Stop the Bleeding: How Proper Project Controls Can Save Construction Companies from Cost Overruns

As you know, one of the biggest challenges that companies in the construction industry face is cost overruns. These overruns can occur due to a variety of reasons, such as changes in design or scope, unexpected issues or delays, and poor management of resources and materials.

Cost overruns can have a significant impact on the profitability and success of a construction project. They can cause projects to go over budget, delay project completion, and damage the reputation of the company. However, by implementing proper Project Controls systems and processes, companies can better manage their resources and ensure that projects are delivered on time and within budget.

Project Controls is a set of procedures and tools used to manage cost, schedule, quality, and safety on construction projects. By implementing these systems and processes, companies can monitor project costs and progress, identify potential issues, and take corrective action to keep projects on track.

One key component of Project Controls is cost management. This involves tracking project costs and ensuring that they are within the approved budget. By monitoring project costs, companies can identify potential cost overruns and take steps to address them. For example, if it becomes clear that a project is going over budget due to unforeseen circumstances, the company may need to renegotiate contracts with suppliers or make changes to the project scope to bring costs back in line.

Another critical aspect of Project Controls is schedule management. This involves tracking project progress and ensuring that it is on track to meet the project’s timeline. By monitoring project progress, companies can identify potential delays and take corrective action to ensure that the project is completed on time. For example, if it becomes clear that a project is falling behind schedule, the company may need to increase the number of workers on the project or adjust the project schedule to ensure that it is completed on time.

In conclusion, you already know the pain points of cost overruns in the construction industry. By implementing proper Project Controls systems and processes, companies can better manage their resources and ensure that projects are delivered on time and within budget. By managing costs, schedules, and quality, companies can deliver successful projects and maintain profitability in a highly competitive industry.

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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Houston, TX 77056

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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.