Part 1: Do the Right Project

Introduction

In our journey towards success, we believe in the mantra: “Do The Right Project / Do the Project Right.” This blog post will delve into the first part of this concept: “Do The Right Project.”

One valuable tool we use to evaluate whether a proposed project is on track is the Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI), developed by the Construction Industry Institute. While we won’t focus on the mechanics of this process, we will discuss the concepts that make it useful.

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Business Issues

Business objectives should drive any project, whether it’s a manufacturing plant or a shopping mall. Here are some important considerations for industrial projects:

• Product Specifications: What product will be manufactured? What are its tolerances or specifications?
• Market Requirements: What are the market requirements regarding quality, cost, and time to market? Which is most important?
• Production Volume: What quantity of this product will be manufactured now and in the future?
• Regulatory Requirements: What regulatory requirements will apply during construction and operation?
• Facility Lifespan: What is the expected life of this facility?
• Social Issues: What social issues must be addressed during both construction and operation?

Technology Issues

Proper scoping of the project requires an understanding of the manufacturing technologies that could be employed:

• Familiarity with Technology: Is the company familiar with these technologies? Are they widely used for similar purposes?
• Licensing Requirements: What are the licensing requirements, if any?
• Role of Technology Provider: What role will the technology provider play during the design, construction, and commissioning phases?
• Scale-Up Considerations: Is this project a scale-up from a bench or pilot application to commercial scale?

Project Definition

For a project to be successful, the project team must have a clear understanding of project requirements based on the issues identified above. These would be clarified as follows:

• Project Objectives Statement: This document translates business requirements into a set of measurable outcomes for the project.
• Minimum Technical Requirements: There should be a clear understanding of the minimum technical requirements for the project to meet its objectives.

Phase Gate Issue

The work outlined in this section should allow the team to honestly answer the question, “Is this project worth doing?” If the answer is yes, then we can be comfortable that we are doing the right project.