9. Project Management

Question 1

9.1 - How would you manage multiple commissioning projects with overlapping timelines?

Answer 1

1. Prioratise project tasks based on urgency and importance, using criteria like deadlines, resource availability, and strategic significance.
2. Try to determine a critical path of tasks that need completing and direct the focus around safety, functionality and/or regulatory compliance.
3. Break down the projects into smaller and more manageable tasks, making it easier to allocate resources and track progress.
4. Try to preempt potential issues that could arise from overlapping timelines and develop contingencies to mitigate risks.
5. Effective delegation of team members based on their strengths and availability.
6. Changes to the project timeline can occur, with this, try to be as adaptive to changing scenarios as possible.

For example, with commissioning turbines, there are a number of different teams that focus solely in one area i.e. Mechanical completion, electrical completion, HV and start-up commissioning. Each team have their own critical pathway to follow, correct resources for the tasks, govern their own progress and communicate clearly with other teams and supervisors. Once one team has finished their phase of the commission, the next team can start their phase and so on…

Question 2

9.2 - What steps do you take to ensure a project stays on schedule?

Answer 2

1. Define clear objectives with measurable goals.
2. Determine a timeframe, milestones, deadlines and the critical path.
3. Continuously monitor progress and track the status of each task.
4. Maintain flexibility as unforseen circumstances can occur.
5. Address issues promptly.
6. Review and adjust milestones if need be.

Question 3

9.3 - Can you explain your approach to project risk management?

Answer 3

• Try to stay one step ahead at all times.
• Consider and preempt potential issues that may arise.
• Develop contingency plans to minimise delays.