Program and Risk Management
I.D. # C0409 Duration 2 Days

This course presents a proven eight-step method for program planning and control, including: definition of customers' requirements, roles of the program team, determination and flowcharting of program tasks, scheduling and costing, quality aspects of critical tasks, and risk management. Easy to grasp, each of the eight steps evolve from common-sense questions that should be answered for any program, regardless of size or complexity.

With shortened development cycles and greater reliance on information in programs, this course emphasizes the value of communication within a program team, between the team and functional areas, and between the team and the program customer. Since the appropriateness of communication vehicles vary depending on purpose and audience, alternative modes of communication and change control are discussed.
Learning Objectives
By attending this seminar, you will be able to:
  • Explain the eight-step method for program planning and control
  • Implement the eight-step method to improve program outcomes as measured by cost, schedule and quality
  • Make plans and progress visible to team members and to the program customer
Who Should Attend
Engineers and business people involved in various product development team activities will find the subject matter practical and useful. The content is of particular value to professionals from engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, quality, marketing, and finance functions in ground vehicle OEMs and suppliers.
Seminar Content
  • Program and risk management overview
    • Process approach to planning programs
    • Competition drives us to perform better
    • Why programs sometimes fail
    • Reference materials and website
  • Defining program outcomes and measurables
    • Building quality and performance targets into program planning
    • Financial impact of poor planning
    • Roles and responsibilities of project team members
    • Design reviews
    • Product performance measurement
    • Program/project metrics
  • Team formation and task planning
    • Team development
    • Roles and responsibilities
    • Matrix management
    • Meeting management
  • Scheduling work
    • Critical Path calculation
    • Fast tracking
    • Developing a baseline schedule
    • Gantt chart creation
    • Software tools for scheduling
    • Software tools for program management
  • Resource planning
    • Resource planning (quantity, skills, resource conflicts, anticipating needs)
    • Adding contingencies
    • Constraint management
  • Risk Management
    • Proactive assessment and mitigation of risks
    • Types of risk
    • Failure mode and effects analysis applied to programs/projects
  • Optimizing work performance
    • Spheres of influence and control
    • Cause-effect diagrams
    • Assessing critical information flows
    • Managing human performance
    • Responsibility matrix (RASIC)
  • Project initiation
    • Establishing a war room
    • Authorization to begin
    • Meeting management
  • Tracking program performance
Instructor(s): Murray Sittsamer
Murray Sittsamer is founder of Luminous Group, a consulting firm specializing in streamlining and standardizing workflow for companies. Murray has over 22 years experience in operations management, strategic planning, new process launches, financial analysis, quality systems and process improvement. During the past ten years Murray has focused his work on supporting automotive OEMs and suppliers with their quality and productivity improvement efforts, especially in the areas of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), variation reduction and Problem Solving.

Before entering the consulting field in 1994, Murray served as director of distribution support and quality systems for Gelman Sciences. While there he led a successful 15-month effort to obtain ISO 9000 quality system registration and had the role of project manager for a highly publicized groundwater contamination dispute. Murray earned his undergraduate degree in industrial engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and holds a Master of Science in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University.

Testimonial
"This seminar provides a great approach - not just the theory."
Michael E. Johnson
Systems Engineer
Analex Corporation

"This course is very helpful for both non-program managers for initial exposure and program managers as a refresher."
Michael K. Hishon
Senior Project Engineer
Autoliv, Inc.

"The clarity and thoroughness of the subject was excellent. The instructor made it relevant and timely to our company's efforts."
William Sacherek
Benchmarking Manager
The Boeing Company

Fees: $1305 SAE Members*: $1045 - $1175
* The appropriate SAE Member discount will be applied through the Registration process.  Discounts vary according to level of membership: Elite Member 20%; Premium Member 15%; Classic Member 10%
CEU 1.3