Getting Ready for WorkFace Planning

1) The Essentials: Getting started...

In order to successfully implement WorkFace Planning you will need:

• Owner Commitment
• A Senior Management Champion
• Engineering Support
• Orientation of Stakeholders

Without these four elements, successful implementation is extremely difficult to achieve.

2) Self-assessment: Where are you now?

Is the COAA WorkFace Planning Model any different from your current approach? Check out the COAA Scorecard and answer the questions about how your organization does its WorkFace Planning.

Have a look at some other key documents developed by the COAA's to help guide the planning, creation and implementation of WorkFace Planning on your construction project:

Getting Ready
WorkFace Planning Prerequisites
WorkFace Planning Infrastructure
WorkFace Planning Timelines
Planning Phase
Planning the Work: an outline
COAA WFP Scorecard
FIWP templates
Piping
Electrical
Structural Steel
Sample FIWP Package (complete)
Work steps reports (example)

3) Executing the Work

Foremen execute the project's FIWPs as prepared, with discretionary modifications or with approved changes.

If an FIWP cannot be completed, the foreman will return it to Field Supervision for rescheduling or revision.

4) Monitoring and Controlling the FIWP

Project Control will monitor performance and Quality Assurance will audit the FIWP process.

Based on these performance and audit results, planners may modify, revise or adjust the project FIWP and / or the FIWP templates as necessary.

5) Auditing the Process

The WorkFace Planning Scorecard can be completed at any phase of the project or as many times as warranted. COAA suggests the project team conduct a WorkFace Planning audit at least six times during the project:

1. At the end of the DBM (or FEL2) phase to confirm that WorkFace Planning principles have been incorporated into the execution strategy;

2. At the end of the FEED (or EDS or FEL3 or at project AFE) phase to confirm that the Project Execution Plan will support the strategy and required resources for the implementation of WorkFace Planning;

3. At the middle of detailed engineering to verify that the Project Execution Plan developed during the FEED phase that supports WorkFace Planning is being implemented;

4. Before construction mobilization to establish a baseline score;

5. Middle of construction phase to assess progress made in implementing WFP and take corrective action where appropriate; and

6. End of construction phase to do an “as-built” and identify learned opportunities for improvement in WFP process.

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