There is one critical skill set you must master to succeed in commissioning. Unfortunately, many individuals overlook this, often confusing testing with commissioning. However, without this essential skill, it becomes incredibly challenging to manage and lead commissioning projects successfully.
In this episode of the Industrial Commissioning Association Podcast, we’ll explore this vital skill and how you can develop it to achieve success in your commissioning career.
What is Commissioning Really About?
Many professionals in the industry confuse commissioning with testing. While testing is an essential phase of commissioning, commissioning is fundamentally a project management process designed to ensure the completion of projects.
A technical background is undoubtedly beneficial as you advance into leadership roles such as Commissioning Manager. However, project management skills are the real game-changer in these positions.
Commissioning involves:
- Breaking down project work by system for completions during construction.
- Aligning design, construction, commissioning, and startup activities for seamless project integration.
Without a project management philosophy applied from the start, projects often face significant challenges when trying to tie together all the moving pieces at the end.
Key Project Management Skills for Commissioning
- Early Engagement During FEED
The commissioning process begins at the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) stage.
- Collaborate with design teams to review and integrate commissioning requirements.
- Ensure lessons learned from past projects are applied to avoid repeating mistakes.
This proactive approach ensures that the end goals of commissioning are aligned with the project’s beginning stages.
- Systematization of Projects
Successful commissioning hinges on systematizing your project.
- Projects often start with a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) focused on design and construction.
- However, this WBS must align with a systems-based approach for commissioning and startup.
Without this alignment, the disconnect between design, construction, and commissioning processes can lead to project delays and inefficiencies.
- Procurement Involvement
Commissioning managers play a crucial role during procurement:
- Define both technical and project management requirements for design and construction resources.
- Review proposals to ensure proponents understand and can deliver a systems-based approach.
This ensures that all stakeholders are aligned with the commissioning philosophy from the outset.
- Communication Skills
Strong communication skills are a cornerstone of effective commissioning management.
- Collaborate with design managers, construction managers, contractors, and other stakeholders.
- Build relationships and facilitate understanding to align everyone towards successful project completion.
- Construction Completions and Workflow Management
Commissioning managers are integral to the construction completions process, ensuring that:
- Work packages are completed in the correct sequence.
- Gated commissioning workflows are established to assess readiness for each phase of the project.
Effective coordination and information management are key here, as these workflows guide the project’s progress.
- Decision-Making Skills
Rapid decision-making is essential during the fast-paced on-site commissioning phase.
- Often, decisions must be made with only 80% of the information available.
- Delays in decision-making can stall progress, impacting the schedule and budget.
- Leadership and Accountability
As a commissioning manager, you are the leader everyone looks to for guidance.
- Lead your team through challenges to meet project time and budget constraints.
- Take responsibility for aligning all project activities to ensure successful completion.
Resources to Enhance Your Skills
The commissioning manager role is undoubtedly a significant responsibility, but you’re not alone. Resources are available to help you develop these vital skill sets and excel in your career.
Visit icxa.net/courses to explore our resources designed to enhance your project management and commissioning expertise.
Thank you for listening to the Industrial Commissioning Association Podcast! Join us in the next episode as we continue to explore best practices in commissioning.
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