Engineering Project Management Qualifications

rG-tom · 18 Apr 2013 at 15:52

Afternoon guys,

I work for an Engineering company as a Production Control Manager, in charge of planning engineers and the management of projects etc. I have built up to this role just through working here and have no formal training.

My work have agreed to pay for me to be trained and to gain a suitable project management qualification, and have asked me to research and put forward ideas as to which would be the best.

The one that immediately sprang to mind is a Prince2. Research shows there are a couple of others to consider too: APMP and PMP....does anyone here have any experience of any of these courses, or perhaps others? Ideally looking for people that work in the engineering industry.

To give you an idea of our company: We are a sub contract machine and fabrication engineers, no internal design team but do manage projects...we are heavy engineers with a bias towards precision industries like Nuclear, Defense, Power Generation, Oil and Sub Sea, making large parts to tight tolerances with strict material controls etc.

Any help is appreciated

Thanks,

Tom.

scorza · 18 Apr 2013 at 16:25

In the UK and likely to work on public sector projects, it's surely got to be PRINCE2 hasn't it?

rG-tom · 18 Apr 2013 at 16:41

Very unlikely to work in public sector and the option of moving abroad is something I'd like to keep open

W!ll · 18 Apr 2013 at 17:04

All I know about these qualifications is based upon what I've done as Advantage modules to add to my Mech Eng degree, Prince2 seems to be the predominate qualification out there for project management, my father is a Consultant with regards to civil engineering and like yourself has built up his skill base from working and he has said that Prince2 seems to be the most popular, if that is any help?

jr1104 · 18 Apr 2013 at 17:08

I'm about to go on the APMP course, which sits at Level 4 on the IPMA scale. So far I've only done the pre-work, and will be able to tell you a bit more next week after doing the course. It looks to cover a wide variety of topics though, with some specific theories touched on. How this compares to Prince I'm not sure, but I imagine it depends on how you want to apply the knowledge as to how useful it is.

If your already involved in project management, it could be some of it is quite familiar and other bits involve a bit of change to your current way of working.

D.P. · 18 Apr 2013 at 17:16

rG-tom said:
Very unlikely to work in public sector and the option of moving abroad is something I'd like to keep open

Prince2 is probably not for you then, no one outside the UK will have heard of it!

rG-tom · 18 Apr 2013 at 17:21

jr1104 said:
I'm about to go on the APMP course, which sits at Level 4 on the IPMA scale. So far I've only done the pre-work, and will be able to tell you a bit more next week after doing the course. It looks to cover a wide variety of topics though, with some specific theories touched on. How this compares to Prince I'm not sure, but I imagine it depends on how you want to apply the knowledge as to how useful it is.

If your already involved in project management, it could be some of it is quite familiar and other bits involve a bit of change to your current way of working.

APMP looks like a very good option too, it's one of the main options im looking at, I would be interested to know how you get on

Tom_ed1987 · 18 Apr 2013 at 17:30

Do the Prince2 to look good on the CV and tick a recruiters box when applying elsewhere, particularly public sector. Many recruitment people are blind to there being any other PM qualifications of any merit.
Do APM if you want a bit more respect from people 'in the know'

Unless you are thinking of changing jobs any time soon, I would go for APM.

EDIT: I should add that if you can, do both.

Windle · 18 Apr 2013 at 17:32

We're seeing a big swing from Prince2 to APMP in my industry (Civil/Utilities). Our company no longer sends people on Prince2 full stop.

PlacidCasual · 18 Apr 2013 at 17:39

I've done the APMP course it was very good but our professional project manager on a current project was very sniffy, he reckoned PRINCE 2 was better. I have no baseline to make a decision. Either way well worth doing.

Makhaira · 18 Apr 2013 at 19:42

The cost to put yourself through PRINCE always used to be astronomical, I don't know if that's still the case or not. Many employers will have a preference, or even their own style of PM, tailored to what they do and how they operate. The difference between which (recognised) training you have is far less important than having some training. Don't forget experience either!

Wink · 18 Apr 2013 at 19:49

Depends what you think you need to develop.

PRINCE2 is a project management methodology. It will give you a model within which you can deliver a project, but it doesn't tell you how to actually execute it or really discuss project management areas in any detail.

APMP actually gets into the details of project management, covering all aspects of it like planning, risk management, earned value etc.

craptakular · 18 Apr 2013 at 19:57

Why not just do a masters in project management? If you can skip the degree of course.

rG-tom · 18 Apr 2013 at 20:39

craptakular said:
Why not just do a masters in project management? If you can skip the degree of course.

I dont think i would be able to skip the degree.

Also, I want something that is more achievable short term. APMP sounds like it could be a really good option, will look into it

craptakular · 18 Apr 2013 at 20:43

I think in most cases you can if you have a lot of experience, after all they want your money.

decmatt · 18 Apr 2013 at 20:52

Have a look at PRINCE2, then APMP for PRINCE2 Practitioners.