Planning & Cost Management

Marketing and Transportation Engineering's (M&TE) Planning & Cost Management group supports the management of M&TE's entire portfolio of projects. The group uses their extensive experience in project planning and cost information systems to monitor project development and project execution to help ensure success of M&TE and business partner objectives.

M&TE promotes the use of the Marathon Project Management Process (MPMP), which is a set of proven methods and tools for planning and executing projects. It focuses on front-end loading at the beginning of the project, when a team has the greatest influence over the success of the project. In addition, M&TE projects are managed in a web-based Project Management system that includes project costs, schedule, resources and other information. This system is linked to other databases of information to allow for timely, efficient and consistent use of information.

Planning Team

The Planning Team is responsible for various project control activities related to the portfolio of projects managed by M&TE. Planning representatives use critical path techniques to develop project milestone schedules containing all phases of the project management cycle, assist project leaders in the development of project schedules, provide project and program metrics to measure progress and productivity, and assist in long-term program planning.

In addition, this group supports manpower resource management activities and provides training and support on the scheduling tools used by M&TE.

Cost Management Team

The Cost Management Team provides expertise related to the flow of financial information with a focus on project costs and internal controls. Cost management analysts assist project leaders in managing costs, process internal and external project costs to ensure the financial integrity of projects managed by M&TE, and provide training and support on the cost management tools, processes and procedures used by M&TE. In addition, this group interfaces with business partner operating and accounting groups, ensuring cost and financial reporting needs are met.

Other Services

Planning & Cost Management personnel, in coordination with the Company's Information Technology group, support the various software tools utilized within M&TE in the execution of project work. In addition, file services are maintained for easy access to electronic drawings for Company-owned facilities and all M&TE managed projects.