Best Practices for Aerospace Technical Project Management - Revision history

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= Best Practices for Aerospace Technical Project Management =

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Best Practices for Aerospace Technical Project Management}}

<div style="border-left:6px solid #f2b705; padding:12px 18px; background:#fff8dc; margin-bottom:20px;">
'''Purpose.''' This page provides practical guidance for students, technical project managers, and engineering teams working on aerospace projects such as Bee-Plane, Mini-Bee, ISO-Plane, and GPS 4D.

It focuses on project management, technical management plans, documentation, open-source continuity, and TRL-based engineering delivery.
</div>

== 1. Why project management matters in aerospace ==

Aerospace projects are complex because they combine:

* safety-critical design;
* multidisciplinary engineering;
* long development cycles;
* certification constraints;
* cost and schedule pressure;
* strong dependency between teams and yearly student cohorts.

A good technical project management plan must therefore make the project understandable, traceable, reviewable, and reusable by future teams.

Examples of useful legacy documents:

* [https://wiki.collaborativebee.com/images/f/fd/Plan_Management_V1_2018-12-11.pdf Bee-Plane Management Plan]
* [https://wiki.collaborativebee.com/images/f/ff/TAUZIN-Gabin-Rapport-U51.pdf Student technical project report]
* [https://wiki.collaborativebee.com/images/1/1e/Rapport_technique.pdf Technical report]
* [https://wiki.collaborativebee.com/images/f/f3/Supmeca_TP_2013_Rapport_Final.pdf Supmeca final report]
* [https://wiki.collaborativebee.com/images/b/bf/RapportdeProjet1ersemestre.pdf First semester project report]

== 2. Start with a clear project frame ==

Before starting CAD, simulation, coding, or testing, the team should define:

{| class="wikitable"
! Topic !! Questions to answer
|-
| Project objective || What problem are we solving? What aircraft, subsystem, or tool is concerned?
|-
| Scope || What is included? What is explicitly excluded?
|-
| TRL target || Are we working at TRL1, TRL2, or TRL3?
|-
| Deliverables || What must be delivered: report, CAD, simulation, dataset, code, wiki page?
|-
| Stakeholders || Who reviews, validates, reuses, or depends on the work?
|-
| Success criteria || What proves that the work is complete and useful?
|}

<div style="background:#eef6ff; border:1px solid #9cc7e8; padding:12px; margin:15px 0;">
'''Expert advice.''' In early TRL projects, uncertainty is normal. The goal is not to freeze every decision too early, but to document assumptions, alternatives, trade-offs, and open questions.
</div>

== 3. Build a Work Breakdown Structure ==

A Work Breakdown Structure, or WBS, decomposes the project into manageable work packages.

A good aerospace WBS should separate:

* project management;
* functional analysis;
* state of the art;
* requirements;
* architecture;
* design;
* simulation;
* validation;
* documentation;
* publication.

Example reference documents:

* [https://wiki.collaborativebee.com/images/0/08/Rapport_MiniBee_Bourasseau_Demilly.pdf Mini-Bee report]
* [https://wiki.collaborativebee.com/images/7/70/Rapport_Mini-Bee_v5-finale.pdf Mini-Bee final report]
* [https://wiki.collaborativebee.com/images/5/5d/Rapport_final_VTOL.pdf VTOL final report]

=== Recommended WBS template ===

{| class="wikitable"
! Level !! Work package !! Typical outputs
|-
| 1.0 || Project management || PMP, RACI, Gantt, risk matrix, meeting notes
|-
| 2.0 || Requirements and functional analysis || Need analysis, functions, constraints, use cases
|-
| 3.0 || Technical architecture || System diagram, interfaces, trade-off matrix
|-
| 4.0 || Design and modelling || CAD, drawings, assumptions, configuration files
|-
| 5.0 || Simulation and calculation || FEM, CFD, mass budget, performance model
|-
| 6.0 || Validation || Test plan, verification matrix, review checklist
|-
| 7.0 || Documentation and publication || Final report, wiki page, README, changelog
|}

== 4. Use a RACI matrix to clarify responsibilities ==

A RACI matrix avoids confusion in collaborative projects.

{| class="wikitable"
! Role !! Meaning
|-
| R - Responsible || Person or team doing the work
|-
| A - Accountable || Person validating the result
|-
| C - Consulted || Expert or partner giving input
|-
| I - Informed || Stakeholder kept updated
|}

Example:

{| class="wikitable"
! Task !! Project manager !! Technical lead !! CAD team !! Simulation team !! Coordinator
|-
| Requirements update || A || R || C || C || I
|-
| CAD model update || I || A || R || C || I
|-
| FEM simulation || I || A || C || R || I
|-
| Wiki publication || R || A || C || C || I
|}

== 5. Plan with Gantt, milestones, and review gates ==

A Gantt chart is useful only if it includes clear milestones and review points.

Recommended milestones:

# project launch;
# scope validation;
# requirements freeze;
# preliminary design review;
# simulation review;
# final design review;
# final report;
# wiki publication.

<div style="background:#f7f7f7; border-left:5px solid #555; padding:12px; margin:15px 0;">
'''Good practice.''' Do not use the Gantt chart as a decorative slide. Update it regularly and compare planned progress with real progress.
</div>

== 6. Manage risks from the beginning ==

Aerospace projects must identify technical, organizational, and safety risks early.

{| class="wikitable"
! Risk type !! Example !! Mitigation
|-
| Technical || CAD model not compatible with simulation tool || Export STEP, simplify geometry, document assumptions
|-
| Organizational || Poor coordination between schools || Weekly sync, shared repository, single decision log
|-
| Knowledge loss || Previous team results not reusable || README, wiki summary, changelog, open formats
|-
| Schedule || Simulation takes longer than expected || Define minimum viable simulation and fallback method
|-
| Safety || Incorrect load case or unrealistic assumption || Peer review and validation checklist
|}

== 7. Apply agile methods carefully ==

SCRUM-like routines can work well for student aerospace teams, provided they remain technical and evidence-based.

Recommended rhythm:

* weekly stand-up: progress, blockers, next actions;
* sprint planning: 2 to 3 weeks;
* sprint review: show models, calculations, simulations, or documents;
* retrospective: what to improve for the next sprint.

Avoid purely administrative meetings. Every review should show engineering evidence.

== 8. Write a Technical Management Plan ==

A Technical Management Plan, or TMP, defines how engineering work will be produced, checked, shared, and reused.

Recommended structure:

{| class="wikitable"
! Section !! Content
|-
| Project context || Aircraft, subsystem, TRL level, previous work
|-
| Objectives || Technical objectives and expected maturity
|-
| Requirements || Functional, performance, safety, environmental constraints
|-
| Organization || Roles, responsibilities, RACI
|-
| Planning || Gantt, milestones, review gates
|-
| Tools || CAD, simulation, GIS, coding, documentation tools
|-
| Interfaces || Mechanical, electrical, data, software, operational interfaces
|-
| Verification || Tests, simulations, peer reviews, acceptance criteria
|-
| Documentation || Reports, wiki pages, README, changelog, metadata
|-
| Risks || Risk matrix and mitigation plan
|}

== 9. Document technical assumptions ==

Every calculation or simulation must include:

* objective;
* input data;
* assumptions;
* units;
* load cases;
* boundary conditions;
* material properties;
* tool version;
* result interpretation;
* limits of validity.

Example references:

* [https://wiki.collaborativebee.com/images/e/e1/Soutenance_de_projet_Empennage_Bee-Plane_Tail_2013.pdf Bee-Plane tail project presentation]
* [https://wiki.collaborativebee.com/images/b/b3/Compte_rendu_Train_d%27atterrissage_Bee_plane_Supmeca2014.pdf Bee-Plane landing gear report]

== 10. Use open and reusable file formats ==

For long-term reuse, avoid local-only or proprietary-only files.

Recommended formats:

{| class="wikitable"
! Deliverable !! Preferred formats
|-
| CAD models || STEP, STL, OBJ, native Onshape link
|-
| Reports || PDF, PDF/A, editable source
|-
| Data || CSV, JSON, GeoJSON, XML
|-
| Simulation || Input files, mesh files, result screenshots, configuration notes
|-
| Code || Git repository with README and license notice
|-
| Presentations || PDF and editable source
|}

== 11. Maintain a clean repository ==

Recommended folder structure:

<pre>
/docs
/models
/simulations
/data
/reports
/presentations
/media
/archive
README.md
CHANGELOG.md
LICENSE_NOTICE.txt
</pre>

Each folder should explain what it contains and how future teams can reuse it.

== 12. Publish for continuity ==

A deliverable is not complete until it is understandable by someone outside the current team.

Before publication, check that:

* the file name is explicit;
* the version is visible;
* the TRL level is indicated;
* sources are cited;
* assumptions are documented;
* figures have captions and units;
* reusable files are attached;
* limitations and next steps are written.

== 13. Recommended final report structure ==

# Executive summary
# Project context
# License and collaboration framework
# State of the art
# Requirements and assumptions
# Project management method
# WBS, RACI, Gantt, risks
# Technical work performed
# Simulations and validation
# Results and discussion
# Limits of the work
# Recommendations for next teams
# Deliverables list
# References
# Appendix

== 14. License and attribution notice ==

All public deliverables must include the following notice:

<div style="border:1px solid #f2b705; background:#fff8dc; padding:12px; margin:15px 0;">
'''Task achieved under the Lesser Open Bee License 1.3 Chapter 2 Open source – © Coordinator Technoplane SAS.'''
</div>

For private or specifically contracted work, use:

<div style="border:1px solid #ccc; background:#f7f7f7; padding:12px; margin:15px 0;">
'''Private Task achieved under the Lesser Open Bee License 1.3 – © Coordinator Technoplane SAS.'''
</div>

== 15. Final checklist before delivery ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Check !! Question
|-
| Scope || Is the objective clear?
|-
| Traceability || Can we trace decisions and assumptions?
|-
| Reproducibility || Can another team rerun the work?
|-
| Quality || Have results been reviewed?
|-
| Safety || Are critical assumptions highlighted?
|-
| License || Is the Lesser Open Bee License reference included?
|-
| Continuity || Are next steps clear for future teams?
|}

== 16. Key references ==

* [https://wiki.collaborativebee.com/images/f/fd/Plan_Management_V1_2018-12-11.pdf Bee-Plane Management Plan]
* [https://wiki.collaborativebee.com/images/f/ff/TAUZIN-Gabin-Rapport-U51.pdf Technical project report]
* [https://wiki.collaborativebee.com/images/1/1e/Rapport_technique.pdf Technical report]
* [https://wiki.collaborativebee.com/images/f/f3/Supmeca_TP_2013_Rapport_Final.pdf Supmeca final report]
* [https://wiki.collaborativebee.com/images/b/bf/RapportdeProjet1ersemestre.pdf First semester project report]
* [https://wiki.collaborativebee.com/images/0/08/Rapport_MiniBee_Bourasseau_Demilly.pdf Mini-Bee report]
* [https://wiki.collaborativebee.com/images/7/70/Rapport_Mini-Bee_v5-finale.pdf Mini-Bee final report]
* [https://wiki.collaborativebee.com/images/e/e1/Soutenance_de_projet_Empennage_Bee-Plane_Tail_2013.pdf Bee-Plane tail project presentation]
* [https://wiki.collaborativebee.com/images/5/5d/Rapport_final_VTOL.pdf VTOL final report]
* [https://wiki.collaborativebee.com/images/b/b3/Compte_rendu_Train_d%27atterrissage_Bee_plane_Supmeca2014.pdf Bee-Plane landing gear report]

[[Category:Project Management]]
[[Category:Aerospace Engineering]]
[[Category:Lesser Open Bee License]]
[[Category:Bee-Plane]]
[[Category:Mini-Bee]]
[[Category:ISO-Plane]]
[[Category:GPS 4D]]