Welcome to the ADePT Design software suite

The ADePT technique uses a four step process to analyse and resolve process complexity:

	A work breakdown structure (WBS) is defined and for each of the activities in the project properties such as responsibility and duration are defined. Relationships between activities are then established which in turn allows the sequence through the process to be defined.

	A matrix approach to sequencing the design process is used. A sequence of activities is calculated which minimises the iteration in the design process and ensures any assumptions which the team need to make are ones which can be made with confidence. This is achieved by weighting the dependencies between activities. The calculation of a sequence, including clusters of inter-related tasks, prioritises the availability of outputs associated with the most critical dependencies. The interdependent, iterative groups of activities which remain in the process following sequencing are typically multi-disciplinary. They represent points in the design process where design team members should work concurrently to solve the interdependent problem. Usually they also represent elements of the construction, and therefore of the design output, which require co-ordination.

Steps 1 to 3 of
the ADePT technique
are implemented using
ADePT Design Builder.

The sequenced design process must be represented in a plan so that design delivery dates can be seen alongside construction and procurement target dates. The optimised process is usually imported into the project management tool which the project�s Planner is using to maintain the construction programme.


	All too often deviation from the agreed design programme means that very quickly it does not really represent the design process being undertaken. It is then close to impossible to implement action to get the process back to the target programme and the deviation increases to the point where the programme is meaningless. Many conventionally planned projects suffer from this problem which contributes to the general lack of confidence in design programmes. Therefore, having produced a target design programme, the design process needs to be controlled. ADePT incorporates an approach to process control which pre-empts deviation from the target programme by analysing constraints, which then allows the programme to be kept up-to-date and used in meaningful way with potential risks to the project being mitigated in advance.

Steps 3 and 4 of
the ADePT technique
are implemented using
ADePT Design Manager.