1 1. Higher National Certificate and Diploma Engineering Courses Project Guide23 CONTENTS Page Number Module Introduction 4 Select the Project 5 Plan the Project, Implement the Project 6 Discussion, Conclusions, Evaluation 7 Write the Report 8 The Presentation 10 Assessment Criteria 11 Project Log 12 Example Projects 13 GANTT Charts 17 Presentation Witness Statement 18 Referencing 194 MODULE INTRODUCTION Projects are about change. The purpose of your project should be :  to bring about change or  to investigate the feasibility and consequences of a proposed change. This change could take many forms, for example :  physically changing some engineering component, equipment, plant etc.,  changing the established working procedures to bring about greater efficiency, effectiveness or accuracy The following sections set out what you need to do to complete the project. SELECT THE PROJECT It is worth spending some time on selecting a suitable project. The project needs to be large enough to provide sufficient interest, activities and outcomes, but not so large that it lacks focus.5 It is best if the project addresses a problem which needs an engineering solution. For employed students this is usually something identified in the workplace, these make the best projects. If you are not employed in engineering, then you can make a project around your interests, it may be useful to conduct a project which would be interesting to a prospective employer. The project does not have to be something that is carried out physically, it can be a theoretical project, whereby you determine the expected results of your proposed modification or change through calculations, research or otherwise. Before beginning the project you need to confirm the topic and objectives of your project idea with your tutor. In a brief email to your tutor : a) Set out the background for the project, the situation in which the need for the project came about e.g. is there is a problem with the functioning of some plant or equipment, or, is the efficiency of a process poor? Set out the background which describes this situation, use photographs or diagrams if this helps. b) Write out explicitly the aims of the project, what the project aims to achieve. i.e. : The purpose of the project is to ………………………….. If you have recently carried out a real project then this can be written up retrospectively. Once you have agreed the project topic and objectives with your tutor you can commence with planning the project.6 1. PLAN THE PROJECT You need to plan the activities of the project. The implementation of the project requires you to carry out activities, these could include : carrying out research, collecting data, performing calculations, designing components, writing the project, making the presentation, writing the report etc. Whatever activities you feel are necessary for your project. You need to record the planned the activities of the project using an appropriate chart e.g. a GANTT chart. 2. IMPLEMENT THE PROJECT You need to carry out the planned activities of the project. Do not worry if your activities need to be different from those planned, this is the nature of projects, things change. There is no need to update your plan each time you make a change, however you will need to reassure yourself that the project is still feasible in the allotted timescale. As you work through your project, keep a log of your activities, these should include contact with your tutor and any other communications with external bodies. If you did need to make changes to the project activities, record these changes in the log. Keep a record of your thoughts and ideas, even if these were not used or implemented, they will contribute to the report.7 Ensure you keep a clear record of all results or outcomes you produce while working on the project. 3. FORMULATE YOUR DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS Think about these questions : To what extent have the objectives of the project been achieved? Where the objectives have not been fully achieved : why is this ? What do your results or findings tell you, what conclusions can you draw from these? 4. FORMULATE YOUR EVALUATION Reflect or look back on your project and evaluate how well the project was designed and conducted. If you were to begin the project again how would you change it? This is not about how good the results of the project are, but about the process you used in carrying out the project. For example : should you have included more research; was the project too broad/narrow? What have you learned (about projects) in carrying out this project? 5. WRITE THE REPORT You need to write a project report using the following sections (but if your report needs further sections, please add these). Summary8 A brief overview of the following sections of the report, i.e. a brief outline of the background and objectives of the project, with the overall results and main conclusions.  Contents Page Showing all sections, including appendices. Introduction The background to the project, the situation in which the project arises. This helps the report reader to put the project in context. Photographs and diagrams are particularly useful here. Aims/Objectives A statement of the purpose of the project. What does the project expect to achieve. A statement beginning : The purpose of the project is to ………. Implementation/Activities A record of the activities which were carried out, for example the calculations which were made, the research which was carried out or the sketches/procedure used which led to the final design. You need to show how your results were achieved/produced. Results/Outcomes The outcomes of the project, what was produced by the activities, for example the final drawings for a design project, or the final results of calculations. Where multiple calculations are carried out, please set out9 an example calculation and tabulate the results for the remainder (there is no need to show the calculation for all results) Costings Costing information relating to the overall cost of project implementation. What are the financial benefits of carrying out the project? Discussion/Conclusions Compare the results/outcomes of the project with the initial project aims and objectives. Did the project achieve its objectives? If not, what are the differences? Evaluation This is an evaluation of how you carried out the project, not an evaluation of the subject of the project, but the process you used. References State the source of any information use for the project. For instructions on how to reference sources of information see instructions in the appendices. 6. MAKE THE PRESENTATION This is a presentation of the project to peers, colleagues or tutors. It can be a simple 10-minute talk that may make use of audiotape, video or a professional presentation package such as Microsoft Powerpoint.10 You can either : Make a presentation to your tutor at the university Make a presentation to your tutor using Skype Make a presentation to your work colleagues and have the witness statement (see appendix 5 page 17) signed and attached to the report. Film yourself giving a presentation (no audience necessary) and attach this to the report. Whichever case you use, you need to attach the presentation slides as an appendix to the report. 7. SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT FOR ASSESSMENT11 APPENDICES Appendix 1 - ASSESSMENT Please note, assessment criteria are cumulative i.e. all pass criteria must be satisfied as well as Merit criteria in order to gain the grade of merit. Pass Merit Distinction A project which attempts to produce (or investigate) change. Reasonable, legible background (context), objectives, planning, activities and findings. Well-structured document, easily navigated. Calculations and drawings set out and produced to appropriate standards. Information sources referenced appropriately. Log book, planning chart Good presentation materials covering the main aspects of the project Project report shows deep understanding of the project subject matter. Demonstrated awareness of the project in its context, its effect, limitations and possibilities for improvement. Demonstrated awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of the project. Report has no major technical or structural errors.12 Appendix 2 - PROJECT LOG (example format) Date Activity (e.g. Contact with Tutor)13 Appendix 3 - Example Projects Water pumping Brief Description station installation Increase in water pumping capacity of a pumping upgrade station for the supply of water to a locality by means of pump replacement with larger capacity pumps. Upgrade the Brief Description electrical protection on an Nuisance tripping causing production outage due to oil rig electrical incorrect settings of electrical system protection is supply system required to be rectified. This is to be done by reviewing the fault current and relay settings of the electrical protection and adjusting the protection relays to suit. Distillation plant Brief Description instrumentation upgrade A distillation plant's current liquid flow measurement orifice plate and associated pipework is to be replaced with an electromagnetic flow meter to overcome blocking and fouling of the system. Investigation into Brief Description the use of lead-free solder Because of the introduction of legislation rendering phasing out the use of solder with a lead content an investigation into the effectiveness of available leadfree solders for the production of printed circuit component boards is to be undertaken. Replacement of Brief Description Level control loop for Test Replacement of pneumatic local controller with an Separator electronic 'smart' transmitter connected to a DCS software controller. The existing control valve will still be utilised for control by the DCS system.14 Investigation into Brief Description cost reduction of a power station An investigation into improvements in efficiency, air compressor control, working and operating costs arising from installation possible modes of operation of an air compressor installation. Tank lighting Brief Description installation The external lighting requirements for a new storage tank installation are to be designed. This would require the evaluation of luminance levels on and around the tank and the selection, costing and erection of equipment including hazardous area equipment. Installation of a Brief Description blockage detection system Blockages on a pill production conveyor lead to outage and downtime of the process. An early blockage sensing system will be installed and the programmable logic controller programme modified to produce an alarm. Replacement of Brief Description hospital cooling equipment An evaluation of present cooling equipment requirements and options for replacement of existing equipment. Cost, output and efficiency considerations would be undertaken. The extension of Brief Description existing 11 kV electrical The existing 11 kV network includes some 6.6 kV distribution equipment that requires to be modernised and the system system rationalised on 11 kV. Selection of the switchgear, cables and compiling a changeover programme will be necessary.15 Design of tool Brief Description for improved aircraft Investigation into the design of a tool to facilitate maintenance maintenance on aircraft. It is hoped the tool will be more efficient, safe and clean when used in contamination sensitive areas. Options to Brief Description improve cooling water system Several options were considered to improve the cooling system on a Gas Oil Hydrodesulphurisation Plant including one that utilised cooled product as cooling medium instead of water. Solar heating of Brief Description swimming pool Design and build electronically controlled solar panels for heating of an above ground swimming pool. Required to calculate the panel area required, its efficiency and the energy generated in daylight hours, and compare these with actual measured data. Replacement of Brief Description air conditioning plant for Upgrading of the air conditioning plant involving underground replacement and resizing of condensers, coolers, complex motor control centre and motors, etc. Upgrading of part Brief Description of air conditioning of Extension of the living quarters of a module on an oil rig the living quarters necessitated the upgrading of the air conditioning mainly of an oil rig involving the replacement of ducting, cabling and motors. Upgrade of a gas Brief Description and fire alarm system Replacement and upgrade of a discreet logic gas and fire alarm system by a PAL (programmable array logic) device. Work will involve devising system design equations and entering them into PAL software package, for emulation and testing. PAL device will then be programmed and tested in field.16 Appendix 4 - Gantt Charts Gantt charts use a series of horizontal lines to show the activity (or task) to be carried out in given time periods. Here is an example of a simple Gantt chart. Gantt charts can be produced in excel, there are many websites to learn how to do this. There are also other free software packages available on the internet.17 Name of candidate venue Appendix 5 - Witness Statement Witness Statement Project Presentation Higher National Certificate/Diploma This is to confirm that …………….…………………………… made a short oral presentation of his/her the Engineering Project. The presentation was made at ………………………………. on ……of ……...…. 2015 and lasted for ……. minutes. The presentation was made to (names of people present): ………………………………. ………………………………. ………………………………. ………………………………. ………………………………. ………………………………. Witnessed by Name: ………………………………. Position: ………………………………. Signed: ………………………………. Date: ……………………. Comments18 Appendix 6 - Referencing State the source of any information use for the project. For instructions on how to reference sources of information, in the Blackboard site go to : Then click on 'Libgiudes'19 You can then click on either : Or Scroll down and click on TUOLE Here you will find the tab 'How to Reference'\