Asia Computational Materials Design and Quantum Engineering Workshop 2010

INTRODUCTION

We are pleased to inform you that the Computational Material Design and Quantum Engineering Laboratory, Research Group of Engineering Physics, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB), in cooperation with the Kasai Laboratory of the Osaka University will organize the 3^rd Asia Computational Material Design Workshop. This workshop will provide lectures of leading-edge researches in Computational Materials Design (CMD) Sciences and hands-on practical training of the quantum simulation. The invited speakers are the top speakers in this field.

Computational materials design is a computational approach aimed at developing new materials with specified properties and functionalities. The basic ingredient is the use of quantum simulations to solve the material science problems in order to design a material that suits this specification. CMD has the high potentiality to impact the real industrial research and development.

Although the subject covered in this workshop is advance nevertheless we will present it to you step by step. The workshop will be started with the overview of possible roles of CMD in Indonesia, some CMD applications, CMD in surface interactions and nano-spintronics, and followed by the development of quantum simulators. We plan the following 3 hands-on experiences :

1.) First-principles molecular dynamics program code : STATE-Senri  

     (developed by Yoshitada MORIKAWA)

2.) First-principles calculation code by real-space formalism : RSPACE
     (developed by Tomoya ONO)

3.) KKR-CPA-LDA electronic - structure - computation code :
     Machikaneyama (developed by Hisazumi AKAI)

We are looking forward to seeing you in the campus of Insitute of Technology Bandung. You will also find pleasant places to see and enjoy recreation around the city of Bandung.

DESCRIPTION 

The workshop will provide hands-on experience of the quantum simulation. We chose to use an open source application so that the participants can easily develop for their own purposes without an extra spending on application softwares. Although there is no computational language knowledge requirements, understanding any of it, preferably Fortran or C and Java, will be useful. The lecture, practice, and tutorial will be given by the experts form the Osaka University, the University of Tokyo, and ITB.

OBJECTIVE 

After completing this workshop, the participants should familiar with DFT based ab initio computation, development of quantum simulators and computational material design paradigm in general should be able to use modern tools : Machikaneyama,  STATE-Senri and RSPACE codes, for quantum simulation and material design; should be able to conduct quantum molecular dynamics and atomic motion based simulations.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND THE WORKSHOP

Lecturers, graduate students as well as practitioners in physics, chemistry, engineering physics, electrical engineering, material science and engineering. Basically every one interested in the subject are welcome. However, we will strictly limit the number of participants to 45 and the decision will be only be based on the first come first served basis.

What would you get : course hands-out and certificate

Workshop duration : 4 full-days

Schedule : July 19-22, 2010

Venue : ITB Campus, Jl. Ganesha 10 Bandung 40132

Fees : Rp 300.000,-

          Rp 250.000,- (if paid before July 1, 2010)

SPONSORS

This workshop is partially sponsored by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Directorate General for Higher Education (DGHE - Dirjen Dikti), Osaka University and ITB.

FACILITIES 

Air-conditoned computer laboratory with multimedia facilities, lunch, snacks and certificate. Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop so that they can install all relevant softwares for their own purpose.

INSTRUCTORS/TUTORS 

The lectures will be given by Prof. Hideaki Kasai, Prof. Hiroshi Katayama Yoshida, Prof. Hiroshi Nakanishi, Prof. Yoshitada Morikawa, Prof. Tomoya Ono, Prof. Masaaki Geshi, Kazunori Sato from Osaka University, Prof. Shinji Tsuneyuki from the University of Tokyo, and Hermawan K. Dipojono, Ph.D from ITB

FURTHER CONTACTS

Research Group of Engineering Physics,
Faculty of Industrial Technology, 

Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB)

Phone/Facs. : 022-2504424 Ext. 213 / 022-2506281

Contact Person : linagani@tf.itb.ac.id or mazna@tf.itb.ac.id

Data Modeling

Data modeling in software engineering is the process of creating a data model by applying formal data model descriptions using data modeling techniques.

Data modeling is a method used to define and analyze data requirements needed to support the business processes of an organization. The data requirements are recorded as a conceptual data model with associated data definitions. Actual implementation of the conceptual model is called a logical data model. To implement one conceptual data model may require multiple logical data models. Data modeling defines not just data elements, but their structures and relationships between them Data modeling techniques and methodologies are used to model data in a standard, consistent, predictable manner in order to manage it as a resource. The use of data modeling standards is strongly recommended for all projects requiring a standard means of defining and analyzing data within an organization, eg using data modeling

Data modeling may be performed during various types of projects and in multiple phases of projects. Data models are progressive; there is no such thing as the final data model for a business or application. Instead a data model should be considered a living document that will change in response to a changing business. The data models should ideally be stored in a repository so that they can be retrieved, expanded, and edited over time. Whitten (2004) determined two types of data modeling

Data modeling is also a technique for detailing business requirements for a database. It is sometimes called database modeling because a data model is eventually implemented in a database.

Materials Studio

Materials Studio is software for simulation and modelling of materials developed and distributed by Accelrys, a company specializing in research software for computational chemistry, bioinformatics, cheminformatics, molecular simulation, and quantum mechanics.

This software is used in advanced research of various materials--polymers, nanotubes, catalysts, metals, ceramics, and so on--by universities, research centers and hi-tech companies (e.g., in nanotechnology research by ST Microelectronics)

Materials Studio is a client–server software with Microsoft Windows-based PC clients and Windows and Linux-based servers running on PCs, LINUX IA64 Workstations (including SGI Altix) and HP XC clusters.

Johnson-Holmquist Damage Model

In solid mechanics, the Johnson–Holmquist damage model is used to model the mechanical behavior of damaged brittle materials, such as ceramics, rocks, and concrete, over a range of strain rates. Such materials usually have high compressive strength but low tensile strength and tend to exhibit progressive damage under load due to the growth of microcracks.

There are two variations of the Johnson-Holmquist model that are used to model the impact performance of ceramics under ballistically delivered loads. These models were developed by Gordon R. Johnson and Timothy J. Holmquist in the 1990s with the aim of facilitating predictive numerical simulations of ballistic armor penetration. The first version of the model is called the 1992 Johnson-Holmquist 1 (JH-1) model. This original version was developed to account for large deformations but did not take into consideration progressive damage with increasing deformation; though the multi-segment stress-strain curves in the model can be interpreted as incorporating damage implicitly. The second version, developed in 1994, incorporated a damage evolution rule and is called the Johnson-Holmquist 2 (JH-2) model or, more accurately, the Johnson-Holmquist damage material model.

The Johnson-Holmquist material model (JH-2), with damage, is useful when modeling brittle materials, such as ceramics, subjected to large pressures, shear strain and high strain rates. The model attempts to include the phenomena encountered when brittle materials are subjected to load and damage, and is one of the most widely used models when dealing with ballistic impact on ceramics. The model simulates the increase in strength shown by ceramics subjected to hydrostatic pressure as well as the reduction in strength shown by damaged ceramics. This is done by basing the model on two sets of curves that plot the yield stress against the pressure. The first set of curves accounts for the intact material, while the second one accounts for the failed material. Each curve set depends on the plastic strain and plastic strain rate. A damage variable D accounts for the level of fracture.

The JH-2 material assumes that the material is initially elastic and isotropic and can be described by a relation of the form (summation is implied over repeated indices)

Materials Science

Materials science or materials engineering is an interdisciplinary field involving the properties of matter and its applications to various areas of science and engineering. This science investigates the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their macroscopic properties. It includes elements of applied physics and chemistry. With significant media attention focused on nanoscience and nanotechnology in recent years, materials science has been propelled to the forefront at many universities. It is also an important part of forensic engineering and failure analysis. Materials science also deals with fundamental properties and characteristics of materials.

The material of choice of a given era is often its defining point; the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Steel Age are examples of this. Materials science is one of the oldest forms of engineering and applied science, deriving from the manufacture of ceramics. Modern materials science evolved directly from metallurgy, which itself evolved from mining. A major breakthrough in the understanding of materials occurred in the late 19th century, when the American scientist Josiah Willard Gibbs demonstrated that the thermodynamic properties related to atomic structure in various phases are related to the physical properties of a material. Important elements of modern materials science are a product of the space race the understanding and engineering of the metallic alloys, and silica and carbon materials, used in the construction of space vehicles enabling the exploration of space. Materials science has driven, and been driven by, the development of revolutionary technologies such as plastics, semiconductors, and biomaterials.

Before the 1960s (and in some cases decades after), many materials science departments were named metallurgy departments, from a 19th and early 20th century emphasis on metals. The field has since broadened to include every class of materials, including ceramics, polymers, semiconductors, magnetic materials, medical implant materials and biological materials (materiomics).

In materials science, rather than haphazardly looking for and discovering materials and exploiting their properties, the aim is instead to understand materials so that new materials with the desired properties can be created.

Urban Metabolism

Urban Metabolism is a model to facilitate the description and analysis of the flows of the materials and energy within cities, such as undertaken in a Material flow analysis of a city. First used as an exploration and comparison modeling tool by Abel Wolman in "The metabolism of Cities". The use of the Urban Metabolism model offers benefits to studies of the sustainablity of cities by providing a unified or holisitc viewpoint to encompass all of the activities of a city in a single model.

The concept of ‘urban metabolism’ has been used to describe the resource consumption and waste generation of the cities for some time (see for example, Wolman, 1965). Historically, first suggestions that quasi-organism analogies may help in understanding cities - including references to 'metabolism' - were made by the Chicago school of urban sociology (Burgess and others). Presently, the great advocate and populariser of the term has been the British educator and author Herbert Girardet. More recently the metabolism frame of reference has been used in the reporting of environmental information in Australia and it has been suggested that it can be used to define the sustainability of a city within the ecosystems capacity to support it. A strong theme in present literature on urban sustainablity is that of the need to view the urban system as a whole if we are to best understand and solve the complex problems.

Uses of the model are however not restricted to strictly functional analysis, as the model has been adapted to examine the relational aspects of urban relationships between infrastructure and citizens

Markus J. Buehler

Markus J. Buehler is a German-American materials scientist working in the area of computational multi-scale modeling of deformation and fracture of materials. He currently holds the Esther and Harold E. Edgerton Career Development Professorship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

After undergraduate education at the University of Stuttgart, Germany in Chemical and Process Engineering, Markus Buehler received his M.S. degree in Engineering Mechanics from Michigan Technological University in 2001. From 2001 to 2004 he worked at the Max Planck Institute for Metals Research in Stuttgart under the supervision of Professor Huajian Gao, Germany as a research assistant from where he also received his Ph.D. in Chemistry.

From 2004 to 2005, he held an appointment as the Director of Multiscale Modeling and Software Integration and Postdoctoral Scholar at the Materials and Process Simulation Center at the California Institute of Technology in Professor William A. Goddard’s group. There he oversaw multi-scale method development and applications in modeling of small-scale materials phenomena.

In 2005, he joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for an appointment as a Postdoctoral Associate. He assumed a faculty appointment in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in 2006. Prof. Buehler founded MIT’s Laboratory for Atomistic and Molecular Mechanics, where his research is focused on multi-scale modeling and simulation of complex hierarchical protein materials. His current research interest is focused on collagenous tissues, bone, spider silk, amyloids, as well as the mechanics of the cell’s cytoskeleton. Overall his main interests are in the elucidation of materials science paradigms for protein materials, with particular focus on fracture and deformation, which falls into an area of study referred to as materiomics. His goal is the advancement of the understanding of large hierarchical assemblies of protein structures and protein materials in biology. Prof. Buehler also works on the transfer of knowledge of materials science from biology to technological applications in the design of biomimetic materials and nanotechnology. A particular focus of his research program at MIT is the application of fracture mechanics concepts to understand the behavior and structural concepts of proteins and protein materials. He has demonstrated these approaches in several classes of protein materials, such as alpha-helices, beta-sheets and tropocollagen molecules. He has also developed the universality-diversity-paradigm (UDP) applied to protein materials, which provides a new analysis platform to describe the behavior of proteins and other biopolymers in the context of a broader range of properties, including the biological role, materials properties, process-structure integration and the possibility to enrich current engineering paradigms of generating structures at the nanoscale.

Product Structure Modeling

Product structure is a hierarchical decomposition of a product, typically known as the bill of materials (BOM). As business becomes more responsive to unique consumer tastes and derivative products grow to meet the unique configurations, BOM management can become unmanageable.

Advanced modeling techniques are necessary to cope with configurable products where changing a small part of a product can have multiple impacts on other product structure models. Concepts within this entry are all caps locked in order to indicate these concepts.

Several concepts are related to the subject of product structure modeling. All these concepts are discussed in this section. These concepts are divided into two main aspects. First the product breakdown is discussed which involves all the physical aspects of a product. Second, different views at the product structure are indicated.

Figure 1 illustrates the concepts that are important to the structure of a product. This is a meta-data model, which can be used for modeling the instances in a specific case of product structuring.

Multiscale modeling

In engineering, physics, meteorology and computer science, multiscale modeling is the field of solving physical problems which have important features at multiple scales, particularly multiple spatial and(or) temporal scales. Important problems include scale linking (Baeurle 2009, Baeurle 2006, Knizhnik 2002, Adamson 2007).

Multiscale modeling in physics is aimed to calculation of material properties or system behaviour on one level using information or models from different levels. On each level particular approaches are used for description of a system. Following levels are usually distinguished level of quantum mechanical models (information about electrons is included), level of molecular dynamics models (information about individual atoms is included), mesoscale or nano level (information about groups of atoms and molecules is included), level of continuum models, level of device models. Each level addresses a phenomenon over a specific window of length and time. Multiscale modeling is particularly important in integrated computational materials engineering since it allows to predict material properties or system behaviour based on knowledge of the atomistic structure and properties of elementary processes.

In Operations Research, multiscale modeling addresses challenges for decision makers which come from multiscale phenomena across organizational, temporal and spatial scales. This theory fuses decision theory and multiscale mathematics and is referred to as Multiscale decision making. The Multiscale decision making approach draws upon the analogies between physical systems and complex man-made systems.

In Meteorology, multiscale modeling is the modeling of interaction between weather systems of different spatial and temporal scales that produces the weather that we experience finally. The most challenging task is to model the way through which the weather systems interact as models cannot see beyond the limit of the model grid size. In other words, to run an atmospheric model that is having a grid size (very small ~ 500 m) which can see each possible cloud structure for the whole globe is computationally very expensive. On the other hand, a computationally feasible Global climate model (GCM, with grid size ~ 100km, cannot see the smaller cloud systems. So we need to come to a balance point so that the model becomes computationally feasible and at the same we do not loose much information, with the help of making some rational guesses, a process called Parameterization.

Aluminum Anodizing Technology and Market Assessment

The rapid growth and widespread use of aluminum since World War II is tied directly to the ability of anodizing processes to protect it from corrosion, improve its appearance by way of brightening it and offering a rainbow of colors, and imparting ceramic-like toughness to its outer skin (especially through hardcoat anodizing).

Hydrated aluminum oxide is the stable form of aluminum in nature; thus, unprotected aluminum exposed to air and water will corrode, forming a discontinuous, powdery, white corrosion product. This form of natural oxide growth, if unchecked, will proceed as long as unreacted aluminum is exposed. Anodizing can actually be envisioned as an accelerated corrosion process; the difference between anodizing and the natural process is that anodizing forms a more dense, continuous, oxide layer.

Anodizing has several benefits over other coating choices. For example, while plating and painting protect aluminum, there will always be a barrier between the coating and aluminum substrate with these treatments; the only bond between the two is mechanical. If the bond in this barrier region is compromised by way of poor substrate preparation, mechanical damage (e.g., scratching), or gradual degradation (e.g., general corrosion), raw aluminum will be exposed and corrosion can commence.

Anodizing, on the other hand, is a conversion coating process that results in a chemical bond between an anodic aluminum oxide layer and the aluminum basis material, which is much stronger than a mechanical bond. Whereas painted or plated coatings over aluminum can be peeled away, there is no way to separate the anodic layer from the aluminum on which it formed.

In addition to the bonding issue, paints and plated metallic layers are much softer than aluminum oxide. On the well known Moh scale of mineral hardness, one form of naturally occurring aluminum oxide, namely corundum, is the ninth hardest out of ten. The only mineral harder is diamond! With this in mind, it's not surprising to learn that a component coated with the hardest plated metal (namely hard chrome) will wear more readily than an identical component that is hardcoat anodized.

Lastly, the mechanism of oxide growth during anodizing results in a porous structure. This permits further surface modification such as:

-Dyeing to impart nearly any color to the anodic layer
-Sealing with a lubricative material such as molybdenum disulfide or PTFE
-Infiltration with an adhesive primer for bonding applications

These factors, coupled with the fact that anodizing is more economical than either powder coating or plating, point to the continued importance of anodizing as the coating of choice for aluminum in a wide range of applications.

Having been practiced for decades, Guideline generally considers anodizing to be a mature technology. Changes to existing approaches tend to be incremental process enhancements (whether for functional of decorative purposes) such as new electrolyte "recipes", rather than revolutionary technology shifts.

In spite of this, we do see several areas where technological improvements might bring about significant new opportunities for anodizers.

The strongest growth category for anodized aluminum appears to be that of transportation. An expected increase in the production of new aircraft to replace aging fleets and the auto industry's trend of increasing the use of aluminum for vehicle frames and bodies are expected to be the primary drivers of this growth. Another large anodizing category, architectural aluminum, does not appear to be poised for significant growth; in fact, this market may already have reached its peak.

The Differences Between Software Development and Software Engineering

Software development and software engineering go hand in hand when it comes to the implementation of software. Software development deals more with the creation of the software and when this is complete, software engineering takes over with the creation of software systems. Both of these disciplines are at times interchangeable and without much difference to the layman. If you just want to have one specific piece of software designed, such as database software that will keep track of your bird watching hobby, then you'll just need software development. If, however, you want your bird watching database to be able to support multiple functions, such as delivering a report with statistics and results, then you'll more likely need the expertise of software engineering.

Software engineers will implement and design software applications through the use of many mediums. These software applications will then be used for a variety of purposes that include business practices to entertainment purposes. It is these software applications that allow users to make their time on the computer as functional and productive as possible. Types of software applications include language applications, office applications, entertainment packages, and applications for education.

The cost of hiring a software developer will be significantly less than hiring a software engineer. Before you make your final decision about what you want the software to do you need to plan you budget, your timeline, and determine what you want the end result to be. The industry of software development continues to grow each year as more and more businesses are having their own software developed for them that is specific to what they do and what they want the software to do. Most companies will already be using some type of software application, such as Office Suite, and most likely won't need another application developed for them. For most intents and purposes you'll be fine hiring a software developer for you and your business needs.

Autocad - The Most Popular Software

The computer program Autocad is extremely popular and has been ever since it was created in Australia. It is used worldwide and continues to sell more than any other program that offers the same benefits.

Autocad is a computer application that was designed to edit a drawing on a graphics display screen. It is an interactive drawing system that is only able to edit one drawing at a time. It has a three dimensional database now, upgraded from the two dimensional one it used to be.

If you're looking to purchase an Autocad program, you can do so in a variety of ways. The first place you can go is a computer store. They will have many different programs you can choose from, including Autocad. You will be able to ask the salespeople any questions you have and you'll be able to take home the program that same day.

Another way you can order Autocad is online or through a catalog. Ordering online is easy because you can just type in the word, Autocad and see all the places that sell it. Then, you place a secure credit card order through the site you choose and Autocad should ship either that same day or the next day, right to your door. Catalog ordering is just as easy as online shopping as well. You just call the number provided, place your order and wait for the program to be delivered to your door.

Any way that you order Autocad, you will be given a phone number you can call to get any questions answered or to get technical support help. Once you've installed the program, you might encounter problems that you don't know how to fix, that's why it's important to hang on to that number in case something like this happens.

How to Use 3d Software

When you're using 3d software there are some things that you should keep in mind so that you end up with the best results. The most important thing is to keep it simple when you're just learning how to use the software.

You need to recognize that you're not going to be producing highly detailed projects right from the start. Choose a background that is simple so that you can concentrate on the one subject that you're working with. You can add a more busy and complicated background after you're successfully completed your one subject.

Once you've decided what your first project is going to be you'll want to change the settings of the 3d software so that you're not using the default settings. Remember that it's the settings of the software that can help to make your project as original as possible. When you stick with the default settings of the 3d software you're producing something that has essentially been created a thousand times before.

You'll have to experiment with the 3d software until you get the settings to do what you want them to do. This may mean that you have to lower the setting of reflectivity or color dramatically but the end result of originality will be well worth it. The important thing to remember is not to get frustrated and discouraged when your first projects don't turn out the way you want them to.

It's all about learning the software and finding out what it can do for you. Once you master using the 3d software you can add on additional equipment, such as a scanner or a digital camera, and learn how to use these with your software in such a way that you're creating projects that stretch your skill.

There are several different types of 3d software on the market today so be sure to take your time deciding which one meets your designing needs before you spend what could be a great deal of money for your software.

5 Computer Software Websites Every Computer User Needs

You can quickly and easily spend thousands of dollars buying software for your computer.

Since there are so many great computer programs out there, it's hard to resist the buying impulse.

However, before you start shelling out your hard earned money buying software for your computer, there are several things you should consider:

1. Why do I need this software?
2. Is there a free version that will work just as well?
3. What's the difference among freeware, shareware, free trials, open source, etc.?

Freeware is simply software that you can get for free. Sometimes it has advertising in it, and sometimes it doesn't. The downside of using freeware is that it might not be stable, or it contains advertising.

Shareware is where you get a full version of the software, and you get to try all of the features for a certain period of time. Then, if you want to keep it, you have to pay the fee.

Free trials allow you to try the software, but not all of the features are enabled, so you will have to upgrade to get everything to work.

Open Source is free software that has been developed by volunteer programmers and is freely available. You can even edit the source code if you like. The downside is that not all open source software is stable, and it can cause problems on your computer.

There are also other types of software, like donationware, or lite versions of the software. With lite versions, you get a working version of the software, but some of the features are disabled. Unlike a free trial, you can continue to use the lite version forever.

Below are five sites where you can get some great software for your computer.

Some of these sites are free. Others, you have to buy the software, but it's definitely worth the investment.

Freeware Home - http://www.freewarehome.com - This is absolutely one of the best websites on the internet. It contains over 7,000 programs that are all free. The programs are all full versions of the software, and there are tons of categories. If you can't find what you're looking for here, you'll be hard pressed to find it anywhere else.

Doug Knox - http://www.dougknox.com - This site is actually more of a site for scripts you can run on your computer. All of the scripts are designed to fix various computer problems you may be having. You'll also find information on different operating systems as well, so this is a good all around computer resource to help you solve your computer problems.

Snap and Pop - http://www.snapnpopdragon.com/ - This program isn't free, but I felt it was important to mention it.

This site offers a free ecourse to show you how to tweak your computer so that you can get better performance out of it. The software is especially good for anyone who is new to computers because it can help you maximize your resources, as well as fix any computer problems, and you don't need to be a computer geek to do it.

Webmaster Free - http://www.webmasterfree.com - If you are a webmaster, or you're considering building a website, this site is absolutely invaluable.

You'll find every possible tool you can imagine to help you build, upload, and promote your website. Although there are plenty of free trials and shareware located here, there's enough free software on this site to keep you browsing for days. This site is part of the iEntry Network, where you can find tons of information on just about anything, especially if it's related to business.

Jumbo - http://www.jumbo.com - This is one of the oldest software sites on the internet and contains thousands of programs. You can find all kinds of freeware, shareware, free trials, and other computer software to download. This site also offers software for just about any operating system. Part of the internet.com network.

There are tons of places on the internet to find free software. However, it's important that you use a reliable site to find it. Otherwise, you can end up with all kinds of spyware, adware, and malware on your computer, and it will cause you all kinds of problems.

Avoid all of that by surfing on reliable sites. These sites will keep you surfing for days, and you'll find tons of great software for your computer.

Project Management Software - Manage Your Vital Projects With The Right Software

Why purchase project management software? It will not increase the effectiveness of your project manager, only proper training, experience and a strong work ethic will do that. What it will do is to make a project manager more efficient and, as you know, efficiency is key when it comes to the proper management of your projects.

The use of project management software means that certain tasks are likely to be carried out with greater efficiency. The easy accomplishment and swift completion of a project requires effective communication with a project sponsor, the ability to make easy-to-follow assignments for other team members, and definition of the scope of a project, are all things that this convenient software can help you accomplish. You will be able to do these things with greater ease and in less time.

There is plenty of software on the market nowadays and deciding on the product that is the most suitable for your needs can be difficult. The prices of management software can vary drastically, so it's important that you choose a product that's tailored to your specific needs and without any unnecessary peripherals. It makes little sense to purchase a $20,000 software package when one that only costs $100 could have done the job.

If you need a software that is more suited to a smaller project, then there are many relatively inexpensive software packages available on the internet or in your local computer store. Programs such as Milestone Simplicity, TurboProject and Quick Gnatt may all be purchased for about $125.

These programs are great for small projects and it is easy to learn how to use them. Before buying this low-end software, try to ensure that it really does fulfill the company's needs and that they won't be taking on any larger projects in the foreseeable future as this will require a more sophisticated type of project management software.

If you plan on embarking on large projects or multiple project management then you will need more advanced software. Microsoft Project and Primavera Project Planner are two of the best known applications for dealing with larger projects. Stick to the better known software, as the likelihood that you'll be able to find someone who knows how to use it is often much higher. This will reduce the time it takes to train someone to use the project management software.

Many large companies have thrived for years without using a project management software. Don't think that investing big bucks in software will magically take your company straight to the top. However, software, properly used, can give your company an edge over competing companies who have not invested the necessary time that it takes to choose and implement a software that is suited to their particular needs.

Summary:

If used properly, project management software will give a company the edge over its competitors. Take care, because with all the different types of software available, choosing the right one for your company can be difficult.