Development of an AWP Execution Planning Guide for Projects

Advanced Work Packaging (AWP) is a planned, executable process that extends over the breadth of an engineer-procure-construct (EPC) project. AWP heralds a new era of productivity and predictability for projects within the industrial sector. Allied benefits in alignment, quality, and safety are now well understood and observed by practitioners. Many projects have seen successful results and owners as well as provider organizations have adopted AWP as an execution standard.

That being said, some projects struggle to adopt AWP as requirements can vary across owner organizations. Projects involve a variety of participants, and their varying maturity of AWP implementation can also cause problems. In particular, early implementers may realize the benefits from Workface Planning (WFP) in the construction stage but struggle to realize the performance benefits that derive from full AWP adoption. The figure in Key Finding #1 (below) depicts this difference in the results of early and mature implementers: “the Performance Chasm.”

To address this situation, RT-390 provided guidance to construction practitioners who aim to overcome the disparity of observed benefits in AWP projects and to promote the use of AWP as an enterprise-level practice. The team’s report is divided into seven modules to provide targeted guidance and facilitate access:

• AWP Review and Owner’s Guide: This module captures the fundamental principles of AWP and provides special considerations for construction owners. Topics include “What is AWP and what is not AWP?,” “Contracting quilt,” “Starting with pilots,” and “Onboarding partners.” Start here if you are an early implementer or an owner, or if you need to align your team on AWP fundamentals.
   
• Five Handbooks: These modules provide discipline-based guidance for successful AWP execution at the project level: Handbook A – Preliminary Planning Design, Handbook B – Detailed Engineering, Handbook C – Construction Execution, Handbook D – Commissioning and Startup, Handbook E – Procurement. Use them to build or improve your AWP project execution, align and educate the “doers” within each discipline, and adjust the timing of your AWP efforts to optimize project outcomes.
  
  Each handbook includes a “Scope” section with key inputs and outputs and a “AWP Leading Practices” section that provides guidance in the areas of (1) Process and Implementation Steps, (2) Roles and Resources, (3) Data, Tools, and Technology, (4) Culture, (5) KPIs, and (6) Integration with Existing Practices.
  
  All handbooks are grounded through an AWP Timeline of key action steps to accelerate the integration of AWP with existing business processes. For instance, Handbook A encompasses all project disciplines and outlines which actionable steps need to be implemented early in the timeline to set up the project for overall success.
   
• Enterprise Guide: This module provides the basis for structuring or advancing the AWP program at the enterprise level. This section presents the foundational blocks for enterprise readiness:
  1. Understanding the barriers
  2. Establishing a training program to support knowledge transfer from program to projects
  3. Adjusting the information management and technology infrastructure to support AWP requirements
  4. Evaluating the scalability of AWP projects based on the organization’s maturity and needs.
      
  This final module also discusses the granular benefits observed by practitioners during early planning and execution. Read this guide to accelerate organizational buy-in and adopt AWP as your baseline delivery framework.