The Power of a Project Plan
01/24/2022
It should not be surprising that an architect penned the phrase, “the devil is in the details.” German American Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was one of the great innovators of modernist architecture, and his words of wisdom are as relevant today as they were 75 years ago when van der Rohe was working in his downtown Chicago studio. In fact, a meticulous approach to planning is implemented by the Engineered Rigging team for every client project.
“Be it a bridge, a hydroelectric power plant, or an industrial facility, construction projects are increasingly complex. There are a multitude of considerations that need to be factored into the project plan including technology, equipment, supplies, logistics, labor, safety and deadlines,” shared Christopher Cox, PE, Co-founder and President of Engineered Rigging.
Investing the time to precisely consider and plan for every element in a project will help prevent costly errors and downtime. In addition, a project plan ensures that all involved understand their roles, the budget and the schedule.
“By bringing everyone together in the infancy of a project, you carve out time to explore and analyze every facet of the task at hand. It’s during this collaborative period that creative problem solving occurs and cost-savings and synergies are discovered,” said Cox.
With so much to be considered, where does one start? Engineered Rigging has a time-tested and proven process for project planning that can be applied to construction, plant maintenance, shipbuilding and a variety of other projects. Let’s start at the beginning.
Who Should Be Involved in a Project Plan?
First, you need to identify who should participate in the process. This group should include anyone who has a stake in the project and can contribute value to the planning process. Typical participants include the client, architect, suppliers, contractors and the project manager.
“Whether a client is renting heavy lifting equipment, leveraging our engineering expertise or commissioning a turnkey design-build solution, Engineered Rigging welcomes the opportunity to be involved in the planning process from the get-go,” said John Kuka, Director of Business Development. “We add value by drawing upon our decades of heavy lifting experience, sharing best practices and identifying technologies that are new to the marketplace.”
With a variety of participants bringing their knowledge and unique backgrounds to the table, a powerful brain trust is created. The end-result is a comprehensive, effective project plan that will keep everyone on track to hit their targets.
Before the first planning meeting takes place, each participant will need to understand his/her role. By creating an outline of responsibilities, the project leader can ensure everyone is on the same page in terms of expectations, and all are aligned in their commitment to safely complete the project on time and within budget.
In an ideal world, the planning process would take place live and in-person. However, with the pandemic’s lingering effects, many have shifted to a more virtual planning process. In either case, the process takes weeks up to several months, depending on the size of the project.
Define the Dollars, Dates & Deliverables
When the planning team is assembled, the next step is to identify the scope of the project and the parameters in terms of budget, schedule and specific tasks. The group should discuss priorities, opportunities for flexibility and die-hard deadlines. Quality assurance is another important topic that needs to be vetted by the project planning team.
This step in the process is where the nitty gritty attention to detail takes place. As you might imagine, the project plan will grow exponentially as the team examines and defines each task in the construction project.
Concerns & Contingencies
Once the initial plan is developed, each participant should present any concerns that could possibly interrupt the project such as weather, supply sources and permit backlogs. The group can then discuss the concerns and create a backup plan.
According to Deloitte’s 2022 outlook for the engineering and construction industry, supply chain issues and labor shortages will continue to impact project delivery and margins in 2022. Fortunately, Engineered Rigging is uniquely positioned to assist clients in these areas.
“With a rental fleet of heavy lifting and specialized transport equipment, direct access to OEMs, a world-class fabrication facility, design-build solutions and a team of seasoned engineers, heavy lifting experts, technicians and project managers, Engineered Rigging is able to bridge critical gaps in our clients’ project plan. With all of these services under one roof, we streamline the workflow and deliver response times that others can’t match,” explained Christopher Cox, P.E., Founder and President of Engineered Rigging.
Put the Plan to the Test
The age-old carpentry adage, “measure twice, cut once” is one that holds true for construction projects. Once a project plan is approved, our team of heavy lifting experts carefully review the structural plans, precisely measure the work area, conduct load tests and run feasibility simulations to ensure that the plan can be safely executed.
Engineered Rigging has built a reputation for overcoming extremely challenging work site conditions. A recent example was the dismantling and removal of an overhead construction crane from an underground tunnel in the Alto Maipo hydropower plant construction project in Chile. The crane weighed 80 tons, was 8 meters high and 9 meters long, and the tunnel created a confined the workspace. Our team identified and planned for a variety of possible conditions that would impact the project, including logistics delays, weather conditions and COVID restrictions on the site.
“It’s always best to proactively prepare for a change in conditions or plans rather than having to respond to them in the moment,” said Kuka.
For more examples of Engineered Rigging’s expertise, capabilities and innovative approach, explore our case studies. To share an RFP or request a quote, please email John Kuka or phone him at 317.468.3725
Divers used a dredge pump and clamshell bucket to remove 80-years-worth of muck, clay and silt that had settled on the gates. Once cleared, they cut four access holes into each gate. The holes were large enough to secure the rigging which was attached to the strand jack load anchors. With a combined lifting capacity of 616,000 pounds, the strand jacks were more than able to break the suction from the underlying mud and lift each gate.
Once each gate was raised out of the river, the Army positioned a barge underneath it. The strand jacks then lowered the gate onto the barge to be transported to a nearby boat basin for recycling.
“The mission went better than expected with no major surprises thanks to the continuous input from our experienced employees and support from SPO’s excellent equipment manufacturers and rental supply base,” said St. Marys River Section Engineering Technician Theodore Clark, as reported in an Army news article.
As a US Army veteran and a history buff, this project was special for me. Whether it’s helping the Army Corps of Engineers retrieve some long-lost lock gates or another unique challenge, it’s a good day when our customers use our equipment to find success. If you need assistance identifying a heavy lifting solution, please contact me or any of our experts listed below.
