Shipped Loose, Remote Mounted, Missing UPS and More: How Weekly Technology Meetings Kept One Project Ahead of Schedule

When it comes to process equipment and electrical gear, many projects face the same costly challenges, and they add up quickly. Left unresolved, these gaps are one of the most common causes of commissioning delays on industrial and mission-critical projects.

The Scope Gaps That Slow Projects Down

Instruments that are shipped loose, along with control panels and HMIs that are remote mounted, are two items that often aren't well defined or located in contract or manufacturer documents. Where exactly does the remote control panel get mounted? What kind of network or control wiring is needed for shipped loose instruments, and where do they get terminated?

These are all great questions, and ones that too often go unanswered until very late in the project.

Other common challenges include missing UPS power for control panels, process equipment, and other low-voltage systems, missing network connections, and pneumatic tubing that still needs to be run between skid components and instruments.

Why Unresolved Items Lead to Commissioning Delays

On mission-critical projects, open technical items tend to linger. They roll into system startup and testing and hinder commissioning. What starts as a minor gap can quickly turn into an expensive mad dash to the finish line, complete with finger-pointing.

A Project With an Aggressive Startup Goal

On a recent large project, our client was tasked by upper management with getting the electrical and process systems up and running as early as possible. The goal was to move through startup, commissioning, and into validation on time, if not ahead of schedule.

That mandate created an opportunity to surface open questions and unresolved scope early, so issues could be identified, resolved, and closed out well before startup.

Weekly Technology Meetings With One Purpose

Omni hosted weekly technology meetings that brought together the client, the designer, and the relevant manufacturers, all with one purpose: identify and resolve issues, period.

The meetings focused on RFIs and equipment field conditions, using photos and videos to speed things along. As a result, the team was able to resolve complex issues in about an hour that might otherwise have taken weeks.

What the Team Resolved Before Startup

The meetings produced clear answers across every major problem area:

• Remote mounted instruments and valves: In-line instruments, solenoids, and control valve locations, along with their installation and wiring, were resolved quickly, allowing the mechanical contractor to install them without delay.

• Control panel and HMI locations: Users identified remote control panel and HMI locations early in the process.

• UPS power: A detailed field review of all process equipment and panels determined where UPS power was needed and from which panel and circuit.

• Network connections: Missing or additional network connections were identified so cabling could be completed and IP and MAC addresses supplied to get equipment communicating on the network.

The Result: Systems Ready Ahead of Schedule

Area by area, the process utilities and equipment were ready ahead of schedule, thanks to the focused effort of the technology team. Rather than scrambling through startup, the project moved into commissioning with the open questions already answered.

Planning a project with complex instrumentation and electrical scope? Contact Omni Instrumentation & Electrical Services to learn how our team can help you identify gaps early and keep your startup on track.