Draper & Associates was engaged to provide scheduling services in support of Federal Express' construction of their Southwest Hub at Alliance Airport, Texas. The project was a critical part of Federal Express' multi-million dollar hub expansion program.

The Southwest Hub program was a complex collection of diverse projects, that included both construction and mobilization. The $225 million program included all construction activities associated with a major airport terminal operation as well as the associated bulk package sorting systems. The program also included purchase, delivery, and installation of all associated loose equipment, and the hiring and training of over two thousand permanent employees.

Draper & Associates supported Federal Express' efforts to monitor the design, fabrication, installation, and commissioning of the Sandvik Sort Systems bulk sorting equipment. Draper & Associates prepared an overall project schedule and monitored the construction on a bi-weekly basis. Draper & Associates integrated the sort system schedule with the facility construction schedule, the Northrop Grumman schedule (the small package sorting system), and other Federal Express activities, giving Federal Express executives clear information with which to manage the overall program.

Draper & Associates also helped Federal Express manage the mobilization effort. With Draper & Associates' assistance, Federal Express prepared mobilization plans for the large collection of user groups who occupied the facility beginning January 1997. By collecting individual user group plans and integrating the plans into an overall mobilization schedule, Federal Express clearly understood the sequence of activities required and how the different user groups interrelate.

The latest effort included support for the $285 million Southwest Hub expansion. This project was unique in that it not only included construction and mobilization, but had to be completed on a non-interference basis with on-going operations at the Hub. This expansion doubled the size and capacity of the current Hub. The Southwest Hub serves as the model for all future Federal Express airport facilities.