PROCESS

The Major Issues Multiskilled See In Projects

The typical issues that will need management and control are:

1. Integration with process designers
2. Project Management
3. The need for clarity of the desired outcomes, eg timing, standards and the like
4. Clarity of common elements, eg document templates, equipment and document numbering, document control, reporting, project scheduling and the like
5. Interfaces, we various supplies / packages
6. Escalation factors over the life of the project, eg rates, exchange rate dependant items, items dependant on the price of copper or aluminium and the like

Indicative plan to address the major issues over time

Key issues that lead to poor project outcomes and excessive cost are:

• Unclear scope and desired outcomes.
• Parties not working openly, having hidden agendas and not working with the end clients outcomes at the forefront.
• Parties not being open to fresh thinking and ideas.
• Lack of streamlined systems
• Too much “red tape” that adds cost and offers little value
• Slow reactions and inflexibility

Some of these issues are for the lead /client / management to control.

What Multiskilled will do and offers is:

1. Integration with process designers

For the control to be suitable, efficient and logical the programmers need clear direction and understanding from the process designers. This is typically communicated via functional specifications. A problem we see with many clients is that they leave the functional specification to the electrical engineers, this can result in a solution that doesn’t best suit the process or misinterprets the process.
We suggest that who ever best understands the process makes the effort to thoroughly define its needs for the control implementers.
We would expect to be involved and have easy and open lines of communication to assist in the desire to reach the most suitable control system.

2. Project Management

Any significant project will be complex, there are numerous interfaces and the activity and cost must be managed well. To that end a person with particular skills and focus is needed.

Multiskilled would assign a person to act in this role, freeing designers to focus on their tasks:

• Contract Establishment
• Team Management
• Establish budgets and forecasts
• Cost Control
• Invoicing
• Scope Management / Variations
• Define Work Breakdown Structure, deliverables, gates and project schedule
• Client Liaison
• Point of Contact / Coordinate Information & Direction
• Establish and manage systems to facilitate the project and its management
• Establish project related plans, e.g. safety / quality / environment etc
• Align works to estimate and brief
• With client establish commercials related to procurement to facilitate equipment selection
• Establish the regime for design and review
• Establish and oversee technical systems
• Establish document control and standards
• Define the structure and approach
• Define what it applies to

3. The need for clarity of the desired outcomes, eg timing, standards and the like

Multiskilled will make it clear what it needs and when it needs it.
Wherever we are able and are invited Multiskilled would be happy to assist in this.

4. Clarity of common elements, eg document templates, equipment and document numbering, document control, reporting, project scheduling and the like

To avoid rework and for all works by different parties to be consistent and have the same look and feel the client will need to define and provide early in the project the standards to be followed.
Wherever we are able and are invited Multiskilled would be happy to assist in this.

5. Interfaces, with various supplies / packages

This is often an area where things can go wrong. Packages need to be clearly defined with particular attention to boundaries and overlaps.
The parties need to have an open attitude to working together to provide the desired outcomes.
The terms of engagement need some flexibility in this area as it can be difficult to pin down the work and cost at the boundaries.
The client may need its own management to oversee that the boundaries / interfaces are appropriately resolved.

6. Escalation factors over the life of the project, eg rates, exchange rate dependant items, items dependant on the price of copper or aluminium and the like

This would be identified and communicated in a proposal.