Assessment Technology Report and Presentation
Individual/Group Group Report and Group Presentation
Length 2500 words +/- 10%
Learning Outcomes The Subject Learning Outcomes demonstrated by successful completion of the task below
include:
a) Develop a systematic risk management approach to strategically and operationally identify, evaluate, analyse, manage and govern risks in an engineering context.
b) Implement a risk management approach in engineering practice workplace situations.
c) Assess and apply methodologies and tools to improve safety, reliability and to reduce hazards.
d) Develop risk management plans for engineering projects and systems in accordance with appropriate risk management standards.
e) Consider and be able to adapt technologies and innovative ideas to improve risk management processes.
Weighting 30%
Task Summary – Assessment 3
The case study provides an overview of one of the largest aviation projects undertaken. A number of attributes have been provided in the case study to give the reviewer (i.e., you as student) the opportunity to draw on material and construct a response that is relevant to the information provided (in the case study). Reference to the case study is required for ALL three assessments and your critique of the case study will differ across ALL three assessments.
For assessment 3, the Managing Director of AIRBUS A380 has assigned you as Project Engineer to consult with other interested parties to complete a risk management analysis and evaluation by initiating a technological risk management report. To ensure that the report is relevant to AIRBUS A380’s context and risk environment, you (as Project Engineer) will identify TWO significant process-based risks as prioritised and listed in the Risk Register (assessment 2). You are to draw upon the data provided in ALL six odules and provide discussion in the form of a group Technological Report of 2,500 words (+/- 10%) as to why these risks are significant for the organisation.
This discussion will also include the application, analysis and evaluation of TWO significant process-based risks using the following technological risk sequencing and evaluation techniques (A and B).
A) Using a Decision Tree Analysis (DTA):
- Propose a decision to be made;
- Identify two expected scenarios that focus on the risk’s use of controls with each of these options (an opportunity scenario with the use of risk controls and a deviation away from objectives due to use of risk controls) and the likelihood of each scenario;
- Determine an expected outcome for each of these scenarios;
- Identify the decision that should have been made;
B) Using the same process-based risk or an alternative (as per level of significance and priority identified in the risk register) apply an Event Tree Analysis (ETA) to determine the functioning/not functioning of the risk controls to mitigate this risk’s consequences. Your lecturer/facilitator will be able to assist in formulating your response.
Please note, this is a group assessment and it is expected that you undertake appropriate academic literature review in preparing your submission. Your submission will include a Group report together with a Presentation.
Context (Assessments 1, 2 and 3)
Case Study: AIRBUS A380
The rapid demise of the Airbus A380 is a complex tale of missed connections, a changing market and, ultimately, a staggering lack of demand for the largest commercial airplane ever built. As a result, this mountain of the skies could well be the last of its kind. The decision to stop production on the A380 came after Emirates, which operates more than half of all flights using the plane, halved its latest order (2019). After being in production for a little over 12 years, the A380 will go down as one of the shortest-lived models in aviation history.
Airbus hoped it would succeed through i) the size of the plane–a strategic desire to distance themselves from being just another Boeing and ii) it was designed to solve an expected problem–if the industry continued to grow at the expected rate, then airports would be overwhelmed by the sheer number of people. A large plane, would help ease this bottleneck by picking up more people per flight whilst also maximising value for expensive landing slots. This prediction proved to be wrong–airport capacity in many markets, especially Asia, has grown.
Features of the A380:
- The plane, which is estimated to have cost $25bn (£19.4bn) to develop, runs on a capacity of 320,000 litres of fuel;
- has four 70,000lb thrust engines;
- carries 555 passengers over two decks;
- has 500 square meters of floor space;
- has a duty free shop;
- bar restaurant and;
- beauty salon.
Efficiency and reliability:
- two new-generation engine options (the Engine Alliance GP7200 and Rolls-Royce’s Trent 900), combined with an advanced wing and landing gear design make the A380 significantly quieter than other large airliners – enabling Airbus’ very large aircraft to meet strict local regulations at airports around the world;
- a new wing design and composite materials accounting for 25% of its structural weight, the A380 is an all-around efficient aircraft;
- produces only about 75 grams of CO2 per kilometre, helping the aviation industry’s commitment to minimise greenhouse gas emissions.
Perceived failure of the A380:
- initial supplier related problems–over 14 countries were involved in its manufacture. Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers were not systemized and organised–communication between suppliers was a major issue;
- lead times for aircraft production are long and much can change between the time of order and delivery;
- in an industry characterised by razor-thin margins, fuel efficiency is paramount and this created issues for the A380, especially as Airbus itself and rival Boeing developed more fuel-efficient aircraft.
The A380’s failure is also a result of a switch in the aviation world towards smaller, more efficient aircraft. Boeing’s B787, for example, seats around half as many passengers as the A380. In fact, Emirates, as it cut back on the A380, placed a large order of Airbus’s own smaller A350 and A330. These aircraft offer ‘better operating economics, lower costs, smaller capacity and therefore less pressure to fill every seat’.
This type of ‘hotel in the sky’ superjumbo was seen as a technological prize at the time, it is now considered an overly expensive aircraft, with four engines that are less efficient than newer engines found on late model, twin-engined aircraft. Filling an aircraft with more than 500 seats demands selling at least some of the tickets at low prices. Overall yield is therefore lower than a smaller aircraft, which are easier to fill up. Airlines have been nervous to commit to very large aircraft, as they cannot find enough suitable routes where demand is high enough to fill the aircraft at a decent yield.
Task Instructions – Assessment 3
To complete this assessment, you will identify TWO significant process-based risks as prioritised and listed in the Risk Register (Assessment 2). You are to draw upon the data provided in ALL six modules and provide discussion in the form of a Technological Report of 2,500 words (+/- 10%) as to why these risks are significant for the organisation.
Technology Report criteria:
Refer to the Case Study. Take into account ALL of the case’s context;
- Identify TWO significant process-based risks as prioritised and listed in the Risk Register (assessment 2);
- Provide discussion as to why they are deemed as significant;
- Use the following technological risk sequencing and evaluation techniques (A and B) to further this discussion:
A. Adopt a Decision Tree Analysis (DTA) to
- Propose a decision to be made;
- Identify two expected scenarios that focus on the risk’s use of controls with each of these options (an opportunity scenario with the use of risk controls and a deviation away from objectives due to use of risk controls) and the likelihood of each scenario;
- Determine an expected outcome for each of these scenarios;
- Identify the decision that should have been made;
B. Using the same process-based risk or an alternative (as per level of significance and priority identified in the risk register) apply an Event Tree Analysis (ETA) to determine the functioning/not functioning of the risk controls to mitigate this risk’s consequences. Your lecturer/facilitator will be able to assist in formulating your response.
Report structure:
- Executive Summary (what is the purpose and nature of the report);
- Contents page;
- Introduction – Background information;
- Body (as outlined in Technology Report Criteria);
- Conclusion;
- Recommendations;
- List of References;
- Appendices
Presentation:
Group presentation incorporating all group members
Duration: no more than 10 minutes
Format: Deck of slides; Panopto video or similar; display board (chalk and duster)
This assessment is relevant to the following SLOs (subject learning outcomes):
a) Develop a systematic risk management approach to strategically and operationally identify, evaluate, analyse, manage and govern risks in an engineering context;
b) Implement a risk management approach in engineering practice workplace situations;
c) Assess and apply methodologies and tools to improve safety, reliability and to reduce hazards;
d) Develop risk management plans for engineering projects and systems in accordance with appropriate risk management standards;
e) Consider and be able to adapt technologies and innovative ideas to improve risk management processes.
Assessment criteria and weighting is as follows (also refer to the assessment rubric).
- Group presentation of concepts: 20% of this assessment
- Analytical depth and discussion of technological risks: 35% of this assessment
- Critical thinking and reflection: 35% of this assessment
- Communication of ideas /quality of the style and structure of the response: 10% of this assessment
Types of media used:
]All assessment submissions must be in the form of a written report. The report can be supported by the following types of media:
- static imagery;
- Panopto video;
- PowerPoint slides;
- MPV video
Referencing
It is essential that you use appropriate APA style for citing and referencing research. Please see more information on referencing here https://library.torrens.edu.au/academicskills/apa/tool
Submission Instructions
Submit this task via the Assessment link in the main navigation menu in MEM602 Engineering Risk Management. The Learning Facilitator will provide feedback via the Grade Centre in the LMS portal.
Feedback can be viewed in My Grades.
Academic Integrity Declaration
Individual and group assessment tasks:
I/We declare that except where I/We have referenced, the work I/We are submitting for this assessment task is our own work. I/We have read and am aware of Torrens University Australia Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure viewable online at http://www.torrens.edu.au/policies-and-forms
I/We are aware that I/We need to keep a copy of all submitted material and their drafts, and I/We will do so accordingly.
