PLANNING & SCHEDULING
Planning Overview
One of PPCSI a main underlying principals in all processes is developing, implementing and managing to standard processes and procedures; and planning and scheduling is no different. PPCSI understands that all customers are different and work in different environments, so usually all processes have to be customized accordingly. Regardless of how the services need to be customized, once they are developed, PPCSI produces accompanying procedure documents so the processes are repeatable.
PROCESSING
Following PPCSI Shutdown, Turnaround & Outage Life -cycle Methodology, which encompasses all of our services; once the Component-Based Estimate™ is complete, it is on to detailed Planning. This involves refining the Component-Based Estimate™ and integrating any modifications and 'one off' activity steps. We also develop customized (but standard in content) Work Packets. The main contents of our electronic Work Packets are:
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Equipment Technical Drawings, Isometrics, Marked Up Plot Plans and P&ID's, and Simplified Drawings
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Equipment photos
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Field Validated complete NORM based Estimate from Primavera
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Copy of technical data from our customized Electronic Database
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Maintenance & Technical Procedures
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Blind List
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Temp Piping Plan
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Bill of Materials with order & tracking details
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HSSE plan with special PPE requirements
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Entry rescue plans
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Disposal plans
DATA ANALYSIS
After being integrated into your environment, we begin our collaborative journey by diagnosing the problem.
We talk to your management, staff, and members of your workforce - while we analyze your company's performance statistics, all to identify the state of your operation.
Next, we sit down with you and present our findings. Decisions are made in this meeting, or series of meetings, as to whether you are where you want to be, and if not, we reach an understanding of what your business performance goals are.
As we progress further, we develop corrective actions to be taken and controls for measuring progress.
We consolidate these into an action plan- a proposal for action - tailored to the environment of your organization.
In 'working the plan', we begin to apply our proprietary methodologies, using our suite of proprietary tools, referencing our databases of industry norms, and creating a tailored CMMS as needed.
We generate reports as we go, document each step of the way, and adjust the process accordingly, until your performance goals are met.
PPCSI TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS
Scheduling Overview
The titles of "Master Scheduler,"Lead Scheduler’ and ‘Certified Scheduler’ are showing up everywhere these days, but have you thought about who is certifying these people and in what? Other than teaching scheduling software basics, there are no colleges that provide certified scheduling courses specific to real world environments. There are no clear industry distinctions as to the difference between a master scheduler or a regular scheduler other than the confidence of the person completing the job application.
This is where PPCSI is different. We don’t provide master schedulers or junior schedulers – we provide scheduling services.
PPCSI follows the belief that if you teach your employees to follow a process and manage to that process, you will get the same result each time. PPCSI has developed a scheduling process and methodology (Float-Based Prioritization™) that will bring accurate and consistent Project Controls to any type or size of project similar to what you only heard about in theory.
Float-Based Prioritization™
Our methodology, which is called ‘Float-Based Prioritization™’ has been developed specifically by us and is not available from any other company in the industry. Because it has solid foundations and standard fundamental principles our methodology can be adapted to building a house, conducting airplane maintenance or running Turnarounds for the oil & gas markets.
Above all our methodology gives our customers accurate information and confidence allowing them to make proactive decisions. There is no methodology that can see into the future but PPCSI offers as much predictability as is possible, and that is what makes our scheduling services a vital part of your next project. Some of the main advantages and principals of our methodology are:
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Priorities are based on float, and are quickly assigned automatically during execution and need no manual manipulation of data.
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Dynamic scheduling allows for easy schedule review as the equipment is independent of each other, and logic and constraints can easily be applied.
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Our use of Controlling Milestones allows us to prioritize work based on potential of discovery being found as early as possible into an event. We also use Milestones to make sure all the smaller jobs get worked on timely and don't pile up to the end of the event.
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Standard level of detail is used across all elements of our schedules to allow for easy understanding and less communication needed during the event.
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Standard codes, WBS and CBS structures, methodologies, processes & procedures allows us to take one scheduler out and place another scheduler in quickly without need for a detailed hand off period.
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Standard naming conventions make for less communication being needed and make the schedule 'user friendly' for everyone.
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Standard Field Reports for General Foremen & Field Coordinators which are generated by shift, day or week that include:
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Priority 1 &2 Lookahead, by event, unit, and/or resource
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Executable Activities by event, unit, and/or resource
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Punchlists of remaining activities by event, unit, and/or resource
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Standard Management Reports which can be generated by shift, day or week, that include:
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General Progress Curve/ S Curve & Histograms
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Units % Complete, Variance & SPI by Primary Resource
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Units % Complete, Variance & SPI by Equipment Type
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Overall Control & Intermediate Milestone
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Remaining activities by Intermediate Milestone
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Remaining activities by System
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Integrated Document Management
PPCSI Change Management methodology focuses on implementing and documenting successful organizational change. We use a variety of techniques, including specific change management activities, diagnosing gaps between where your workers are and where you would like them to be, developing corrective actions to help them progress effectively, and supporting their managers and supervisors. As a matter of course, we document all this activity in detail, generate useful reports, and organize it for easy access so the techniques can be quickly adjusted for greater efficiency and replicated for future use. Often, the document management process requires the addition and integration of client data, including historical records.
Comprehensive Suite of Tools
The backbone of our services is a comprehensive suite of proprietary tools for scheduling, planning and measuring work performance. The suite includes the PSP Planning Advantage Services package containing ‘Component-based Estimation,’ ‘Float-based Prioritization,’ and an STO database library. These tools can be combined to become parts of a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) of incredible power.
Constant Project Updates
The integrated documentation management system is also very useful for generating constant project updates. A reporting and updating capability is built into our comprehensive suite of tools and the structure of our Shutdown, Turnaround and Outage estimating standards database. This capability enables our clients to execute projects with the highest degree of predictability; they always know where they are in their progress toward completion. Consequently, PPCSI has become an international industry leader in providing process workflow and feedback consulting.