The programming of large construction projects is driven by the strategic plan which is influenced by financial constraints and market demands. The programming process, which deals with project planning and feasibility studies, helps set the priorities and determine the timing for initiating various important activities so that overall objectives can be met. Once a project is initiated, market pressure may dictate timely completion of the project.
So far as industrial construction is concerned, market pressure is probably one of the major factors which influence the timing of initiating a facility. Demand for an industrial product can be high for a short period of time; and if a business does not hit the market on time, there may not be demand for its product later. Considering the pace at which technology is evolving and the intense competition for international and national markets, the industrial construction sector moves toward shorter project life cycles.
Taking into account the significance of time, some owners may like to skip conducting thorough feasibility studies and planning, and proceed with the inadequate definition of the project scope. Changes in the project scope at later stages can increase production costs; however, the benefits of completing a project early often justify the increased costs. If the owner is in a position to drive reasonable profits, the project is considered a success despite the costs exceeding the estimate.
Project owners hold the key to influence the production cost of a project because decisions made at the initial stages of a project life cycle have a greater impact than those made at later stages. The implementation of dependable project controls becomes crucial when the owner does not have in-house engineering and construction management capabilities. The expertise of project controls specialists is essential to providing strategic planning and project programming.
The value of project controls
Some large industrial construction projects are clearly unsuccessful and abandoned, and their failure is often attributed to inadequate planning and absence of project controls. The major role of project controls in construction is to reduce costs without increasing the project duration and keep projects on track using techniques such as strategic planning, scheduling, cost management and progress measurement.
The use of controls varies according to the demands and size of a project. It helps project stakeholder plans, organize, and control the following aspects of a project:
- Construction estimating
- Construction scheduling
- Cost management
- Simulations and presentations
- Field progress measurement
- Risk management
- Information modeling and reporting
- Quality assurance test records
A sufficient set of controls in place will help you better deal with uncertainties and risk which is an inseparable part of any large construction project.
About Us
Specialty Plant Services provides project control services to an array of industries: manufacturing plants, oil and gas, fabrication shops, infrastructure, and the commercial sector in Canada. We utilize advanced techniques and software capabilities to streamline your project from planning to delivery. Feel free to discuss your project with us!