Work Breakdown Structure Addressed in Quality Digest
Unique doesn’t have to mean complex according to Thomas R. Cutler and
Joseph M. Tizedes who asked the question, “How unique is unique?” The
answer to this riddle is central in determining which work breakdown
structure (WBS) methodology most accurately explains project deliverables
and how they should be estimated, controlled, and completed. The quality
strategy used to segregate and decompose WBS deliverables can be based on
any number of characteristics of the product or project including time
phases, functional phases, final deliverables, incremental deliverables,
or by subproject (which may have a portion of each characteristic.)
Complex engineer-to-order (ETO) products characterize the most unique WBS
quality strategies.
The complete article can be read at
http://www.qualitydigest.com/inside/quality-insider-article/work-breakdown-structure-quality-strategies-complex-eto-environments.html#.
WBS deliverable structure
The term “engineer to order” itself is indicative of a product with a
unique design, a process in which the design, procurement, development,
and production phases will run concurrently or have some overlap. It is
for these reasons that complex ETO products require a work breakdown
structure based on a hierarchy of deliverables that mirrors the product
breakdown structure. This structure naturally establishes a chronological
schedule of events for each task as the WBS deliverables and work packages
are decomposed.
Product breakdown structure
The product breakdown structure should reflect the upper levels of the
bill of materials. The upper portion of the bill of materials should be a
hierarchy of deliverables or assemblies. Their content should not be
segregated in a “grocery list” style where overall material and labor
types are grouped by category. Instead, the bill-of-materials levels
should be structured more like a recipe, so the contents and resources
needed for a particular deliverable are grouped together. This methodology
enables a lean integrated plan for the procurement of material and labor
required to complete the deliverable in question.
About TR Cutler, Inc.:
TR Cutler, Inc. (www.trcutlerinc.com) was founded by Thomas R. Cutler a
decade ago. Cutler maintains extraordinary relationships with clients,
journalists, editors, trendsetters, and key business leaders worldwide and
has become a key resource for those writing about the manufacturing
sector. Cutler founded the Manufacturing Media Consortium™ in the 1999.
This extraordinary group of more than 3500 journalists worldwide is
writing about trends, data, case studies, profiles, and features in the
manufacturing and industrial sector. Cutler has worked with thousands of
media outlets to expand manufacturing media coverage. Cutler has
authored more than 2,500 articles for a wide range of manufacturing
periodicals, industrial publications, and business journals including most
of the leading monthly trade publications. TR Cutler, Inc. recently
launched a new professional coaching system for manufacturers worldwide
named C.E.O.™ or Continuous Experiential Optimization.
TR Cutler, Inc.
Thomas Cutler
888-902-0300
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