Experienced commissioning managers are becoming harder and harder to find. So, where do companies go to get these expert resources to complete their projects? There’s a significant challenge in the construction industry, and it’s only going to become more difficult to find the necessary resources as project demands increase.
By 2040, the construction industry is projected to double in size, and even with the current resource shortages, it’s expected to get worse as more projects need to be completed. One of the most critical roles in this context is the commissioning project manager. This key role must be involved early in projects, participating in planning discussions alongside design and construction teams. The commissioning project manager ensures all aspects of the project—design, construction, and commissioning—are planned for success from the outset.
The Expertise Gap
There are some incredibly smart commissioning managers out there, with decades of experience. I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the best and brightest minds in the field. However, many of these expert commissioning managers are approaching retirement, and while some may work into their 70s due to their passion for the work, they will eventually retire, taking their invaluable knowledge and expertise with them.
As the demand for projects grows, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find experienced project managers to lead commissioning efforts. One long-standing challenge in the commissioning industry has been the lack of a standardized approach. This creates confusion when professionals from different projects—or even within the same industry—use varying terminology for the same processes. I’ve seen instances where two people on the same project are discussing the same thing, but using different terms, leading to weeks of confusion in progress meetings.
The Need for Standardization
To address this, there needs to be a standardized approach to help commissioning professionals transition between projects seamlessly. This would help fill the critical leadership roles in commissioning. Training and experience also play significant roles. Where will we find commissioning managers who understand the proper commissioning process and how to apply best practices from start to finish?
Currently, there seems to be an abundance of “commissioning doers”—those who execute the testing and push the buttons in the field—but there is a noticeable shortage of commissioning leaders. These leaders need to have both specialized technical skills and the ability to manage a project through the commissioning process. There is a gap between those who perform the fieldwork and those who can lead the commissioning from a project management perspective.
Training the Next Generation of Commissioning Managers
Where are commissioning project managers learning the necessary skills? And how are they gaining the experience needed to apply best practices? Many companies have relied on their experienced professionals to execute their processes, and when these experts retire, their knowledge leaves with them. This highlights a critical issue: the lack of a consistent pipeline of experienced commissioning managers who both understand commissioning best practices and have experience applying them in the field.
The Industrial Commissioning Association (ICxA) is working on two key initiatives to address this gap:
- Global Commissioning Standard
Various commissioning standards have existed over the years—some industry-specific, others proprietary to large companies. However, there has never been a global, cohesive standard for industrial plant process and energy system commissioning. The ICA is assembling a working group of industry experts from around the world to develop a global commissioning standard. This standard will set the baseline for best practices and can be applied across all stages of a project. - Certification Program
In addition to the global standard, the ICxA is developing a certification program to recognize the top 1% of commissioning project management experts. This program will certify individuals who demonstrate both knowledge of the global commissioning standard and years of experience applying these best practices in the field. Certification levels (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4) will reflect an individual’s experience, helping companies select the right person for the job.
Bridging the Expertise Gap
The ICxA is committed to bridging the gap in commissioning leadership by providing a clear path for companies to find certified, experienced commissioning managers. This will ensure that projects are completed successfully, with commissioning properly coordinated alongside design and construction from the very beginning.
If your company is interested in participating in these initiatives, please reach out to us at info@icxa.net. With the increasing challenges facing the industry, filling these key leadership roles will be critical to future project success. The ICxA is here to help companies get the right individuals in place for better project outcomes.
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