Järfälla och Nacka har båda blivit försenade med fem år samt överskridit budgeten med totalt 9,3 miljarder kronor. Syftet med denna masteruppsats är att objektivt identifiera de kritiska faktorer som orsakat förseningen av projektet samt redogöra för de konsekvenser som förseningen har orsakat för de bostadsutvecklare med projekt i områdena där de nya stationerna är planerade. Uppsatsen har avgränsats till att enbart skildra utbyggnaden mot Järfälla och Nacka. För att besvara studiens frågeställningar har kvalitativ och kvantitativ data integrerats genom litteraturstudier, intervjuer med 9 nyckelpersoner inom projektet, samt via en enkätundersökning med 13 fastighetsbolag, verksamma i Järfälla och Nacka. Uppsatsen har identifierat en faktor som ligger till grund för att projektet inte presterat enligt projektets tid- och kostnadsmål. Faktorn har sitt ursprung i de felaktiga och orealistiska beräkningar som presenterades i 2013 års Stockholmsförhandling. Ytterligare förseningsfaktorer har identifierats, men är inte att anses som kritiska eftersom de inte haft en betydande inverkan på projektet och dess färdigställande. Förseningen av projektet är att kategorisera som ej acceptabel med hänsyn till dess uppkomst och omfattning. Mot den bakgrundsdata som samlats in genom litteraturstudier, intervjuer och enkätundersökningar kan förseningen härledas som en konsekvens av politisk-ekonomiska orsakssamband. Uppsatsens resultat visar även på att förseningen orsakat flera negativa konsekvenser för de fastighetsbolag som är verksamma i Järfälla och Nacka, vilket har skapat ett generellt missnöje gentemot projektets beställarorganisation.
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Hassanzadeh, Saïna. "Analysis of the causes of delay in collaborative decision-making under uncertainty in pharmaceutical R and D projects." Thesis, Toulouse, INPT, 2012. http://www.theses.fr/2012INPT0164/document.
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Les décisions collaboratives sous incertitude dans les situations non urgentes peuvent être retardées, surtout lorsque la santé humaine et des investissements élevés sont en jeu comme c’est le cas des projets de R and D pharmaceutiques. Cette thèse étudie les causes des retards récurrents dans la prise de décision collaborative sous incertitude et les pratiques efficientes pour réduire ces retards. Pour mieux comprendre le problème des retards dans la prise de décision face à l’incertitude, nous étudions d’abord la notion d’incertitude et proposons une définition de l’incertitude adaptée au management de projet. Ensuite, le processus de prise de décision dans les projets de développement de nouveaux médicaments est modélisé, mettant en évidence le cycle de vie de l’information à partir de sa production jusqu’à sa consommation c’est-à-dire la décision elle-même. Ce modèle comprend une étape de réflexion individuelle et une étape de l’interaction en groupe, en clarifiant comment l’information est traitée différemment par les décideurs. Afin d’analyser les conflits du passé et anticiper ceux du futur, sur la base de ce modèle, un indice est défini pour mesurer le risque d’invalidation d’une décision prise a posteriori. Finalement, à travers des entretiens approfondis, 252 facteurs clés qui influent la prise de décision sont identifiés. Les trois causes de retard les plus citées sont : la peur de l’incertitude, la peur de la hiérarchie et la difficulté des décisions d’arrêt. Sur la base des facteurs identifiés, un recueil de bonnes pratiques est construit pour les acteurs du processus de prise de décision qui aident à former, mûrir, communiquer, digérer, respecter et finalement exécuter les décisions collaborativesCollaborative decisions may be deferred when faced with a high degree of uncertainty, especially when public health and high investments are at stake and in situations that seem non-urgent, as is the case in pharmaceutical R and D projects. This thesis investigates the causes of recurrent delay in collaborative decision-making under uncertainty, and the efficient practices to reduce this delay. To better understand the problem of delay in decision-making under uncertainty, we first review the notion of uncertainty and propose a definition of uncertainty adapted to project management. Then, the decision-making process in drug development projects is modeled, highlighting the information life cycle from its generation to its consumption i.e. the decision itself. It includes individual reflection and group interaction, clarifying how information is processed differently by decision-makers. To analyze past conflicts and anticipate future ones, based on this model, an index is defined that measures the risk of invalidating a decision a posteriori. Finally, through an in-depth interview-based approach, 252 key factors that affect decision-making are pointed out. The three most-mentioned causes of delay are: fear of uncertainty, fear of hierarchy, and difficulty of No Go decisions. Based on the identified factors, a compendium of practices is constructed for the actors of the decision-making process that help collaborative decisions to be formed, matured, digested, respected, and finally executed
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Alsaqqa, Obada. "Fuzzy Time-Delay Model in Fault-Tree Analysis for Critical Path Method." The Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1429772426.
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kuo, Hung-Hsin, and 郭鴻信. "Investigating the Project Schedule Delay Causes-A Case Study of Sewage Treatment Plant Project." Thesis, 2014. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/vg6z7e.
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碩士國立雲林科技大學
營建工程系
102
Differing from roadway, bridge and other general construction projects, the sewage treatment plant construction project containing architecture, structure, geo-technology, environmental engineering, mechanism and electrical engineering calls for good integration interfaces and its schedule of construction has much to do with the discharge of wastewater after completing the buildings of factories. It is vividly to realize that sewage treatment plants play an important role in the construction of factories even though the leading chip packaging and testing firm, Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc. faced headwinds and was ordered to suspend operations by Environmental Protection Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government due to the neglect of handling of sewage. This work manages the literature reviews from mainly three aspects including the contract specification within engineering units focusing on “progress” and “schedule”, project management and delayed works of plant construction and studies the causes why the projects delay by means of graphed management methods and “Earned Value Management” commonly applied to construction projects. Considering a delayed project, the research starts from S-curve and breaks down the weight by exerting Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) method and studies the weight of countable progress of electromechanical appliances. In addition, some review works are also done to explore the relation between the facilities of projects to be approved and the schedule of procurement and subcontract and the progress of project with the view of analyzing the affecting factors causing delays in construction daily reports. With the analysis of “Earned Value Graph”, both Schedule Performance Index (SPI) and S-curve suggest that the whole project lags through the calculation of project value (PV), earned value (EV) and actual cost (AC), however, the project cost can be controlled under budget during the later period when the value is evaluated by Cost Performance Index (CPI). When it comes to procurement and subcontract, the schedule will result in postponement, which can be arguably attributed to an inflexible floor pricing strategy. Given that the follow-up altered design and extension of construction fail to meet the expected schedules, the loss of delay penalty will have an influence on the CPI of cost and budget. The result of study aims at dissecting the related problems causing delays of projects and being the valuable reference for the subsequent schemes of construction.
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Huang, Chih-Yuan, and 黃祉元. "Seeking for Critical Factors Leading Hardware Project Delay-A Case Study of Mobile Phone Industry in Taiwan." Thesis, 2013. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/y9qa2k.
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碩士國立臺北科技大學
管理學院工業工程與管理EMBA專班
101
With the advance in technology and the increasing consumer demand for new functions and innovations, hardware and technology development have been pushing forward at full throttle. The shifting winds and the increasing demand in the market, however, have compounded the task of integrating a product at all levels, be it the hardware, mechanics, industrial design. One single development project is sometimes divided into various sub-projects, commencing at the same time but in different places, bringing even more uncertainties into play. This makes it difficult for the project managers to keep tabs on the progress and keep the entire project in check. It is not uncommon for hardware development projects to be subject to uncertainties. Uncertainties are often inevitable during the initial design stage, but, as the product approaches the final mass production stage, uncertainties such as product integration (integration of the mechanics, hardware, and software) may continue to plague the project, heralding various problems that require multiple solutions. Essentially, hardware-related issues are quite diversified and thus extremely difficult to address. How well these issues are embraced hinges highly on the experience and skills of the developer. A hardware development project is deemed complete and accurate only when the product is near the mass production stage. The occurrence of problems during the development process would only lead to time ill-spent on handling delays, and completely disrupt the overall management effort. In any hardware development project, managers have to oversee various tasks; yet, most spend their time dealing with problems arising from an overrun schedule, leaving them little time and energy to deal with the actual management tasks as they should have. Therefore, the importance of creating contingency plans for such delays cannot be over-emphasized. This paper aims to identify the factors in causing delays in hardware development projects. Suggestions for addressing such issues are provided accordingly.
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YU, WANG-YUH, and 余汪育. "An Investigation of Critical Factors Causing Schedule Delay for Public Construction-A Case Study of Petrochemical Plant Building EPC Project." Thesis, 2018. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/fb8fy7.
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碩士國立高雄應用科技大學
高階經營管理研究所碩士在職專班
106
Government agencies always aim at performing on schedule, of good quality, on budget controlling, and accident free when they execute public construction projects. In order to complete the project by meeting planned schedule and make a reasonable profit, contractors should do their best to crash the activities by taking costs and business reputation in consideration. Therefore, the government agencies and the contractors are in the same boat where both should collaborate to achieve mutual benefits. The government agencies have been building the petrochemical plants by applying the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) procedure and the most advantageous tender model to improve the efficiency and quality for a long time. However, there are still cases of not meeting project schedule and unable to complete on time. Due to the fact that the government agencies and the contractors have individual standpoints, if dispute happened, the government agencies would enforce a delay penalty or relinquish the contract. Many contractors think that they are treated unfairly by the incurred dispute mediation as well as arbitration and litigation. This study will not judge who is right or wrong but rather utilizing a case study of petrochemical plant building EPC project to demonstrate critical factors causing schedule delay. Through reviewing of related literature, interviews with specialists, and Delphi questionnaires, this study develops a framework of seven aspects and 28 factors for evaluating schedule delay factors. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was then implemented to compute the relative weights of the associated aspects and factors to identify the critical factors. The results show that the top three important aspects of schedule delay of petrochemical plant building EPC project are the environment, supervise and construction management. The most critical factor of schedule delay is that the construction permits were rejected. It is suggested that the results of this study could be provided to petrochemical EPC project as a reference and help create a win-win situation for the government agencies and the contractors.
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Hsu, Tang-Kai, and 許唐愷. "The study about searching and analyzing the delay in the critical path in a random environment - A Case Study of Construction Project." Thesis, 2012. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/83522951022017850572.
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碩士國立勤益科技大學
工業工程與管理系
100
Even though the modern progress management theories and methods have generally matured in Taiwan , the building techniques are more and more progressive, the information technology has quickly grown much, and the procedures in the construction and system consolidation are specially more efficient than before, many professional cases in Taiwan's construction camp have still been delayed and the more significant the professional case, the more serious the Agency delay associated with increased costs. For example, Taipei and Kaohsiung mass transit system works are like this. According to the data analysis, nearly 52% of all the construction project cases in Taiwan are very obvious backward, so it is evident that the progress control in project management remains many unsolved problems. Owing to the establishment of a number of assumptions, analysis tool commonly used in the construction industry - Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)makes its application subject to considerable restrictions, such as the face of large and complex project PERT can not be performed the more accurate estimate, and ignored in computing path dependency caused by the estimation bias. This study will use the Label-Correcting Tracing Algorithm (LCTA) and further develop in this paper a modified Revised Stochastic Dominance Operator (RSDO) in a random environment to overcome the disadvantages about the construction industry in the duration of assessment PERT and at the same time take into consideration the problem of path dependency and path deviation in order that as facing the large-scale network we can still estimate efficiently its completion time and probability distribution. By way of searching the Critical Path (CP)in the construction project, we can control or deal with all the project assessment problems, and improve those in order to let constructors be able to estimate efficiently project case's working days, control the progress and determine the appropriate amount of input data sources to ensure timely completion and effectively reduce costs and losses.
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Sumanta, Rama. "Applying project management techniques to improve due date performance: the case of a papua power plant construction in Indonesia." Master's thesis, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/10071/22908.
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Obstacles can occur on a project causing nonconformance in terms of time and cost. A Power
Plant in Indonesia is being constructed and the project was still underway, when a delay was
anticipated. In this case, the construction progress was only 13.1% on day-92, while it should
have been completed around 26.4% to finish within 184 days.
This thesis purpose is to identify and analyze the delay causes, by applying Critical Path
Method (CPM) and Project Evaluation Review Technique (PERT) methods. Data concerning
project activities and three estimation times were collected from internal reports and semistructured interviews, as follows: optimistic, most likely, and pessimistic durations. A project
schedule and the critical path were computed by using Microsoft-Excel and Microsoft-Project
software to operationalize PERT/CPM methods. These results were analyzed using of s-curve,
network diagram and probability calculation, to anticipate the due date achievement level. The
delay causes were collected by subsequent interview and treated by the Fishbone Analysis,
which enabled the following categorization of failures: labor, machine, material, environment
and method. These provided support for managers to take action. Finally, a discussion
concerning the traditional methods of Project Management, i.e., Design-Bid-Build, suggests
that Building Information Modelling (BIM) could generate better synchronization among
stakeholders, by eliminating the major source of delays. Also, the Life Cycle Assessment was
found necessary to decrease carbon dioxide emissions, so the building could achieve more
sustainable performances. Moreover, integrating BIM, Building Energy Modelling and LC
Energy Analysis was suggested to improve project sustainability.Num projecto, há obstáculos que podem causar não-conformidades, no tempo e custo. No caso em apreço, antecipou-se um atraso numa Central Hidroelétrica em construção. No dia 92, o avanço da construção era de apenas 13,1%, enquanto deveria ter sido concluído 26.4%, para ser possível terminar o projecto em 184 dias. O objetivo desta dissertação é identificar e analisar as causas de atraso, aplicando o Critical Path Method (CPM) e a Progam Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT). Os dados relativos às atividades do projeto e às estimativas de tempos otimista, mais-provável e pessimista foram recolhidos em relatórios e entrevistas semi-estruturadas. O cronograma e caminho crítico foram calculados através do Microsoft-Excel e Microsoft-Project que operacionalizam os métodos PERT/CPM. Para antecipar o cumprimento da data de entrega prevista, esses resultados foram analisados através da s-curva, diagrama de rede e cálculo de probabilidades. As causas de atraso foram recolhidas por consequentes entrevistas e tratadas pela Análise-de-Espinha-de-Peixe, o que permitiu a categorização das falhas em mão de obra, máquina, material, ambiente e método. Finalmente, uma discussão sobre os métodos tradicionais de gestão de projetos, ou seja, DesignBid-Build sugere que o Building Information Modelling (BIM) poderia gerar melhor sincronização entre as partes interessadas, para eliminar a principal fonte de atrasos. Além disso, a Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida foi considerada necessária para diminuir as emissões de CO2, para que o edifício pudesse atingir um desempenho sustentável. Também foi sugerida a integração entre BIM, Building Energy Modeling e LC Energy Analysis para melhorar a sustentabilidade do projeto.
Books on the topic "Critical causes of project delay"
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Flower, Oliver, and Matthew Mac Partlin. Pathophysiology, causes, and management of non-traumatic spinal injury. Oxford University Press, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/med/9780199600830.003.0242.
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Non-traumatic spinal cord injury (NTSCI) is at least as common as traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). It affects both sexes equally and an older population than TSCI. It is a devastating condition with immense functional implications for the individuals involved. There is a wide spectrum of aetiologies with varying pathophysiology and knowledge of these is important to avoid delay in diagnosis and time-critical treatment. The most common causes described in case series in developed countries are degenerative disc disease, canal stenosis, tumours, vascular diseases and inflammatory conditions. History and examination may help direct investigations, but magnetic resonance imaging is usually required. Management of NTSCI focuses on diagnosing and treating the precipitating cause, supportive management, and preventing complications. The outcomes of non-traumatic spinal cord injury are similar to those of traumatic spinal cord injury and depend on the grade and level of injury, pre-morbid status, and concurrent co-morbidities.
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Babar, Zahra, ed. Mobility and Forced Displacement in the Middle East. Oxford University Press, 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197531365.001.0001.
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The Middle East is currently facing one of its most critical migration challenges, as the region has become the simultaneous producer of and host to the world’s largest population of displaced people. As a result of ongoing conflicts, particularly in Syria, Libya, Iraq, and Yemen, there have been sharp increases in the numbers of the internally displaced, forced migrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers. Despite the burgeoning degree of policy interest and heated public discourse on the impact of these refugees on European states, most of these dislocated populations are living within the borders of the Middle East.This volume is the outcome of a grants-based project to support in-depth, empirically based examinations of mobility and displacement within the Middle East and to gain a fuller understanding of the forms, causes, dimensions, patterns, and effects of migration, both voluntary and forced. As the following chapters in this volume will demonstrate, through this series of case studies we are seeking to broaden our understanding of the population movements that are seen in the Middle East and hope to emphasize that regional migration is a complex, widespread, and persistent phenomenon in the region, best studied from a multidisciplinary perspective. This volume explores the conditions, causes, and consequences of ongoing population displacements in the Middle East. In doing so, it also serves as a lens to better understand some of the profound social, economic, and political dynamics at work across the region.
Book chapters on the topic "Critical causes of project delay"
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Ibrahim, Jimoh, Christoph Loch, and Kishore Sengupta. "Two Power Plants." In How Megaprojects Are Damaging Nigeria and How to Fix It, 151–60. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-96474-0_8.
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AbstractThis first project, the Egbin Power Plant, was initiated under a civilian government and delayed because of two coups. But then the military government supported the project (which had a strong value proposition) and saw it through.The second project, the Calabar Power Plant, was a part of a large highly ambitious scheme to build 11 power plants, which ran out of money as well as neglecting critical components of the network surrounding a plant (gas supplies and power distribution lines). So, the power plant hardware itself was completed after a delay, but the plant still delivers little power because gas supplies are too expensive and power delivery is subject to capacity limits and price controls that make operation of the plant unaffordable.
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Sanyal, Manas Kumar, Sudhangsu Das, and Sajal Bhadra. "Challenges towards Implementation of e-Government Project in West Bengal, India: A Fishbone Analysis in Order to Find Out the Root Causes of Challenges." In ICT and Critical Infrastructure: Proceedings of the 48th Annual Convention of Computer Society of India- Vol II, 749–59. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03095-1_81.
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Aryblia, Maria, Lúcio Quintal, Μiguel Ribeiro, Nikolaos Sifakis, Stavroula Tournaki, and Theocharis Tsoutsos. "Climate Change Mitigation Through Smart Environmental Monitoring of the Urban Ecosystem in Insular Touristic Cities: Experience from Rethymno and Madeira." In Sustainable Mobility for Island Destinations, 129–47. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73715-3_8.
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AbstractCities, and general urban areas, contribute critically to climate change because of the GHGs related to traffic congestion, fossil fuel consumption, noise and air pollution. Air pollution, despite the noteworthy improvements during the last decades, still plays a significant role in the quality of living in European cities as it causes damages to health and ecosystems, thus making urgent the immoderate need of diminishing it. Within the Horizon 2020 CIVITAS DESTINATIONS project, six European island cities, which are highly attractive destinations for tourists worldwide, implemented various sustainable mobility measures. Among them, Funchal, Madeira-Portugal, and Rethymno, Crete-Greece, implemented two different environmental monitoring systems to measure and calculate a predetermined set of indicators, capable of estimating the environmental benefits in transport, economy, society, energy, and the environment. The monitoring systems were installed in specific sites all around these two cities, aiming, through the integrated sensors, to collect environmental data related to transport load, such as environmental indexes (temperature, humidity, noise) and air pollutants (CO2, CO, NOx, SO2, PM). The collection of critical and reliable data offers the opportunity for an effective evaluation of the overall performance of the implemented measures toward sustainable, environmentally friendly, and low-carbon mobility policies.
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Phadtare, Milind T. "Causes of Delay in Budget Hotel Construction Projects." In Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1085–99. IGI Global, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-9619-8.ch047.
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Delay in construction projects is a universal phenomenon. However, the topic is not adequately studied in the Indian context. This paper attempts to identify the causes of delays in construction of budget hotels in India and suggest remedies to avoid some delays. A business group constructing budget hotels across the country is approached for this study. Forty causes of delay have been identified and Relative Importance Index was calculated. The contribution of each category of causes of delay to overall delay in the projects was computed. Remedies such as, joint effort of the participants of the industry, training, coordination between project participants and project timing and scheduling are suggested and validated.
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Iromuanya, Chi, Kathleen M. Hargiss, and Caroline Howard. "Critical Risk Path Method." In Transportation Systems and Engineering, 572–84. IGI Global, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-8473-7.ch028.
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Existing approaches to risk management in construction procurement primarily dwell on strategies designed for commonly identifiable risk factors in typical project environments. Commonly identifiable risk factors would include too early or late material delivery - a condition typically ameliorated by implementing a Just In Time (JIT) plan; inferior construction materials typically mitigated by employing trusted vendors; or ineffective contractors primarily avoided by the use of experienced contractors. The purpose of this paper is to present a coherent model for procurement risk management for construction and infrastructure development projects within the context of dynamic project environments - complex, or chaotic. For the purpose of this study, a critical risk path activity is one in which a delay of activity completion not only leads to project delay, but does so in a manner that may be fatal to project or at best, far greater than the actual delay. The study incorporates observations and theory with practical application for improving initiatives by emergency infrastructure development response organizations such as FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and USACE (US Army Corps of Engineers) in the United States, the NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency) in Nigeria, or ANDMA (Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority) etc. This study presents risk response plans aimed at improving the potential occurrence of positive risk aspects while reducing, or eliminating the same for negative risk occurrences. This study explored material, equipment, and skilled labor procurement strategies related to project risk management from the perspectives of scheduling, cost, and quality - three factors often referred to as the triple project constraints. It identified gaps within specific national and multinational organizations' approaches, and provided detailed recommendations for process improvements from the procurement management perspective to ensure the potential for successful project outcomes in unstable project conditions.
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Romanelli, Erik, and Laurence Ring. "Preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome in the Parturient." In Critical Care, 147–56. Oxford University PressNew York, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/med/9780190885939.003.0020.
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Abstract Preeclampsia is a multisystemic disorder of pregnancy defined by the presence of hypertension after 20-weeks gestational age in combination with either proteinuria or new onset of 1 of 5 findings (thrombocytopenia, renal insufficiency, pulmonary edema, cerebral or visual symptoms, and impaired liver function). It affects approximately 3% to 4% of pregnant women and ranks among the leading causes of maternal mortality. Although the exact pathophysiology of preeclampsia is not completely understood, its development is likely a consequence of abnormalities in placental growth and implantation leading to vascular hyperreactivity and widespread endothelial dysfunction. Delay in diagnosis can result in intracranial hemorrhage, pulmonary edema, placental abruption, renal failure, and even death. Treatment is largely centered around achieving blood pressure control with antihypertensive therapies, seizure prophylaxis with magnesium sulfate infusion, and expeditious delivery in more severe cases.
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Bennett, Peggy D. "The wisdom of delay." In Teaching with Vitality. Oxford University Press, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190673987.003.0060.
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In schools, the volume and frequency of questions and decisions can be smothering on some days. With fast- paced inquiries and lickety- split decisions, we may forget the value and necessity of pausing. • “I’ll get back to you about that.” • “Let me think about how I want to respond.” • “Tomorrow I’ll let you know what the consequences will be.” • “I’ll consider your request and let you know of my decision.” Replying immediately is not always a good idea. Whether reacting to a proposal, an infraction, or a critical remark, delaying our reply can be wise. Of course, there are times when a delay may be inappropriate or ineffective. One way to choose is to take three seconds to decide whether a situation or a person is demanding an immediate response. Then make a judgment about how to offer the best response. • In response to a co- worker’s request to change a schedule or delay a project: “Let me consider what is involved with that change, and I’ll let you know shortly.” • A parent notifies you that her child will miss an upcoming, required event: “I’m startled to hear that. I want to consider the implications before I give you my response.” • An administrator expects you to discontinue your beloved annual school program: “This comes as a shock. I want to have a conversation about this, but not right now. I’ll make an appointment for tomorrow.” Brief postponement of a response can offer the strength of a deep breath, the perspective of further query, and the potential of a calm, reasoned rejoinder. Whether our delay is twenty- four minutes or twenty- four hours, we take time to craft our response. And we often feel the vivid sense of strength, centeredness, and power that results. For self- preservation, as well as fair- mindedness and evenhandedness toward others, consider the wisdom of delay. Hesitation can have its benefits.
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Shang, Kailan. "Improving Objectivity in Project Risk Management." In Advances in IT Personnel and Project Management, 248–65. IGI Global, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-1790-0.ch012.
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Project risk management requires subject matter expertise to identify and assess relevant and sometimes unique risks. Insufficient experience data and fast evolvement of emerging risks in the field of project risk management make qualitative analysis more prevalent in project risk assessment. Therefore, expert knowledge and experience play a critical role in project risk management. On the other hand, the resulting subjectivity often leads to inconsistent risk assessment. Undesired consequences include cost underestimation, risk underestimation and resource misallocation. This chapter discusses the causes and adverse impact of subjectivity in project risk management and methods to improve objectivity. It covers common human biases in project risk management and introduces measures to improve objectivity in project risk management using expert diversification, risk culture, process mining, fuzzy logic models, and back testing.
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Kraft, Theresa A., and Annette Lerine Steenkamp. "A Holistic Approach for Understanding Project Management." In Systems Approach Applications for Developments in Information Technology, 25–39. IGI Global, 2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-1562-5.ch003.
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Companies invest significant sums of money in major Information Technology (IT) projects, yet success remains limited. Despite an abundance of IT Project Management (ITPM) resources available to project teams, such as the Project Management Institute (PMI) Body of Knowledge, IT standards and IT governance, a large percentage of IT projects continue to fail and ultimately get scrapped. Recent studies have shown an average of 66% IT project failure rate, with 52% of the projects being cancelled, and 82% being delivered late. The purpose of this research was to provide a way for uncovering potential causes of IT project failures by utilizing a systemic and holistic approach to identify critical success factors for project management. The holistic approach has enabled the development of an ITPM conceptual model, which provides a method to evaluate the critical success factors of a given project, and their alignment with each other. The adoption of the systemic methodology and its implementation increase the potential for IT project success, and alert project leaders of potential problems throughout the life of the project.
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Simon, Vilmos, and Sándor Imre. "Location Area Design Algorithms for Minimizing Signalling Costs in Mobile Networks." In Mobile Computing, 682–95. IGI Global, 2009. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/978-1-60566-054-7.ch057.
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In the next generation, IP-based mobile networks, one of the most important QoS parameters, are the delay and the delay variation. The cell handover causes incremental signalling traffic, which can be critical from the point of view of delay variation. It worsens the quality parameters of the real-time services, which are the backbone of next generation mobile commercial services. We have designed and implemented two algorithms: a location area forming algorithm (LAFA) and a cell regrouping algorithm (CEREAL), which can help us to guarantee QoS parameters in the next generation mobile networks. We used our realistic mobile environment simulator to generate input statistics on cell changes and incoming calls for our algorithms and by comparing the values of the cost functions proposed by us, we recognized that significant reduction was achieved in the amount of the signalling traffic; the location update cost was decreased by 40-60% in average.
Conference papers on the topic "Critical causes of project delay"
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Rawat, Manish Bhushan, and Hamdan Helal Al Jneibi. "Quality Hot Spots and Effective Mitigation for Successful Oil and Gas Projects." In ADIPEC. SPE, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/210798-ms.
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Abstract Quality is one of the most important pillars of the project's success. The cost and schedule of an Oil and Gas Project are directly affected by quality failures at any stage. Moreover, hidden quality risks at the facility operation stage can compromise asset integrity and endanger safety. Stakeholders always strive to comply with quality requirements. Despite the best intentions, Oil and gas projects experience critical quality failures called "Hot Spots" which are a part of most lessons learned. In this paper, we present several critical Quality Failures that usually occur during Oil and Gas Projects, posing a real danger to the project's completion milestones. In light of this, the top "Hot Spots" identified are: Lack of attention to EXOTIC materials such as Inconel and Super duplex stainless steel Ineffective FLANGE MANAGEMENT practices in construction Failure to implement proper preservation management practices in construction Corrosive services in oil and gas facilities require exotic materials such as Inconel and Super duplex Stainless Steel. It is, however, necessary to ensure strict quality control during the manufacturing and fabrication of these materials. These EXOTIC materials may cause costly delays during start-up or commissioning if manufacturing or fabrication defects are carried over. One of the primary causes is routine Quality Control during manufacturing and fabrication, which is often insufficient. It is imperative to enhance Quality Control as a proactive approach when dealing with exotic materials. Furthermore, the Vendor/Fabricator's manufacturing process and fabrication control and prior performance record specific to these materials must be critically analyzed. Performing flange management incorrectly can result in repetitive leaks, which impedes commissioning. Also, incorrect bolting or gaskets/sealing materials can have a significant safety impact. The root cause is often a lack of attention during execution and mistaking it for a standard bolt tightening process. The management of flanges requires a holistic approach, including the engagement of Specialized Subcontractors and adhering to written procedures. Mega Projects require materials and equipment to be stored for months and even years before commissioning can begin. Lack of proper site storage and preservation can impair sensitive instruments, rotating equipment, and cause corrosion issues in piping in the future. As stakeholders prioritize Cost and Schedule in the project, Site Preservation activities receive less attention. Critical materials and equipment may deteriorate as a result. There is a need for early action by project stakeholders and more accountability when it comes to preservation. According to this paper, project stakeholders should take PROACTIVE measures to avoid these Quality hot spots.
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Cunha, J. C., J. Eric Bickel, Luis Mendoza, Jeremy Walker, Ellen Coopersmith, and Craig A. McKnight. "A Tool for Improving Decision Quality on Upstream Consortia." In Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference. SPE, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/207849-ms.
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Abstract This article aims to provide a guideline to better decision quality on multi-company upstream projects. The scope is to provide a high-level overview of what should be included in a decision quality process, when companies with different levels of ownership and influence on the decision-making process naturally tend to have different approaches towards risks and decision management. It is well known in our industry that there is a predominance of multicompany participation in these projects and the paper will provide guidelines that will ultimately provide better decision quality and participant's alignment. Normally high-risk upstream projects have multi-company ownership. However, it has been noticed that companies tend to face decision management differently, which causes unnecessary delays on budget approvals and even operational timeline. Procedures to normalize the definition of an initial decision frame and creation of solutions based on a good set of alternatives are paramount to facilitate discussions and drive final recommendations. In summary, companies’ alignment on decision-making processes is key to quality, speed, and effectiveness of those decisions and critical to project success. Alignment between partners on pivotal decisions can significantly improve project delivery. The main results are practical guidelines for generating (a) decision framing, (b) strategies, (c) alternatives and potential consequences, and (d) logical analysis, partners’ alignment and commitment to action.
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Sturgeon, I. L., and J. B. Thomson. "Application of Best Practice Manufacturing Methodologies to Support Achievement of Planned Decommissioning Timescales and Costs." In ASME 2003 9th International Conference on Radioactive Waste Management and Environmental Remediation. ASMEDC, 2003. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/icem2003-4625.
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The decommissioning of major nuclear plant facilities will inevitably involve a number of project areas where significant levels of processing and manufacturing tasks are required. Typically this includes key task areas such as: • ILW materials retrievals and handling; • ILW / LLW materials processing and encapsulation; • Contaminated surfaces remediation; • Import of materials at dedicated ILW Stores. All such areas involve a series of high level project stages: 1) Design, install and commission facilities; 2) Operate facilities to complete the project tasks (retrievals, processing etc); 3) Post Operative Clean Out and final removal of plant and buildings. The time periods involved with the second (operational) stages have, in many cases, planned durations that are measured in terms of years rather than months. Variations in achieved performance levels can have a much higher impact on the project completion dates than is often appreciated. Given that material processing operations often constitute key critical path elements of the wider site decommissioning timing plans, it follows that any delays are likely to extend site completion dates and can incur costs at a rate of many millions of pounds per year. This paper outlines the often unforeseen risks inherent in the processing/manufacturing activities in this phase of decommissioning and identifies the typical root causes and issues that contribute to operational losses. This paper holds that many of these risks can be largely anticipated and mitigated in the design stages if an operational perspective is applied with appropriate tools. Since many of the projects involved in decommissioning have singular and challenging engineering requirements there is a heightened need to focus on potential processing issues from the earliest project stages. Therefore project phases from initial concept design right through to successful completion are considered. The text details a range of operational improvement methods and techniques (along with illustrations from specific projects) that are increasingly being adopted to mitigate the risks of significant project delays and overspend in the nuclear sector. Importantly, these tools are underpinned by realistic operational data to guide and support project and engineering decisions. This approach has been effectively deployed in a number of strategically important projects within the current BNFL and BNFL Environmental Services decommissioning programs. This paper argues that despite the levels of general engineering and technical excellence found within the Nuclear Industry, there remains a need to encompass ‘best practice’ methodologies from other industries. Specifically, this paper argues for the increasing adoption of manufacturing improvement methodologies that have been successfully developed in other industries (notably the automotive, pharmaceutical and technology sectors) to promote robust designs that subsequently deliver effective and efficient plants. This paper holds that these techniques can be successfully incorporated into process dependant decommissioning projects, and that, without utilisation of such methods, the taxpayers of countries participating in these programmes are unlikely to get value for money.
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Lidar, Per, Niklas Bergh, Arne Larsson, and Gunnar Hedin. "Waste Management Strategy for Cost Effective and Environmentally Friendly NPP Decommissioning." In ASME 2013 15th International Conference on Environmental Remediation and Radioactive Waste Management. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2013. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/icem2013-96006.
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Decommissioning of nuclear power plants generates large volumes of radioactive or potentially radioactive waste. The proper management of the dismantling waste plays an important role for the time needed for the dismantling phase and thus is critical to the decommissioning cost. An efficient and thorough process for inventorying, characterization and categorization of the waste provides a sound basis for the planning process. As part of comprehensive decommissioning studies for Nordic NPPs, Westinghouse has developed the decommissioning inventories that have been used for estimations of the duration of specific work packages and the corresponding costs. As part of creating the design basis for a national repository for decommissioning waste, the total production of different categories of waste packages has also been predicted. Studsvik has developed a risk based concept for categorization and handling of the generated waste using six different categories with a span from extremely small risk for radiological contamination to high level waste. The two companies have recently joined their skills in the area of decommissioning on selected market in a consortium named ndcon to further strengthen the proposed process. Depending on the risk for radiological contamination or the radiological properties and other properties of importance for waste management, treatment routes are proposed with well-defined and proven methods for on-site or off-site treatment, activity determination and conditioning. The system is based on a graded approach philosophy aiming for high confidence and sustainability, aiming for re-use and recycling where found applicable. The objective is to establish a process where all dismantled material has a pre-determined treatment route. These routes should through measurements, categorization, treatment, conditioning, intermediate storage and final disposal be designed to provide a steady, un-disturbed flow of material to avoid interruptions. Bottle-necks in the process causes increased space requirements and will have negative impact on the project schedule, which increases not only the cost but also the dose exposure to personnel. For these reasons it is critical to create a process that transfers material into conditioned waste ready for disposal as quickly as possible. To a certain extent the decommissioning program should be led by the waste management process. With the objective to reduce time for handling of dismantled material at site and to efficiently and environmental-friendly use waste management methods (clearance for re-use followed by clearance for recycling), the costs for the plant decommissioning could be reduced as well as time needed for performing the decommissioning project. Also, risks for delays would be reduced with a well-defined handling scheme which limits surprises. Delays are a major cost driver for decommissioning projects.
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Epur, Sheshi, Aaron Schartner, and Frank Sander. "Achieving North American Record for Longest Intelligent Inspection of a Natural Gas Pipeline." In 2018 12th International Pipeline Conference. American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2018. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/ipc2018-78601.
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TransCanada was faced with a significant challenge to inspect a 941 km NPS 48 pipeline. The options for the inline inspection (ILI) were multiple segments which would cause an increased cost with new pigging facilities required and a delay to the ILI schedule or attempt to pig the longest natural gas pipeline section in North America. The extraordinary proposal would require a massive 48″ combination Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) tool to traverse a high-speed gas pipeline 941km from Burstall, Saskatchewan to Ile des Chenes, Manitoba, Canada. Given the alternative of the installation of 3 additional launcher and receiver stations and the risk to overall project schedule from extended inspection operations, TransCanada took the bold decision to perform an MFL inspection in a single pass. However, as expected, this option created a new set of challenges to guarantee first run success in one of the harshest environments for an ILI tool and in a line where the cleanliness condition was unknown. This last factor, was a critical concern as the volumes of debris that could be collected with the highly aggressive MFL tool brushes, could easily and very quickly have led to very significant debris build up during inspection that at best would likely cause degraded data leading to an unwanted re-run and at worst the possibility of a stuck pig and subsequent retrieval program. From a project perspective either occurance was considered to be mission critical — if either occurred there was no easy solution to collecting the much needed condition data of the pipeline. In July 2017, a successful VECTRA HD GEMINI inspection was completed. This paper discusses the main program risks, mitigation steps taken over and above a standard ILI run. Key considerations and actions taken relating to additional engineering and tool modifications to various components of the inspection vehicle itself will be discussed. Lastly, insight will be given into an extensive smart cleaning program developed with the ILI vendor, using a combination of mechanical cleaning associated and debris level assessment, specifically designed and tailored for the project to ensure that the pipeline was both ready for ILI and that cleaning had reached optimum for ILI so that full, high quality MFL data would be collected the first time.
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Niazai, Ghulam Abbas, and Kassim Gidado. "Causes of Project Delay in the Construction Industry in Afghanistan." In International Conference on Engineering, Project, and Production Management. Association of Engineering, Project, and Production Management, 2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.32738/ceppm.201209.0007.
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Karunakaran, S., M. Z. Ramli, M. A. Malek, A. A. Musir, N. F. Imran, N. F. S. M. Fuad, M. H. Zawawi, and M. Z. Zainal. "Causes of delay on highway construction project in Klang valley." In GREEN DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE: ADVANCED AND EMERGING APPLICATIONS: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Green Design and Manufacture 2018. Author(s), 2018. http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5066883.
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Tveritnev, Alexey, and Syed Jahangir. "An Optimization of Corporate Data Management by Cycle Time Reduction of Logging Data Submission in the Database." In ADIPEC. SPE, 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/210905-ms.
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Abstract Subsurface data integrity is a complex and critical task in any E&P company. It is starts from accurate planning then acquisition, processing, storing and further implementation for generating corporate value. This cycle time of data incorporation process should be quick to have maximum information before taken investment decision. Any delay of data incorporation considered as value loss. The objective is improving of existing process of data submission for reduction a total time of submission cycle. The process optimization of data submission done by following basic principles of Six Sigma methodology. This method has five main sequential steps: defining, measure, analyze, improve and control. The problem definition selected based on data submission KPI failure, such fact accepted by all stakeholders and included in project charter. The next step includes detailed measure and establishing an existing workflow. It helps to identify possible failures cases based on end-users group sessions and followed by identifying root causes. After that, solutions generated during brainstorm sessions and control mechanism established to assure the execution of process improvement implementation. By applying a systematic approach and gathering all stakeholders from different Company business units allows optimizing a multifunctional process of data delivery to improve corporate KPI and preserve value of the data. There are several solutions generated for implementation, developing an automated corporate tracking system for log data submission focus on timely awareness of stakeholders for required actions, reviewing an organizational role and responsibilities for each subunit to streamline communication channel. Another improvement related to frequent service quality meeting to monitor data delivery status and align between all involved parties like end user, contract team, data management and vendors. The last but not least solution focus on amending of existing service level agreement to capture missing technical features of logging data acquisition and interpretation at different steps of data submission (Figure 1). The economic effect is a combination of two parts, an additional production of newly drilled wells due to timely update of a reservoir model and avoiding a liquidated damage as result of late data access for the end users. An improvement of a workflow or business processes based on consistent Six Sigma method allows success implementation of technical SOP within the Company with broad organization chart. The benefit of initiation a process optimization project by technical end user is always aiming the existing failure in the process by solving which gain the entire company value.
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Ökten, Burcu Balaban, Yaprak Arıcı Üstüner, and Anıl Aksoy. "Labor Productivity on Construction Sites: A Case Study of Biological Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction." In 4th International Conference of Contemporary Affairs in Architecture and Urbanism – Full book proceedings of ICCAUA2020, 20-21 May 2021. Alanya Hamdullah Emin Paşa University, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.38027/iccaua2021211n13.
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The production efficiency of labor on construction sites is an important factor for the success of projects. Skills, experience, and training are among the critical factors affecting labor productivity on construction sites. Especially in construction sites where a new construction technique is used, the teams' efficiency is affected by the learning processes. Laborers' unfamiliarity with the new technique can cause time delays and, accordingly, cost overruns. This research examines laborers' challenges in building an unfamiliar structure at construction sites through a case study. With a comprehensive literature review, interactions between laborers' learning process for new structures and construction time estimation were examined, and the case has been evaluated accordingly. It was observed that the time estimation could not be predicted during an unfamiliar construction form such as examined in the field study. This study is aimed to set an example for the construction sites where new productions take place.
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Zipori, Y. "An Analysis of Design and Digital Manufacturing Processes in a PLM Environment for the Aerospace Industry." In ASME 2008 9th Biennial Conference on Engineering Systems Design and Analysis. ASMEDC, 2008. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/esda2008-59588.
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Product Life Cycle Management (PLM) is a system that integrates computerized tools and methodologies for managing the engineering knowledge and information that defines products. The PLM approach covers all the stages of the product lifecycle, beginning with the initial concept definition and including requirement characterization, detailed design, analyses and simulations, transition from development to production, production planning, production, maintenance and end of life. PLM tools support design processes distributed among decentralized development groups, as well as knowledge and information management within and outside the organization, including suppliers, clients and business partners. As in ERP, which supports the supply chain and management of the organization’s operations, assets and resources, PLM supports the product definition information chain and management of the organization’s intellectual property (IP). PLM systems comprise the following main and tightly integrated components: • Systems engineering and requirement management tools; • CAD tools for defining the digital product; • Product data and engineering processes management – PDM; • Digital manufacturing system, including design and simulation of production lines. Integrating PLM into the management system can shorten time-to-market, reduce expenses, improve quality and encourage innovation and creativity in developing products and planning production and service processes. The paper describes the principles and components of the PLM approach and presents a case study involving a PLM implementation at Boeing and Airbus. The case study describes the design and digital manufacturing of the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787 aircraft. Both companies used similar tools in the PLM environment. At the time of the study (2006), Airbus used Dassault Catia V4 and Catia V5 with the Enovia PLM system, while Boeing used Dassault Catia V5 with Enovia. Major differences were found in system implementation, engineering process definitions and management methods, leading to entirely different results. The main differences in the implementations at Boeing and at Airbus were as follows: • In both cases, the engineering project and the business environment were extremely complex. At Airbus, design and production took place in four different countries at 16 different sites, with 41,000 employees. At Boeing, 6,000 engineers at 135 sites designed the plane, with 300 major suppliers; • In the case of Airbus, because of CAD system incompatibility changes in the design of the electrical wiring harnesses caused the harnesses not to fit the airplane body. The digital prototype was not updated with all the changes, and the lack of fit was only discovered at the stage of the actual physical assembly; • Boeing laid down strict rules during the design process to ensure that the information was complete and up to date. At Boeing, all those involved in development and production were obligated to work with one central data base, which was updated at least twice a week by all participants; • Airbus reported major losses and delays in supplying the planes, while Boeing reported high profits and shorter time-to-market. Airbus reported a loss of 6 billion dollars and a two-year delay in supplying the A380. Boeing, in contrast, reported a savings of 2 billion dollars and a reduction of 12 months in the timetable for supplying the 787. The use of PLM in the above examples leads to the following conclusions: • The design of major engineering processes (i.e. change process) is a critical success factor to PLM implementation; • Digital information must be compatible among the various CAD systems in the entire design chain; • All participants in the design and supply chain must impose and enforce engineering procedures and processes; • The information must be integrated among all the components in the PLM system; • A single data base must be created to reflect the product definition during the entire lifecycle of the product.
Reports on the topic "Critical causes of project delay"
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Flaishman, Moshe, Herb Aldwinckle, Shulamit Manulis, and Mickael Malnoy. Efficient screening of antibacterial genes by juvenile phase free technology for developing resistance to fire blight in pear and apple trees. United States Department of Agriculture, December 2008. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/2008.7613881.bard.
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Objectives: The original objectives of this project were to: Produce juvenile-free pear and apple plants and examine their sensitivity to E. amylovora; Design novel vectors, for antibacterial proteins and promoters expression, combined with the antisense TFL1 gene, and transformation of Spadona pear in Israel and Galaxy apple in USA. The original objectives were revised from the development of novel vectors with antibacterial proteins combined with the TFL-1 due to the inefficiency of alternative markes initially evaluated in pear, phoshomannose-isomerase and 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate phosphatase and the lack of development of double selection system. The objectives of project were revised to focus primarily on the development additional juvenile free systems by the use of another pear variety and manipulation of the FT gene under the control of several promoters. Based on the results creation of fire blight resistance pear variety was developed by the use of the juvenile free transgenic plant. Background: Young tree seedlings are unable to initiate reproductive organs and require a long period of shoot maturation, known as juvenile phase. In pear, juvenile period can last 5-7 years and it causes a major delay in breeding programs. We isolated the TFL1 gene from Spadona pear (PcTFL1-1) and produced transgenic ‘Spadona’ trees silencing the PcTFL1 gene using a RNAi approach. Transgenic tissue culture ‘Spadona’ pear flowered in vitro. As expected, the expression of the endogenous PcTFL1 was suppressed in the transgenic line that showed precocious flowering. Transgenic plants were successfully rooted in the greenhouse and most of the plants flowered after only 4-8 months, whereas the non-transformed control plants have flowered only after 5-6 years of development. Major achievements: Prior to flower induction, transgenic TFL1-RNAi ‘Spadona’ plants developed a few branches and leaves. Flower production in the small trees suppressed the development of the vegetative branches, thus resulting in compact flowering trees. Flowering was initiated in terminal buds, as described for the Arabidopsis tfl1 mutant. Propagation of the transgenic TFL1-RNAi ‘Spadona’ was performed by bud grafting on 'Betulifolia' rootstock and resulted in compact flowering trees. The transgenic flowering grafted plants were grown in the greenhouse under a long photoperiod for one year, and flowered continuously. Pollination of the transgenic flowers with ‘Costia‘ pear pollen generated fruits of regular shape with fertile F1 seeds. The F1 transgenic seedling grown in the greenhouse formed shoots and produced terminal flowers only five months after germination. In addition, grafted F1 transgenic buds flower and fruit continuously, generating hybrid fruits with regular shape, color and taste. Several pear varieties were pollinated with the transgenic TFL1-RNAi ‘Spadona’ pollen including `Herald Harw` that was reported to have resistance to fire blight diseases. The F-1 hybrid seedlings currently grow in our greenhouse. We conclude that the juvenile-free transgenic ‘Spadona’ pear enables the development of a fast breeding method in pear that will enable us to generate a resistance pear to fire blight. Implications: The research supported by this grant has demonstrated the use of transgenic juvenile free technology in pear. The use of the juvenile free technology for enhancement of conventional breeding in fruit tree will serve to enhance fast breeding systems in pear and another fruit trees.
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Bolstad, Rachel. Opportunities for education in a changing climate: Themes from key informant interviews. New Zealand Council for Educational Research, October 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.18296/rep.0006.
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How can education in Aotearoa New Zealand respond to climate change? This report, part of our wider education and climate change project, outlines findings from 17 in-depth interviews with individuals with a range of viewpoints about climate change and the role of education. Five priority perspectives are covered: youth (aged 16–25); educators; Māori; Pacific New Zealanders; and people with an academic, education system, or policy perspective. Key findings are: Education offers an important opportunity for diverse children and young people to engage in positive, solutions-focused climate learning and action. Interviewees shared local examples of effective climate change educational practice, but said it was often down to individual teachers, students, and schools choosing to make it a focus. Most interviewees said that climate change needs to be a more visible priority across the education system. The perspectives and examples shared suggest there is scope for growth and development in the way that schools and the wider education system in Aotearoa New Zealand respond to climate change. Interviewees’ experiences suggest that localised innovation and change is possible, particularly when young people and communities are informed about the causes and consequences of climate change, and are engaged with what they can do to make a difference. However, effective responses to climate change are affected by wider systems, societal and political structures, norms, and mindsets. Interviewee recommendations for schools, kura, and other learning settings include: Supporting diverse children and young people to develop their ideas and visions for a sustainable future, and to identify actions they can take to realise that future. Involving children and young people in collective and local approaches, and community-wide responses to climate change. Scaffolding learners to ensure that they were building key knowledge, as well as developing ethical thinking, systems thinking, and critical thinking. Focusing on new career opportunities and pathways in an economic transition to a low-carbon, changed climate future. Getting children and young people engaged and excited about what they can do, rather than disengaged, depressed, or feeling like they have no control of their future.
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Schat, Karel Antoni, Irit Davidson, and Dan Heller. Chicken infectious anemia virus: immunosuppression, transmission and impact on other diseases. United States Department of Agriculture, 2008. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/2008.7695591.bard.
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1. Original Objectives. The original broad objectives of the grant were to determine A) the impact of CAV on the generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) to reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) (CU), B). the interactions between chicken anemia virus (CAV) and Marek’s disease virus (MDV) with an emphasis on horizontal spread of CAV through feathers (KVI), and C) the impact of CAV infection on Salmonella typhimurium (STM) (HUJI). During the third year and the one year no cost extension the CU group included some work on the development of an antigen-antibody complex vaccine for CAV, which was partially funded by the US Poultry and Egg Association. 2. Background to the topic. CAV is a major pathogen causing clinical disease if maternal antibody-free chickens are infected vertically or horizontally between 1 and 14 days of age. Infection after 3 weeks of age when maternal antibodies are not longer present can cause severe subclinical immunosuppression affecting CTL and cytokine expression. The subclinical immunosuppression can aggravate many diseases including Marek’s disease (MD) and several bacterial infections. 3. Major conclusions and achievements. The overall project contributed in the following ways to the knowledge about CAV infection in poultry. As expected CAV infections occur frequently in Israel causing problems to the industry. To control subclinical infections vaccination may be needed and our work indicates that the development of an antigen-antibody complex vaccine is feasible. It was previously known that CAV can spread vertically and horizontally, but the exact routes of the latter had not been confirmed. Our results clearly show that CAV can be shed into the environment through feathers. A potential interaction between CAV and MD virus (MDV) in the feathers was noted which may interfere with MDV replication. It was also learned that inoculation of 7-day-old embryos causes growth retardation and lesions. The potential of CAV to cause immunosuppression was further examined using CTL responses to REV. CTL were obtained from chickens between 36 and 44 days of age with REV and CAV given at different time points. In contrast to our earlier studies, in these experiments we were unable to detect a direct impact of CAV on REV-specific CTL, perhaps because the CTL were obtained from older birds. Inoculation of CAV at one day of age decreased the IgG antibody responses to inactivated STM administered at 10 days of age. 4. Scientific and Agricultural Implications The impact of the research was especially important for the poultry industry in Israel. The producers have been educated on the importance of the disease through the many presentations. It is now well known to the stakeholders that CAV can aggravate other diseases, decrease productivity and profitability. As a consequence they monitor the antibody status of the breeders so that the maternal antibody status of the broilers is known. Also vaccination of breeder flock that remain antibody negative may become feasible further reducing the negative impact of CAV infection. Vaccination may become more important because improved biosecurity of the breeder flocks to prevent avian influenza and Salmonella may delay the onset of seroconversion for CAV by natural exposure resulting in CAV susceptible broilers lacking maternal antibodies. Scientifically, the research added important information on the horizontal spread of CAV through feathers, the interactions with Salmonella typhimurium and the demonstration that antigen-antibody complex vaccines may provide protective immunity.
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Noga, Edward J., Angelo Colorni, Michael G. Levy, and Ramy Avtalion. Importance of Endobiotics in Defense against Protozoan Ectoparasites of Fish. United States Department of Agriculture, September 2003. http://dx.doi.org/10.32747/2003.7586463.bard.
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Infectious disease is one of the most serious causes of economic loss in all sectors of aquaculture. There is a critical need to understand the molecular basis for protection against infectious disease so that safer, more reliable and more cost-effective strategies can be designed for their control. As part of this effort, the major goal of our BARD project was to determine the importance of endobiotics as a defense against protozoan ectoparasites in fish. Endobiotics, or antimicrobial polypeptides, are peptides and small proteins that are increasingly recognized as having a vital role in the innate defense of virtually all animals. One objective of our BARD project was to determine the antiparasitic potency of one specific group of endobiotics that were isolated from hybrid striped bass (Morone saxatilis x M chrysops). We found that these endobiotics, which we had previously named histone-like proteins (HLPs), exhibited potent activity against Amyloodinium and that the putative levels of HLPs in the skin were well within the levels that we found to be lethal to the parasite in vitro. We also found evidence for the presence of similar antibiotics in sea bream (Sparus aurata) and Mediterranean sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). We also examined the effect of chronic stress on the expression of HLP in fish and found that HLP levels were dramatically decreased after only one week of a crowding/high ammonia sublethal stress. We also began to explore the feasibility of upregulating endobiotics via immunostimulation. However, we did not pursue this objective as fully as we originally intended because we spent a much larger effort than originally anticipated on the last objective, the attempted isolation of novel endobiotics from hybrid striped bass. In this regard, we purified and identified four new peptide endobiotics. These endobiotics, which we have named piscidins (from "Pisces" meaning fish), have potent, broad-spectrum activity against a number of both fish and human pathogens. This includes not only parasites but also bacteria. We also demonstrated that these peptides are present in the mast cell. This was the first time that the mast cell, the most common tissue granulocyte in vertebrates, was shown to possess any type of endobiotic. This finding has important implications in explaining the possible function of mast cells in the immune response of vertebrates. In summary, the research we have accomplished in this BARD project has demonstrated that endobiotics in fish have potent activity against many serious pathogens in aquaculture and that there is considerable potential to use these compounds as stress indicators in aquaculture. There is also considerable potential to use some of these compounds in other areas of medicine, including treatment of serious infectious diseases of humans and animals.