RESULT: Failed – Time and Scope
OVERVIEW: The project to create a vital component in the Space-X system was well underway when it started going sideways with a lack of tracking, understanding, or planning involved.
ROLE: I was brought in as a consultant to assist the team in getting the parts back on track and hit the time promised to the customer.
CHALLENGES: Stakeholder buy-in was a constant theme as many of them did not understand why we needed to expedite processes to meet the time.
Scope creep was also a chore as many steps were either adjusted at the last minute or added to with poor communication. Several attempts were made to gather the correct information, but sadly more stakeholders were resistant to project management best practices.
Understanding the core scope of the original project. The weldment house was used to welding things that were under standard pressure. They were not used to the concept of zero gravity, the vacuum of space standards of welding.
OUTCOMES: One product shipped without the adjustments for space travel with minimal pressure. While the second part languished with leak checking, the first part was returned to salvage what could eventually be a liability to the project. The project was signed over very late and out of scope. We have not heard back from the customer for future projects as of the time of this writing.
REFERENCES:
https://matteatoninsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Edited-Gantt-Chart-Template-Space-X.xlsx