Jul 06, 2024 12:54 PM
Replying to Keith Novak
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Generally not in the planning phase but as with anything, it depends.
I would most want the help of a business administration specialist either when there is a lot of interrelated activity going on, or I am managing a very tight and fluid critical path. In the architectural phase, schedules are usually very high level and the team is focused on major design decisions so there isn't much for a dedicated role to do other than for short periods. Once the project is ramping up to your full staffing level there is often much more detailed level work to plan and manage. Typically that would be around the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) point.
Even then, it depends. 30M sounds like a lot but doesn't really go far in ships as in with aircraft which is my field. A vessel designed for freight has most of the engineering focused on handling large loads safely so much of the work is with a few people focused on structure and seaworthiness aspects. Margins are typically broad to reduce the required engineering. By contrast a pleasure yacht is less likely to be loaded to the gunnels and has a lot more involvement with custom made passenger amenities which include a lot of detail work.
Design/build methods also are a large factor. If all the parts are designed first with unique part numbers and fabricated per-drawing from outside suppliers ready to install, then there is a lot of engineering definition to produce before fabrication. If most of the parts are made on assembly from standard sizes of raw material in a cut to shape, drill to fit, paint to match approach, then the bulk of the work is in the final fabrication rather than detail design and procurement. That makes a big difference in whether planning and control is more critical in the design department, or by the job-site foreman.