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Enhanced Work Packaging: Design through WorkFace Execution (Best Practice)

RT-272 Topic Summary
RT 272

Overview

Advanced Work Packaging (AWP) promotes a disciplined approach for project planning and communicating project scope from conception to turnover delivery. The deliberate engineering and construction management practices, required in AWP, are essential to improving craft labor productivity and predictability. RT-272 presents a model execution process developed through strong representation from owner, engineering, contractor organizations and contemporaneous efforts by the Construction Owners Association of Alberta (COAA) as well as their participation in this research.

Advanced Work Packaging provides a structure for focused execution planning that is directed at the construction workface. It is a process that reduces unproductive, non-value added time. A key requirement of this process is a collaboration between construction and engineering during the engineering planning phase. This collaboration ensures that the project is designed with a sequence that supports construction and that the supply chain is sequenced accordingly.

AWP is a construction-driven process that adopts the philosophy of “beginning with the end in mind.” The work packaging and constraint management process removes the guesswork from executing at the workface by tightly defining the scope of all work involved, and by ensuring that all things necessary for execution are in place.

AWP removes some of the routine execution planning from field supervision by explicitly considering work packages during project definition, engineering, and construction planning. The increased workface presence of supervision provides some of the labor productivity and predictability improvements.

The benefits that come from AWP can be achieved with investment and buy-in from the project team members and key stakeholders. AWP is a disciplined process starting early in the project life-cycle that requires an effective interface with supporting systems and therefore cannot be implemented without planning and evaluation. RT-272 provides a starting point from which companies can translate AWP into their own processes and plans for implementation.

RT-319, Transforming the Industry: Making the Case for AWP as a Standard (Best) Practice, built upon the work of RT-272.

 

Key Findings and Implementation Tools

1 : Model for Advanced Work Packaging

RT-272 created an execution model for AWP across the project life cycle over these three stages (RS272-1, p. 20).

  • Stage 1 – Preliminary Planning/Design
  • Stage 2 – Detailed Engineering
  • Stage 3 – Construction
Reference: (RS272-1)

2 : Barriers to Implementation

Barriers to AWP implementation (RS272-1, p. 12) include the following:

  • Lack of clear implementation strategy
  • Lack of owner support for the process
  • Lack of clarity of contractual requirements for advanced work packaging
  • Lack of clear descriptions of role changes among personnel, including the new role of workface planner
  • Lack of champions and knowledgeable staff for organizations with limited AWP experience
  • Lack of support for increased resources and roles during planning
  • Lack of compatible information systems and handover requirements
Reference: (RS272-1)

3 : AWP Definitions

A key contribution of RT-272 is the development of a consistent set of definitions for work packaging (RS272-1, p. 15). Definitions for the following terms are provided in the research:

  • Advanced Work Packaging
  • Workface Planning
  • Workface Planning Lead
  • Work Breakdown Structure
  • Engineering Work Package
  • Construction Work Package
  • Installation Work Package
Reference: (RS272-1)

4 : Implementation Tool #1

IR272-2 contains three volumes:

Volume 1, Advanced Work Packaging: Design through Workface Execution is composed of three sections:

  • Section 1 reviews the scope of work packaging and its benefits.
  • Section 2 presents a framework for the work packaging model for implementation.
  • Section 3 provides summary comments and recommendations.
     

Volume 2, Advanced Work Packaging: Implementation Guidance, provides extensive discussion on contracting, process integration and job roles. Its templates and assessment tools include:

  • AWP Maturity Model
  • AWP Contractor Qualification Assessment
  • AWP Project Definition Assessment Tool
  • AWP Audit Tool by Phase
  • AWP Project Integration Flowcharts
  • AWP Functional Role Description
  • Construction Work Package
  • Engineering Work Package
  • Installation Work Package Checklist by Discipline
     

Volume 3, Advanced Work Packaging: Implementation Case Studies and Expert Interviews, presents case studies and expert interviews as a supplement to aid effective implementation.

Reference: (IR272-2)
RT-272

Key Performance Indicators

Improved cost, Improved schedule, Improved quality (reduced errors & omissions), Improved alignment

Research Publications

Advanced Work Packaging: Design through Workface Execution - RR272-12

Publication Date: 03/2016 Type: Research Report Pages: 261 Status: Reference

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Advanced Work Packaging: Design through Workface Execution, Version 3.1 - IR272-2

Publication Date: 10/2013 Type: Implementation Resource Pages: 238 Status: Tool

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Advanced Work Packaging: Design through Workface Execution, Version 2.1 - RS272-1

Publication Date: 09/2013 Type: Research Summary Pages: 28 Status: Supporting Product

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Enhanced Work Packaging: Design through Workface Execution - RR272-11

Publication Date: 09/2013 Type: Research Report Pages: 204 Status: Reference

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Presentations from CII Events

Plenary Session - Enhanced Work Packaging: Planning for Predictability and Productivity

Publication Date: 07/2013 Presenter: Number of Slides: 30 Event Code: AC13

Implementation Session - Enhanced Work Packaging: Planning for Predictability and Productivity

Publication Date: 07/2013 Presenter: Number of Slides: 54 Event Code: AC13

Plenary Session - Enhanced Work Packaging: Planning for Predictability and Productivity

Publication Date: 06/2011 Presenter: Number of Slides: 25 Event Code: AC11

Implementation Session - Enhanced Work Packaging: Planning for Predictability and Productivity

Publication Date: 06/2011 Presenter: Number of Slides: 48 Event Code: AC11

Tags

Knowledge Areas:
Construction Execution
Project Phase:
Concept, Construction, Detailed Design (Engineering), Detailed Scope, Procurement
Project Function/Role:
Architects & Engineering, Commissioning & Startup, Construction, External Stakeholders, Health, Safety & Environmental, Operations & Maintenance, Procurement & Contracts, Project Business Sponsor, Project Controls, Project Management, Quality Management
Industry Group:
Buildings, Heavy Industrial, Infrastructure, Light Industrial
Regions:
Africa – South Africa, Asia – China, India, Southeast Asia, Australia, Europe – Scandinavia, Russia, Middle East, North America – USA, Canada, Mexico, South America – Central America, Brazil
10-10 input Metrics:
Controlling, Design Efficiency, Organizing, Planning, Safety, Supply Chain

Keywords

AWP, Scope Definition, Improved Labor Productivity, Reduced Schedule, Work Packaging, Constraint Management, rt272

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