About this Presentation
Albany Engineered Composites (AEC) conducts multiple engineering projects simultaneously across a global engineering team. Given shifting priorities and constrained resources, achieving on-time delivery performance proved challenging to comprehend and measure. Upon initiation of a critical project for a new weaving work cell, a more effective approach to project management, schedule risk comprehension, and status communication with internal and external stakeholders became imperative. Embracing Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM), both AEC and its customer swiftly aligned on leveraging CCPM concepts to achieve two distinct objectives: on-time completion and, if feasible, project acceleration. Implementation of the CCPM method entailed comprehensive team training and the development of new schedules incorporating CCPM best practices. Project completion target dates were established using standard CCPM techniques and definitions. Regular communication on project status was streamlined and standardized. The immediate impact of CCPM on project management performance was evident. The project's critical path became readily discernible, enabling prioritization of actions. Understanding of non-critical tasks facilitated resource allocation where most needed. Fact-based decisions regarding resource capacity and activity level-loading became feasible. By utilizing high-level Fever Charts to convey project status and buffer utilization (and savings!), project communication was simplified. A project schedule spanning several hundred lines was condensed into a single chart easily shared and understood. While the CCPM pilot project remains ongoing, its benefits have already materialized, leading to the extension of the CCPM method to a portfolio of other new technology projects slated for 2024.
What Will You Learn
To help you get the most value from this session, we’ve highlighted a few key points. These takeaways capture the main ideas and practical insights from the presentation, making it easier for you to review, reflect, and apply what you’ve learned.
Learn how Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) was applied to support the development and validation of new aerospace technologies under strict technical, regulatory, and schedule constraints.
Understand why traditional project planning methods struggle in technology development contexts due to uncertainty, frequent rework, and shifting priorities, and how CCPM addresses these challenges.
See how buffer management, focused execution, and constraint visibility enabled improved coordination between engineering, testing, and certification activities.
Gain insight into practical lessons on managing risk, integrating cross-functional teams, and achieving more predictable technology delivery outcomes in aerospace innovation.
Instructor(s)
Phil McGrail
Phil McGrail is the Senior Manager of Global Projects at Albany Engineered Composites. As a register Project Management Professional (PMP), he manages and coordinates a global team of process engineers, equipment engineers, and project managers across a portfolio of process improvement, robustness, and New Product Introduction (NPI) projects. With experience in semiconductor equipment design and manufacturing, aerospace composites design and testing, and advanced carbon fiber composites manufacturing, he has over twenty years of engineering team leadership experience.