Central Engineering

1

• Central Engineering
• Design (Electrical) Engineering Process

Bertina Chan Weina Lin Hsiao-Yun
Lu Sankarbharathy Ponnusamy Susu Wang
2
Overview

• Company Overview
• Design Engineering
• Design Engineering Process (DEP)
• Problems with Current Process
• Recommendations
• Conclusion

3
Company Overview

• One of the largest investor-owned,
  energy-delivery companies in US
• Annual revenue of 13 billion and total assets of
  34 billion approximately
• It owns and operates the worlds largest district
  steam system
• Provides electricity and gas as well

4
Design Engineering

• Consists of Electrical Design, Mechanical
  Concept/3D Design, Transmission/Civil Design
• Ensures safe, reliable design operation and
  maintenance of the system
• Provides design schematics of all Company
  electric, gas, and steam generating plants,
  electrical substations, and transmission and
  commercial facilities

5
Design Engineering Process(Electrical)

• Scope Budget Oversee
  Upgrade Project Scope of Work Works
  on the project
• Match
• 
  Not match
  
• 
  Match
• Not
  match

Top management
Engineering Department
Engineer
Electrical Design
Scope review
Drawing layouts
Final package
Review comments
Upgrade Construct
As-built
Review Field walk
Agreement
As-built
6
Problems with Current Process

• Miscommunications
• Schematics (Drawings) vs. Real Field Conditions
• Human Resources Age Gap within the Designers

7
Cause Effect Diagram

• Identify the possible root causes, the basic
  reasons for a specific effect, problem or
  condition
• Helps determine root causes
• Increases process knowledge
• Identifies areas for collecting data
• Analyze existing problem

8
Cause Effect Layout
CAUSE
EFFECT
Miscommunication
Age gap
Lag in project time
Bad field conditions
9
Recommendations

• Miscommunication
• Project Checkpoints strategically placed within
  certain stages of the DEP.
• Schematics vs. Real Field Conditions
• A full-time Designer at the station to upgrade
  existing drawings to current field conditions
• Current Designers assigned to on-going projects
  will update drawings during construction

10
Recommendations (contd)

• Human Resources Age Gap
• Hire retirees to give seminars/classes to
  incoming and present employees
• Pair experienced designers with inexperienced
  designers

11
Conclusion

• If the necessary changes are implemented
• Detailed training guide for new employees
• Duration of DEP would be decreased and run
  smoother.
• Department would spend less than 8 million on
  outside services