An option to have in the back pocket is never rely on a single team or individual. Always have a back up. Maintain access to the most current files with the designer and stay vigilant and in communication with your designer prior to the deadline. If they are gonna fail to deliver on time, push the files to you back up team and execute. This issue has come to fruition due to a lack of communication and a failure to schedule proper deadlines. If you’re waiting to the last day on anything to find out that they’ve busted the schedule, not only did they fail, you’ve failed. This work should have been completed with a buffer to verify their work as well as time to allow for QC/QA.

I work with the external partner to find a way forward. This might include offering assistance, finding alternative resources, or even adjusting the scope temporarily to meet the deadline. As soon as a delay is identified, I reach out to the external partner to understand the root cause. Early engagement can sometimes provide insights into potential solutions or alternative timelines.

Some ways you get started: 1 - Communication skills is always a strong host in the job to keep track with co-workers on projects. 2 - Always have templates for backup just incase if something happens. 3 - Always make a plan especially with your co-workers when projects are not meeting with the deadline.

Immediate Communication – Contact the vendor to understand the cause of the delay and their proposed resolution. Assess whether the delay is within their control or due to external factors. Assess Impact – Evaluate how the delay affects the overall project timeline, dependencies, and deliverables. Negotiate Solutions – Work with the vendor to expedite delivery through additional resources, priority handling, or phased submissions.

Yes, of course! This happens frequently during projects because no one can predict the future with certainty. As a result, problems often arise. However, as engineers, our primary role is to find solutions. In reality, everything depends on the available resources—without them, even theoretical and practical experience becomes crucial in overcoming challenges. During my M.Tech, I studied a subject called Experimental Methods, where I learned how to tackle such problems effectively. One key takeaway from this subject is that understanding the problem thoroughly is the first step toward finding a solution. If you can analyze the issue properly, you will undoubtedly be able to derive a solution from it.