How to Avoid Failure of Software Project

A successful software project is completed on time and on budget, with all features and functions as envisaged. Challenged software project is completed and operational but it exceeds budget, time estimate and works with fewer features and functions than originally conceived. Impaired software project gets canceled at some point during the development cycle.

A research suggests that 16.2% projects are successful, 52.7% software projects are challenged and 31.1% are impaired software project.

One should concentrate on the following points to enjoy the success

User involvement
Executive management support
Clear statements of requirements
Proper planning
Realistic expectations
Smaller project milestones
Competent staff
Ownership
Clear vision and objectives
Hard working and focused staff
One should avoid the following reasons for failure

The development team did not posses the matching skill set and experience

Lack of involvement of users during the development process
Payment was not related to productivity
Frequent change in the development team
Absence of modular structure in design
Poor HR management
Lack of sense of ownership among the users
The changing needs and requirements of the users were not addressed
Lack of proper documentation
Lack of proper distribution of roles and responsibilities
Improper test planning
Poor requirement management
Poor data design
Improper choice of technology
Inadequate management support
Poor management vision
Poor project communication
Inadequate user training
Frequent change in the user team
System not user friendly
Conflict among stakeholder
All these reasons for failure can be categorized in to four different chunks

In house capability

The development team did not posses the matching skill set and experience, absence of modular structure in design, poor data design, inadequate user training, improper choice of technology

Client commitment

Lack of involvement of users during the development process, lack of sense of ownership among the users, payment was not related to productivity, conflict among stakeholders, frequent change in the user team.

Project management

Poor HR management, lack of proper distribution of roles and responsibilities, inadequate management support, poor management vision, poor project communication, improper test planning, Lack of proper documentation, frequent change in the development team.

Requirement Management

The changing needs and requirements of the user were not addressed, system not user friendly, poor requirement analysis and management.

All these points should be treated as a first step.

Prajakta Chandrakant Dhote, Jr Faculty IT in ICFAI National College, chandrapur, Maharashtra, India. At present doing research on Fuzzy Logic

3 Reasons For Premature Bearing Failure (And How To Avoid Them)

Every failed bearing tells a story - one that can help identify machinery problems, maintenance issues, bearing selection errors and other important issues. Are you interested?

In the pulp and paper industry, bearings face harsh conditions every day, and this can result in premature bearing failure. When bearings fail, quick replacement to minimize downtime is the first priority. In fact, taking the time to investigate the causes of bearing failure can actually increase uptime and decrease both maintenance time and cost.

Creep

Creep is where slipping occurs at the fitting surfaces and thereby creates a clearance at the fitting surface.

What to Look For: A shiny bearing surface, occasionally with scoring or wear.

Cause:

Insufficient interference or loose fit

Insufficient sleeve tightening

Solution:

Check the interference, and prevent rotation

Correct the sleeve tightening

Study the shaft and housing precision

Preload in the axial direction

Tighten the raceway ring side face

Apply adhesive to the fitting surface

Apply a film of lubricant to the fitting surface

Flaking

Flaking occurs when small pieces of bearing material are split off from the smooth surface of the raceway or rolling elements due to rolling fatigue, thereby creating regions having rough and coarse texture.

What to Look For: Rough, course texture on the bearing surface.

Cause:

Excessive load

Poor mounting (misalignment)

Moment load

Entry of foreign debris, water penetration

Poor lubrication, improper lubricant

Unsuitable bearing clearance

Improper precision for shaft or housing, unevenness in housing rigidity, large shaft bending

Progression from rust, corrosion pits, smearing, dents (brinelling)

Solution:

Reconfirm the bearing application and check the load conditions

Improve the mounting method

Improve the sealing mechanism, prevent rusting during non-running

Use a lubricant with a proper viscosity, improve the lubrication method

Check the precision of shaft and housing

Check the bearing internal clearance

Smearing

Smearing is surface damage that occurs from a collection of small seizures between bearing components caused by oil film rupture and/or sliding.

What to Look For: Surface roughening occurs along with melting.

Cause:

High speed and light load

Sudden acceleration/deceleration

Improper lubricant

Entry of water

Solution:

Improve the preload

Improve the bearing clearance

Use a lubricant with good oil film formation ability

Improve the lubrication method (download our Lubrication Guide for easy reference)

Improve the sealing mechanism

Bearing failure not only affects specific equipment, it can cause entire facilities to grind to a halt. Don't address the immediate problem by simply installing a new bearing; investigate the cause of bearing failure. You may be able to prolong bearing life, improve productivity and reduce maintenance costs by identifying and resolving issues around bearing selection, mounting, lubrication and application.

For more information on maximizing bearing life to increase uptime, visit http://www.thinknskuptime.com and access our online solution guide!

NSK Corporation