Guild of Project Controls: Compendium | Roles | Assessment | Certifications | Membership

12 Jan 2024 Project Controls News

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Dear Planning Planet Member,

Join the Global Community - did you know that this newsletter goes to the largest community of project controls professionals on planet Earth!  

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PRECISION IN EVERY PHASE: HOW IPLANSTO ELEVATES DAILY OPERATIONS FOR END USERS

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In the dynamic realms of manufacturing and industrial operations, the success of Shutdowns, Turnarounds, and Outages (STOs) relies heavily on meticulous planning, seamless coordination, and flawless execution. The planning of a turnaround requires a high level of detail and co-operation from many people, including the planning and scheduling team, plant operations team, inspectors, engineering department, project managers and engineers, and contractor representatives. The steering group must balance constraints and objectives to find the most comprehensive plan. This intricate process demands a sophisticated, yet user-friendly, software solution that can address the multifaceted challenges faced by planners, schedulers, and engineers to name a few. iPlanSTO, a cutting-edge STO software developed by IAMTech, emerges as the game-changer, empowering end users to navigate every phase of STOs with unparalleled precision and ease. 

Scope Management: A Foundation for Success

STO initiation involves defining the strategic issues to be addressed and the activities needed to move to the preparation phase, setting policy, and appointing personnel. iPlanSTO's primary function within the STO process lies in its robust scope management capabilities. Effectively scoping an STO is fundamental to its success, and iPlanSTO streamlines this process with intuitive features. Planners can comprehensively define event scope, assess risks, identify critical paths, and allocate resources efficiently. This clarity not only minimises the risk of unforeseen issues during execution but also sets the stage for a well-orchestrated STO.

Planning with Foresight

Planning involves specifying, forecasting, and costing the tasks needed to perform the jobs in the event. It also involves contingency planning to account for unknown conditions and communicating the requirements of the turnaround to all involved parties. Precision in planning is non-negotiable for the success of any STO, and iPlanSTO software contributes to this critical phase of an STO with its foresightful planning tools. The software employs advanced algorithms to simulate various scenarios, allowing planners to anticipate potential bottlenecks and adjust schedules accordingly. This built-in prevision not only enhances the efficiency of the STO but also minimises downtime and associated costs.

“Easy to use. Brilliant graphics. Useful in real time, and/or for planning. Would definitely recommend it.”

Keith Rose, Venator

Scheduling Excellence

Enhanced scheduling is at the heart of a successful STO execution; iPlanSTO ensures this heart beats with precision, aligning planning data with the master schedule – typically maintained in primavera P6. iPlanSTO software employs a user-friendly interface that allows schedulers to integrate schedules effortlessly. Real-time collaboration features enable seamless communication between team members that fosters a synchronised and cohesive approach to scheduling. By providing a centralised platform to store the results of scheduling, iPlanSTO eradicates the risks associated with miscommunication and conflicting timelines.

Execution Harmony: Real-time Monitoring and Control

Execution involves testing the planning and preparation against reality, effectively controlling, and coordinating the work of, in some cases, thousands of people. In the realm of STOs, real-time monitoring and control are imperative for a successful execution. iPlanSTO equips supervisors and STO managers with a comprehensive dashboard that provides a holistic view of the entire event. From progress tracking to resource allocation, iPlanSTO software ensures that every detail is at the fingertips of those responsible for on-site execution. This level of visibility enhances decision-making, enabling swift responses to unforeseen challenges and deviations from the plan.

Resource Optimisation: Doing More with Less

The cost of a turnaround event can be significant, including the cost of the maintenance work itself as well as the drain on resources and potential loss of revenue from the temporary halt in production. One of the standout features of iPlanSTO is its ability to analyse historical data and real-time information. This not only maximises productivity but also minimises the strain on resources, leading to cost savings. In an era where operational efficiency is synonymous with resource optimisation, iPlanSTO stands out as a valuable ally for organisations seeking to do more with less.

User-Friendly Interface: Enhancing Accessibility

IAMTech’s technology might live in ‘The Cloud’ but our feet are firmly on the ground when it comes to developing software with the end-user in mind. Despite its robust capabilities, iPlanSTO is designed with a user-friendly interface that prioritises accessibility. Planners, Schedulers, Engineers, and other end-users involved in the STO process can navigate the software with ease. This accessibility minimises training costs and time associated with implementing new tools whilst fostering widespread adoption within organisations. 

“This software (iPlan) is really user friendly which is essential for our tradesman on the work-front.”

Nick Thompson, DIAB Engineering

Conclusion

In the intricate world of STOs, where precision is paramount, iPlanSTO emerges as a comprehensive solution that elevates daily operations for all members of a Turnaround Team. With iPlanSTO, organisations can transform their STO endeavours from complex challenges into well-orchestrated and successful operations. From scoping to execution, the software streamlines every phase of the STO process, offering unparalleled efficiency, foresight, and control, setting new standards for operational excellence in the industrial landscape. Today, IAMTech proudly stands as a global frontrunner for the development of innovative software designed to meet the needs of industries, including Oil, Gas, Offshore, Chemical, Mining, Pharmaceutical, EPC, Manufacturing, and Power industries. If you would like to discover how IAMTech software can optimise your upcoming STO’s please contact us or visit our website.

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JOIN JOHN HOLLMAN IN AN EXCLUSIVE IN-PERSON SEMINAR!

Today’s projects are increasingly complex and face increasing cost & schedule uncertainty and risk. However, quantitative risk analysis (QRA) methods bring empirical realism to the table while being simple and practical for every project at any decision gate.

The exclusive seminar, held at Cleopatra Enterprise’s Houston office, will allow you to capitalize on the expert’s knowledge and experience to build your decision and risk management skills, knowledge, and competency to support more effective investment decision-making and project control.

Register now...

PPM CORE HAS NOW EXPANDED

PPM Core has now expanded its offerings with the introduction of an enhanced Cost Management feature. This enhancement not only reinforces commitment to industry leadership but also significantly enhances your project management experience.

This feature is designed to make everyday project management smoother and more efficient, especially in handling financial aspects.

Learn more...

WHAT’S NEW IN ORACLE PRIMAVERA P6 PPM PROFESSIONAL VERSION 23

Oracle Primavera releases new updates most months, and this paper outlines the updates that Oracle has introduced in 2023.  

This paper focuses on the changes that PPM users will use and to see a full list of updates please refer to the Oracle documentation, links below.

The information in this paper will be included in my new P6 PPM Version 23 books that will be released in the coming months.  Readers may find the following Oracle documents which include the upgrade information:

  • P6 Professional 22.12 - 23.12 Release Feature Overview document downloaded from here>>>
  • P6 Version 23 documentation downloaded from here>>> 

This is a list of the enhancements documented in this paper:

  • Resource Analysis Role Limit Calculation Refinement
  • Project Checker Improvement
  • Paste Data From Excel Directly Into P6 Professional
  • DOE - CPP Export Feature Enhanced
  • Projects Window Column to Count the Number of Projects in a Group
  • Add Curtains to Timescale Logic Diagrams and Gantt Layouts in P6 Visualizer
  • Any User can Import Projects from Excel Spreadsheets 
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EASTWOOD HARRIS RESOURCES

Accelerate your understanding of scheduling software to advance your scheduling career and be able to prepare better schedules with Eastwood Harris books, training courses and online videos on the following software packages:

  • Microsoft Project,
  • Oracle Primavera P6 and 
  • Elecosoft (Asta) Powerproject 

Online video training is available through Udemy through following these links:

Please follow these links:

  • Eastwood Harris books and training materials are available here>>>>.
  • Eastwood Harris inhouse, one-to-one and public training courses are offered through Primaskills Pty Ltd, more details here>>>>.
  • Resources for Oracle Primavera P6 users such as third party software that works with P6 and technical papers on Primavera P6 here>>>>.

Paul E Harris
Director Eastwood Harris Pty Ltd
6 January 2024

IS FINDING A PROJECT CONTROLS SOLUTION IN YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION?

Is finding a project controls solution in your New Year’s resolution? Explore how you can advocate for your project control needs and discover which type of capital project management solution best aligns with your company’s goals.

Learn how to make the most out of your 2024 budget.

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PRIMAVERA P6 SOFTWARE ENABLES USERS TO RESOURCE LOAD AND COST LOAD SCHEDULES

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Primavera P6 software enables users to resource load and cost load schedules, providing project managers with crucial insights into the financial and resource aspects of their projects.  

One of the essential elements of a successful project management is the ability to effectively perform cost-loading and resource-loading schedules in Primavera P6.

Learn more...

CLEOPATRA ENTERPRISE EXHIBITS AT TAR 2024, POTSDAM – GERMANY

Ready to kick off 2024 with a new tool for optimizing your turnaround and maintenance project success?

Meet the Cleopatra Enterprise Team during the TAR 2024 annual conference and discover how Cleopatra's capabilities can help you achieve ''Zero Incidents, Zero Delays, Zero Overruns''.

Join the event and discuss your specific needs with the team!

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CLEOPATRA ENTERPRISE EXHIBITS AT TAR 2024, POTSDAM – GERMANY

Want to jumpstart 2024 with a Total Project and Turnaround Management Platform?

Cleopatra Enterprise begins the new year by stepping foot in Germany. During this exclusive event, Cleopatra experts will meet the global turnaround community and discuss the capabilities of their platform for better project results.

Join the event and discuss your specific needs with the team! 

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CONSTRUCTION CPM CONFERENCE 2024 BEGINS 14 JAN 24

Free bus from airport Sunday, then Welcome Reception THREE FULL DAYS of education training networking Hilton Palacio del Rio, San Antonio, TX $975 - Hotel Rooms still $200/night inclusive see construction cpm for more details

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ALTERNATIVE TO PRIMAVERA AND ASTA?


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A superior alternative to the "most popular" software for us as planners?

Spider Project 

Spider Project offers numerous unique functional features and is the only PM software that optimizes resource, cost, and material constrained schedules and budgets for projects and portfolios. 

Check it out here...  Ask questions here...

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Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project books, on-line video training courses and training material available from an internationally recognised publisher. Teach yourself using on-line or book based learning or run your own in-house or public courses.