Most standard project management methods address the project execution stage in sequence ie after the design, planning and procurement stages have been completed. However, today’s software technology allows you to flip this – to work backwards from the end date. Why would you want to do that? Because if you can ensure engineering and construction are aligned during early project stages the chances of successful project outcome go up significantly. In other words, instead of starting your planning with the project start date if you start with the project end date and work backwards from that, you’d be able to define the scope of the construction phase as a series of construction work packages, and this approach promises more efficient project delivery.
The benefits of this method are manifold, including decreased project execution costs, shorter construction timelines, higher chances of assured quality in deliverables, and measurably more productivity amongst project teams (and hence savings of another kind). And the good news is that today’s PMIS or project management information systems allow all this to happen with minimal negative disruption to the project management process. In fact, one aspect that immediately stands out with the construction work packages approach is that it is construction-driven, that is, it aligns work between stakeholders right from the outset and this allows you to create detailed construction plans with accurate estimates which in turn makes for a more predictable and manageable project execution process.
Here’s how it works. Let’s say you are working on a large energy plant with very complex engineering requirements that demand a precise sequence of construction work. With a PMIS that is driven by construction work packages and engineering work packages, this planning becomes a lot easier with fewer errors and rework.
What exactly is a construction work package or CWP? It is a set of work packages that define the construction work sequence including resource availability, cost estimates, schedules, etc., and these work packages are collated from engineering, procurement, and construction teams so that you have a complete overview of the entire project construction sequence.
So, employing a PMIS will allow you to plan based on construction work packages and this will allow you to monitor construction work progress more accurately. It should be noted that this type of planning can be iterative because project scope and schedules are subject to frequent changes for a variety of reasons, and here again it is very useful to have a PMIS that can quickly re-calculate and re-focus your plans and schedules for the best possible outcomes.
Let’s build a simple case study to understand this better. First you create the project’s Plan of Construction or PoC. The PoC includes many details and variables including engineering work packages or EWPs that would have been created during the design phase of the project. The EWPs include design details like technical drawings, vendor information, specifications, materials estimates, and the like, and form the foundation of the construction work packages which will be created later on by construction managers. Once you have your PoC and CWP your PMIS will help you align the project budget with the project schedule in the most optimal way possible, including planning work in accordance of your available resources, cash flow, man-hours , materials, etc.
Next, still within your PMIS, you’ll break down the CWPs into installation work packages or IWPs which are the smallest work package. IWPs typically denote work that can be completed by a single team within a couple of weeks at most and would include all the details needed to carry out the work. And now you can imagine how useful a PMIS is; when you consider all the datasets and modeling needed to plan work at this level of detail because with a PMIS you would be able to plan your IWP and eventually your CWP or construction work package very accurately down to computer simulations and multi-level contingency plans and probability analyses.
Another advantage of construction-led planning is that you’ll be able to align various project stakeholders right from the start, which means fewer surprises, less conflict, less firefighting and rework ie lowered construction costs. And when it comes to contractors specifically planning using construction work packages offer a much higher rate of success because it gives teams more lead time to plan for safety and risk aspects which ultimately translates to a more efficient workforce that is equipped to complete work on time and with quality. But where this method truly shines is in the field of progress monitoring. If you’re able to track real progress in the real world in real time you can react to the unexpected quickly and effectively while keeping clients and senior management in the loop at all times with accurate and timely reports. These reports are detailed enough to visualise exactly what is going on with the project and so decision-makers can make decisions quickly and without doubt.
In a nutshell, using a PMIS allows you to leverage construction work packages efficiently while ensuring a steady stream of information flowing across all concerned project personnel and that helps keep construction moving forward smoothly and as planned.