This is ultimate question that a project planner will live with. It is not only about monitoring and controlling the schedule but the overarching need is how are we going to DRIVE the schedule with end in mind.
In an EPC project it involves inputs from an increasing number of engineering. Engineering activities are also highly dependent on on availability of vendor data. Timely availability of vendor data is crucial in order not to be a showstopper for the progress of design.
This information will set precedence for procurement and also construction activities.Construction activity in certain area can't start before the equipment is available and without the approved drawing from client. Hence, managing information quality and flows are critical.
Ironically, the 1st drawing that required by site are the one produced at the end in the engineering work sequence. Foundation data are the last available for an equipment. First comes the equipment process duty, then mechanical specs, then design by vendor, then only it's load and size.
With all these dependency and constraints, workface planning plays an important roles. So what is workface planning.
WorkFace Planning is the creation of small, well defined, Field Installation Work Packages (FIWP) for the construction workforce. A typical FIWP is one rotation of work (5 or 10 days) for one crew in one discipline. The FIWP is a dissection of the schedule and an element of the Superintendants execution plan.
Each FIWP has a standard list of constraints that must be satisfied prior to the work being released. These constraints are a list of all of the things that a Foreman will need to execute the work: Documents, materials, scaffolds, permits etc.In nutshell, this is what workface planning all about,
One important lesson that i learn when i was doing a project for Shell is total constraint management in this method. It is not something different from risk but much more detail and you need to wear different sets of hats to make it work.
Each FIWP has a standard list of constraints that must be satisfied prior to the work being released. These constraints are a list of all of the things that a site people will need to execute the work: Documents, materials, scaffolds, permits etc.
Each constraints are obtained by brainstorming, expert judgement, feedback from subcontractor and from historical database on what can go wrong. Then each constraints are registered and tagged to respective FIWP or Work Pack. Lookahead schedule plays an important roles in determining the focus which range from 3 months lookahead and zoom down to 3 weeks lookahead.
High level readiness will be captured in Construction Readiness Checklist and further breakdown to fine level of constraints. Both of these tracking will be reviewed by the team on weekly basis.
Source : Ernst and Young Report Capital_projects_life_cycle_management_Oil_and_Gas
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