Project Charter

The pulp industry is a key player in the New Zealand economy which utilises a very common natural resource to produce high value products. According to the latest Ministry for Primary Industries report the market is forecast not to increase in volume exported however the value of the product is forecasted to increase. This could be a sign of less demand for paper (a key product of pulp) as we go towards more electronic resources such as e-books.

This project is aimed at predicting future challenges that the pulp industry may face and produce a solution that can be viable in 2070 to address these issues.

Key Stakeholders

External
- The NZ Pulp Industry
Internal
- Massey University
  - School of Engineering
  - Project Supervisors
  - Runaway Industries

Massey University - Client

Massey University is our most direct client. This project is authorised by them and the final solution is judged by them. Our obligations are to ensure we produce a solution that has been developed with sound research, represents our own work and acknowledges assistance from external sources where appropriate.

The NZ Pulp Industry - Potential Customer

The pulp industry will be interested in any solutions that will keep it thriving in 2070. Until the completion of this project there is no expectations from the NZ pulp industry as they are currently unaware of the existence of this project.

Project Constraints

We have identified the following constraints that will affect our solution:

Hard to predict future.
- It’s difficult to predict what will be available in the future, and how we will be using our natural resources.
Lack of understanding of the current industry.
- We are limited by what information is available and the time limit we have to research the current status of the industry.
The current solution cannot be viable now.
- As per Massey University’s conditions of the project the solution needs to be unviable now so it can be researched and developed in time for 2070.

Project Scope

We will be focussing on the following aspects of the pulp industry:

The raw materials used in the pulp industry
- We will look at how the quality and type of the raw material affects the pulp product. For understanding the current industry we will not go into depth regarding the production of the raw material/s. However if it will help when evaluating problems that could affect the industry in the future, we will research further into production of the raw material/s.
The process involved in the pulping process.
- We will look into these internal process to see if there is the potential to improve internal processes.
The end products that the pulp is turned into.
- We will look at the current end products (e.g. paper, fibre board). For understanding the current industry we will not go into depth regarding the production of the end products. However if it will help when evaluating problems that could affect the industry in the future, we will research further into production and sales of end products.

Project Risks

Accident or illness affecting team member.
- Severity: Very High
- Probability: Unlikely
- Risk Level: Extreme
- Mitigation Plan: Delegate and redistribute workload around able team members. Review deadlines and ensure we can still meet them. If not, we will look at options to ensure deadlines are still achievable.
Loss of data/ records
- Severity: Very High
- Probability: Unlikely
- Risk Level: Extreme
- Mitigation Plan: Electronic data is backed up on cloud service which also syncs to local PCs. Any non-electronic data will be scanned at end of week and stored on cloud service. Log books are used primarily for decision making and individual research notes. Up to individual to decide when information needs to be backed up.

Project Management

Project Timeline

Click the link to view the project timeline.

Resources Required

During the course of this investigative project, time/labour will be our team’s greatest expenditure. We plan to commit around 150 hours each in order to fulfil our commitments. This time will be allocated between research, planning, reports, presentations and prototype design. Any extra equipment and resources will be calculated closer to the time that we have made a decision on the final solution of our project so that we have a clear idea on what materials, and services we may require to complete assigned tasks.

Cost of Resources

Time $75/hour (Estimated total of $11,250)

W/Shop assistance $90/hour (Estimated total of $180)

These costs will be refined in a future revision of our charter.

Management Processes

The following processes will be implemented for managing this project:

Use of good communication as defined by the communication plan (described later in charter).
Evaluating deadlines at a weekly basis against timeline plan (above) to ensure we are not falling behind. If deadlines are not being meet, re-evaluate and prioritise current task list to catch up.
Using team member’s skills appropriately, i.e. playing to our strengths.

Proj. Timeline

Project Deliverables

By the end of this investigative project, we intend to leave our clients Massey University with a functional website that illustrates:

The current status of the pulp industry.
Future challenges that we envision the pulp industry may face.
A solution to these envisioned problems
With a detailed plan on how to research for and implement the solution

To be functional the website will:

Be easy to navigate.
Present information clearly and make use of visual aids

We will also produce a presentation for an exhibition during week 13, this will showcase the work we have done this semester.

Key Project Performance Criteria

We will set out a scheduled checklist including deadlines so that we will know we have met the criteria set out by our client.

Our final design will complete all of its intended functions.
- Appreciate current practises in the industry and what would need to change for the solution to be implemented.
- Address one or more of the problems we predict the industry to face between now and 2070.
Abide constraints
- Our solution cannot be viable now and must be researched and developed to be ready for 2070.
The final solution will be ethically fit
- In particular will not introduce hazards or possibility of loss of life from use of solution.

Change Control

Any changes to the project plan or project charter will be discussed during a meeting with all members of Runaway Industries. The change will only be applied if it is accepted unanimously. If a team member cannot make the meeting then they will be briefed on the change and asked for their vote before the meeting takes place.

Any updates to the charter will be documented as a new draft for future revision.

Health and Safety

Runaway Industries is committed to safe and healthy work ethics whilst being involved in this project.

This will be achieved by:

Adhering to workshop rules and instruction from workshop co-ordinators.
Adhering to the Massey University Health and Safety Policies.

Any high-risk work will be planed for so risks can be identified and mitigated. The work will not go ahead until everyone has been informed of risks and the procedures in place to mitigate them.

We will not make decisions in which we are not authorised or competent to make which could result in injury to persons, or damaged to property.

Communication Plan

We plan to communicate internally with each other through a weekly meeting and Facebook chat. We will also meet once a week with project supervisors to discuss current status of the project.

Click the link for a downloadable copy of the Project Charter.

RUNAWAY INDUSTRIES

Future Proofing the New Zealand Pulp Industry