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How can Early Contractor Involvement Improve my Fabrication Project?

Early Contractor Involvement

Traditionally, in many mining, petrochemical or power generation fabrication projects, each key stakeholder has remained in their own silo, working diligently to complete their scope of work within the framework of the project without much knowledge of what the others are experiencing.

There has been a recent paradigm shift in the industry brought on by a new concept called Early Contractor Involvement, or ECI. This concept challenges key stakeholders to break down these silo walls and begin communicating and collaborating with one another, early on in the project lifecycle. This means that everyone has a big picture view of the major project milestones and a deeper understanding of each other’s roles and responsibilities.

Learn more about how ECI can improve your fabrication project:

Improved communication

In the design/build industries, good communication is often a challenge among the owner/customer, engineer/designer, and fabricator/contractor.

Ineffective communication exists in many design/build projects because the traditional process of planning tends to be linear – each team working independently, then communicating only when ready to transfer the project on to the next phase. This creates a disconnect in developing the project goals when, instead, a continuous interchange of ideas – to discuss and plan strategies – would help guide the process to a more successful completion.

The lack of effective communication can cause a ripple effect of problems, compounding costly design and procurement decisions. Good communication, on the other hand, helps the different teams strategize together to plan early and prevent problems in the first place.

Large and complex industrial projects need a more dynamic communications process, with all stakeholders contributing throughout the project.

When considering a modular approach to build these complex projects, effective communication will greatly impact the final success. Modularization improves outcomes, but better communication at every stage can increase the benefits.

ECI works to better integrate the expertise of all stakeholders from the start, from project concept and design, to procurement and construction strategies. ECI can improve the industry standard of project management and, ultimately, break down the barriers to effective communication between stakeholders for more successful project results.

Multiple perspective insight

As described above, challenges in the traditional design/build process often stem from a lack of communication.

New projects need to be planned through various professions, contractors, and ownership relationships, each having a unique perspective and area of expertise for accomplishing the project goals. How these partners communicate and collaborate through the different phases of design, procurement, and construction will have a great effect on the final success of a project.

In managing a large-scale construction project through modularization – a highly complex and technical undertaking – any communication problem within the design/build process will eventually be magnified, as will any negative impacts of poor decisions on the final project outcomes.

Effective communication takes advantage of those different perspectives and experiences of all parties involved to plan a more integrated strategy. ECI essentially leverages this idea of effective communication and collaboration to improve a project’s design and management.

For success in planning large-scale capital projects, especially those that will leverage the use of modular off-site fabrication, early collaboration guarantees the best outcomes.

Early Contractor Involvement

Stakeholder collaboration

ECI encourages participation by helping partners understand the benefits of early involvement. Because design/build efforts often get trapped in distinct silos of responsibility, encouraging stakeholders to collaborate will be easier if everyone understands the benefits of an early and continual communications process.

Each partner can offer a wealth of insights from past projects, as well as ideas for innovative approaches, to develop a better program. Setting a challenge to collectively find the most efficient strategies – to save time, risks and costs – can help everyone envision that, in the end, a successful project is the result of input from all involved. Project success should not be left to chance.

Input from a greater variety of stakeholders can inform better decisions. ECI for large-scale projects should also gather insights from extended teams in the process to construct and operate an industrial facility.

From freight specialists and labor coordinators to facilities and maintenance managers, every stakeholder can provide important details to inform better decisions in early project planning.

Assess benefits of modularization

Involving a fabrication contractor in early planning helps to assess the benefits of modularization.

ECI in project planning for any large-scale industrial project generally includes a set of the key stakeholders that will be involved.

For these large projects that may include a significant use of modularization, involving a modular fabrication contractor from the start is important in helping to assess the potential benefits.

The challenge is deciding how and when to bring the contractor into the process.

First, information is needed to assess if modular fabrication makes sense for a particular project. And if it does, then a fabrication contractor must be selected.

One practical approach – to gather the important information required for decision making – is to complete a Project Feasibility Analysis to assess the potential use of modularization. Feasibility assessments – either preliminary or more in-depth – are a good way to understand the advantages of an unfamiliar modular strategy for building industrial projects.

A Project Feasibility Analysis helps to understand the scope, major challenges and potential design approaches that relate to a specific project considering modularization. After an analysis is completed, the project owner and/or the EPCM can then consider one of three paths for implementing ECI and engaging with the modular fabricator.

 

Saskarc analyzes every project to define the critical requirements that will maximize success. We continuously invest in our people, equipment, and facilities to provide our customer with the best service, support, and innovative solutions to meet their requirements.

Our strict attention to material selection, joining specifications and inspection procedures ensures that we deliver on the highest quality projects.

Saskarc is entirely committed to quality, customer service and on-time delivery, however NEVER at the expense of our commitment to safety.

Due to the versatility of Saskarc’s custom steel fabrication capabilities and project management expertise, we are equipped to fabricate and assemble oversized modules limited only by transportation regulations. When it comes to large projects, Saskarc is your turnkey professional fabrication solution. Read what our customers have to say about working with us.

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