Alliance Engineering & Construction

Project Management

Project Management associated with construction projects has been best described as follows:

"The planning, co-ordination and control of a project from conception to completion (including commissioning) on behalf of a Client requiring the identification of the Client’s objectives in terms of utility, function, quality, time and cost, and the establishment of relationships between resources, integrating, monitoring and controlling the contributions to the project and their output, and evaluating and selecting alternatives in pursuit of the Client’s satisfaction with the project outcome"

In keeping with these principals, Alliance Engineering’s systematic approach to the management of the mechanical and electrical systems associated with construction projects has proven successful time and time again. The processes, definitions and services provided by Alliance Engineering that are necessary to address our Client’s project objectives are categorized as follows: Project Feasibility, Project Development, and Project Implementation.

Example of an Alliance Project Management Solution

Project Feasibility:

Project Feasibility services establish the needs and required objectives of a proposed project and the feasibility of proceeding to Project Development.

Project Feasibility Services includes the following descriptions:

Determination of the Client’s Project Objectives and Criteria
Identification of options to fulfill the Project Objectives
Selection of option(s) that best fulfill Project Objectives
Life Cycle Analysis and Costing
Identification of Project Sustainability options and funding programs available
Development of project scope, budget (Class D) and preliminary schedule
Preparation of report including recommendations for Client review and acceptance

Project Development Services:

Once a projects’ feasibility has been determined, the Client can then decide to proceed with the development of the project utilizing the following Project Development Services:

Development of a detailed project scope of work and finalization of a design concept
Development of a design brief based upon concept for review and approval by Client
Preparation of revised project budget (Class B) and design development schedule complete with interim review milestones at 25%, 50% and 90%
Review design documentation for completeness at interim milestone dates
Provide value-engineering input within the design development stage (as a design assistance tool and not necessarily a cost reduction activity)
Provide design documentation review and coordinate implementation of Client comments upon completion of the Design Development stage (100%) and prior to issue of For Tender Documentation
Preparation of a final budget (Class A) and project schedule for review and acceptance by Client prior to proceeding with Project Implementation

Project Implementation Services:

Upon finalization of the Project Development, Alliance Engineering provides multiple Project Implementation Services that have been sub-divided into five separate categories as follows:

1. Pre-construction Services
2. Procurement Services
3. Construction Services
4. Commissioning Services
5. Close-out Services

The Pre-construction component of Implementation includes the development of a Project Implementation Plan that will include the Construction Methodology proposed for the project, the measures of Quality Assurance to be implemented and the Roles and Responsibilities of participants and stakeholders within the implementation of the project. The establishment of a Work Breakdown Structure for the purposes of the Procurement stage will also be determined within this Pre-construction stage.

All Contractors, equipment and other required project services will be secured through the Procurement stage in accordance with the methodology established within the Project Implementation Plan. These methodologies will be consistent with the Policies and Procedures set out by the Client’s procurement standards or as otherwise agreed to with the Client within the development of the Plan.

Procurement services include the following:

Solicitation of competitive and qualified Contractors and Vendors for pre-qualification by Client
Preparation of tender documentation packages and associated scope of works
Conduct site visits with Contractors and Vendors for all tender packages including the issue of minutes of any questions or clarifications provided
Manage the flow of information including the preparation of addendums during the tendering processes
Review submitted tenders and provide recommendations to Client
Prepare Client contract or purchase agreements with successful Contractors and Vendors for execution by Client
Manage schedule and update budget throughout Procurement stage

Construction will proceed either concurrently with the Procurement phase or following its finalization and is dependent upon the established project schedule milestones and the ongoing assessment of risk associated with maintaining the project budget and schedule

The services to be provided during Construction include the following:

Chair all Construction Meetings including the preparation and timely distribution of minutes. This includes a Kick-off Meeting with all Contractors and Vendors at the commencement of construction and ongoing review meetings on a frequency to be determined within the Implementation Plan
Manage project roles and responsibilities of all Contractors, Vendors and Stakeholders
Manage risk by identifying, analyzing and responding to risk factors throughout the implementation of the project
Manage and update project schedule on a monthly basis
Manage and update project budget on a monthly basis
Prepare monthly project report including an ongoing assessment of risk as well as budget and schedule forecasting
Manage all project deliverables including any Client purchased equipment
Review Contractor progress on a monthly basis
Coordinate Design Engineer monthly reviews and inspections
Coordinate and manage the distribution of project documentation including shop drawings, submittals and samples required for review by Design Engineer
Manage and review all Contactor or Vendor changes for approval by Client
Monitor ongoing construction Quality Assurance in accordance with measures established within the Implementation Plan

The Commissioning stage should only proceed upon successful finalization of the Construction stage. The success of many projects that we have been involved with have been directly related to properly addressing and managing the Commissioning stage of the project. Too often project schedules dictate commissioning activities concurrent with construction activities and in most cases significantly impacts properly commissioned systems. Commissioning responsibilities will be established within each tender package. Alliance will provide the services of a Commissioning Agent to coordinate all commissioning - as well as the preparation of a Commissioning Plan. The Commissioning Plan will include the necessary forms and documentation required of each Contractor and Vendor as well as a schedule identifying activities and interdependence. A Commissioning Report that will include the completed forms and documents provided by Contractors and Vendors will be prepared and submitted upon completion of successful commissioning.

Project Close-out will follow the successful completion of all Commissioning Activities and includes the following services:

Coordinate and facilitate all Client training requirements prior to hand-over of systems for operation
Oversee, review and coordinate submission of all Operation & Maintenance Manuals and As-built Drawings
Summarize all Client ongoing maintenance and operational requirements
Prepare seasonal testing requirements for Client
Manage all Contractor and Vendor deficiency requirements and site demobilization