managing Engineering projects is important !

Engineering Project Management: Methods and Best Practices

If you want to succeed in engineering project management, you must have a firm grasp of the proven methods and best practices. When choosing an online graduate degree program, look for those that specifically address project management in engineering, like the Master of Engineering Management offered by Ohio University. Examine the course offerings, and you’ll see a heavy focus on networking techniques, problem-solving methodology and engineering project data analysis. Armed with these methods and best practices, you’ll be able to confidently lead teams through engineering projects start to finish.

Strategies for Engineering Project Management

Being organized and on time is crucial for engineering project management. One of the best ways to ensure that your team stays on schedule is by deducing ahead of time how long each leg of the project should take. To determine the time frame, engineering managers use the Project Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) that begins by mapping out what needs to be done and then sequencing each milestone (commonly called an event) in the project.




The engineering project manager then determines the maximum and minimum amount of time each event will take from start to finish using a complementary method to PERT called the Critical Path Method (CPM). A careful analysis showing which events depend on other events is completed. This very effective method that couples time requirements with workflow allows fluctuation for certain events and constraint for others, keeping the project in perfect balance.




Both of these best practices are covered thoroughly during the Master of Engineering Management offered at Ohio University in a fully online format. That means you can study in your spare time without leaving your current engineering career. You will gain further insight into your engineering projects as you quickly begin to apply what you are learning online.

Using Six Sigma for Problem-Solving

Another focus of the Master of Engineering Management program at Ohio University is the use of the Six Sigmaproblem-solving method. While working through engineering project management, you’ll be able to confront any issues directly by following these steps:


Define the problem, the voice of the customer and the project goals.

Measure key aspects of the current process and collect relevant data.

Analyze the data to investigate and verify cause-and-effect relationships.

Improve or optimize the current process to create a new, future state process.

Control the future state process to ensure that any deviations from target are corrected before they result in defects.



This practice utilizes statistical data and quality management methods to keep the project moving forward. All of these methods are examined at length during the course of the Master of Engineering Management degree program that culminates with an Engineering Project Management Capstone final project. Graduates emerge with experience in engineering project management, great insight into methods and best practices, and a better understanding of the engineering projects they are currently involved in at their workplaces.