Breaking Down Barriers: How Project Controls Can Improve Communication in Construction

Communication breakdowns can be a significant challenge for construction businesses, particularly when multiple stakeholders are involved in a project. Contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and clients all have different communication needs and expectations, and misunderstandings can lead to delays, disputes, and even litigation. To address this issue, construction businesses can implement project controls to establish clear communication channels and ensure that all stakeholders have access to the same information.

One of the essential elements of project controls is communication planning. This involves identifying all stakeholders involved in the project, determining their communication needs, and establishing clear communication channels. A communication plan should include information on how stakeholders will be kept informed of project progress, how they can communicate with each other, and who to contact if issues arise.

Project controls can also facilitate communication by providing a centralized platform for sharing information. This can be achieved through project management software, which allows stakeholders to access project documentation, track progress, and collaborate on tasks in real time. By providing a single source of truth for project information, project controls can help minimize confusion and misunderstandings.

Another critical aspect of project controls in addressing communication breakdowns is ensuring that stakeholders have the necessary skills and resources to communicate effectively. This could involve providing training on effective communication, using standardized templates and processes for communication, or providing translation services for stakeholders who speak different languages.

Effective communication is also critical for managing project risks. By keeping stakeholders informed of potential risks and how they will be mitigated, project controls can help reduce the likelihood of delays or disputes. Regular project status reports, meetings, and updates can also help ensure that all stakeholders are on the same page and have a clear understanding of the project’s status.

In conclusion, communication breakdowns can be a significant challenge for construction businesses, but project controls can help address this issue. By developing a communication plan, providing a centralized platform for sharing information, and ensuring that stakeholders have the necessary skills and resources to communicate effectively, project controls can help minimize misunderstandings and delays. Effective communication is also critical for managing project risks and ensuring that all stakeholders are working towards a common goal. By prioritizing communication and implementing project controls, construction businesses can improve project outcomes and achieve greater success.

 

Our Project Controls professionals are available for a free 30-minute consultation to discuss how project controls can benefit your business or projects, or to review and improve your existing processes. Don’t hesitate to book your call today.

About MicAyla Inc.

MicAyla Inc. offers customized project controls services for construction companies and projects in various sectors. With over 150 years of combined experience, we use the latest in technology and best practices to provide highquality solutions that prioritize safety, sustainability, and accuracy.

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Caroline Alabi

With over 27 years of experience, including 15 years as a Project Controls Professional, Caroline has a proven track record of developing and implementing cost controls in capital programs and projects, with a focus on the oil and gas industry. Her expertise is particularly extensive in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and the downstream sector. She is the creator of the Estimate to Complete/Estimate at Completion workbook, which enables the accurate forecasting of project performance upon completion. Caroline has been recognized for her exceptional performance, receiving both the Core Innovative Award and Outstanding Employee Performance award. Additionally, she provides valuable mentorship to the Cost Control team.

 Career Highlights:

  • Project Cost Controller at BASF, responsibilities included overseeing the cost control process for several major capital projects during both the detailed engineering and construction phases. She was responsible for preparing and maintaining accurate project cost forecasts and providing detailed variance explanations for root cause analysis. This involves preparing Work Breakdown Structures, Cashflow reports, and creating project cost reports.
  • Lead Cost Engineer at BP-Husky, responsible for overseeing project cost forecasts, Work Breakdown Structures, benchmarking, Cashflow reports, Management of Change tracking, finance, procurement and supply chain management interface, and project reporting for projects totaling over half a billion dollars. The projects she managed include the Crude Processing Metallurgical Upgrade, which safely enables increased capacity of Hi-TAN crude, feed optimization for the Desalters, and the installation of a new FCC Naphtha Post Treater at the BP-Husky Refining LLC (BPH) Toledo Refinery to meet US EPA Tier 3 gasoline regulations.
  • Lead Cost Engineer at BP GOM Thunderhorse Offshore Water Injection (Worley Parsons): A BP brown field project on water injection efficiencies on the Thunder horse platform. Where she was responsible for EPC cost reporting and forecasting, management of project change control, WIP /VOWD, internal financial reporting to Worley Parsons.
  • Project Controls Lead at BP Thunder Horse & BP Atlantis (FMC Technologies Inc) :FMC managed BP projects in the GOM for subsea production system; Scope included subsea trees, manifolds, pressure cap, and completions services to BP.

Tom O'brien

Thomas has over 34 years of experience in project management, project service, and controls across a range of sectors, including oil and gas, infrastructure, buildings, power, petrochemical, and commercial construction industries. He possesses hands-on expertise in all phases of EPC work, from FEED through execution and closeout, and has extensive experience in contract administration, scope development, and execution. His work includes both onshore and offshore projects, as well as upstream and downstream operations. His technical proficiency is complemented by field construction experience.

SME in Planning and Scheduling, Project Controls, Risk Analysis and Claim Mitigation. Experience writing and auditing Project Execution Plans (PEPs) and Procedures. Expert use of industry software including Primavera P6 and MS Project. PMI Cost Management REP.

Career Highlights:

Project Services/Controls /Manager on the following Oil & Gas major projects:

  • Jazan ASU Project – Largest (6) Train Air Separation Units in the world. Jazan, KSA
  • BP Plant Wide Modernization Project included (4) new units (Crude, Coker, Hydrotreater, SRU) ($10.2B). Whiting, IN
  • Pipeline Crude Oil “C” Sunoco Oil (4) Simultaneous New LSG Units ($2.1B). USA
  • (3) Simultaneous New Ultra-Low Diesel units ($900M). USA
  • Regen Head Replacement & New COB Boiler, Marcus Hook PA
  • Offshore Platform and Undersea pipelines replacement, Bahama Oil Co

Schedule Risk, Cost Risk, and Claims Management assignments include:

  • Defend claims for various clients in the Middle East.
  • Defended Claims and Deposed as Expert witness on FPL Co-gen, Marcus Hook PA ($750M).
  • Authored claim for a contractor for $3.6M, settled for $3.1M,
  • Successfully Defended $20M delay claim on behalf of the owner on New Gas Oil Hydro Treater Unit ($1.2B). (Negotiated $20M claim to $6.2M),
  • Successfully Defended schedule delay claim on behalf of the owner on Mining & Metal: Phase 2 & 3 New Tunnel and Aluminium Smelter ($14 B) Terms Confidential.