Digitization is the most rigorous and thorough test of practical knowledge on project engineering and management accumulated so far. It starts with the validation of basic definitions forming a Cartesian coordinate system for project planning and execution. One of them is the project scope.
No doubt, a clear understanding of the mega-project scope is a major contributor to the project's success.
In conventional project management, the project scope is usually defined as a collection of tasks that must be done to deliver a product.
From a digitization perspective, such a definition is troublesome as it clashes with a project schedule definition pivoted around the same collection of tasks.
Digitization does not tolerate such ambiguities as it turns all the conventional definitions into algorithms driving engineering and management automation.
By crenger.com, the scope is an extremely rich and deep abstraction with new content.
There is a clear separation between a task and a scope. The task is a qualitative description of work to be done, while the scope relates to a quantity of work. A task is attached to a single scope. A project is a collection of scoped tasks. The bigger project may contain the same tasks attached to bigger scopes. Many tasks may be attached to the same scope.
How is the scope used for the task quantification?
In most cases, the task quantification boils down to the calculation of its workload in man-hours using the work scope metrics. For example, the workload of compiling the instrumentation I/O list for a project or its subsystem may be predicted if the total number of installed instruments is known.
In other words, scope describes some part of the project in terms of this part engineering metrics.
How may the detailed metrics be obtained at the project beginning?
Conventional project management does not know the answer. Digitization offers an elegant solution. Crenger.com autogenerates the metrics from the outcome of human-assisted FEED (Front End Engineering Design) executed during the first week of the project.
Engineering Metrics (EM) are described by 120+ parameter types classified by disciplines: general, process, electrical, instrumentation and control, mechanical, civil engineering, quality assurance and logistics, management, and procurement.
Crenger.com analyzes the plant FEED package and auto-generates default scopes with metrics. Scopes are listed below.
- Plant. It is a top scope summarizing all other scopes.
- Plant subareas. They are normally represented by intake station, pretreatment, SWRO, BWRO, and posttreatment areas. The plant subarea coincides with the operation module which makes the plant operation safe.
- P&IDs. They are parts of the plant subarea. (P&ID is a legacy abstraction tied to the A3 paper format.)
- Process & Supply modules (subsystems). A module is part of the plant subarea. Conceptually, It replaces P&ID. The latter may include a module or be part of it. Unlike P&ID, the module serves a single purpose described by a verb like to pump, to chlorinate, to filter, etc. Process and supply modules differ by the level of design details.
- Purchase order categories. They are divided into orders with a product identification number (PIN) and without it. Categories include Process, Electrical, Instrumentation, Junction box and PLC cabinets, Instrumentation bulk, MCC and distribution stations, Electrical bulk, IO cards with PLC and software, High-grade metal, metal, FRP, and plastic piping types.
- Purchase order packages. Every package is a collection of some similar items differing in complexity, lead time, and price. The previous scope includes all these packages sorted by categories.
- Purchase order lead-time categories. They include short-, mid-, and long-time delivery ones and cover process and electrical equipment.
- Device types. They are represented by pumps, valves, filters, scrapers, settlers, etc.
- Extended scope. This category includes the balance of the plant like piping for underdrain, product water, brine discharge, intake, etc.
- Categories of wiring works - instrumentation and control or power wiring for plant.
- Instrumentation and power wiring areas. They compose the plant plot and overlap process and supply modules and the plant subareas mentioned previously.
- Categories of wiring terminals - MCC, electrical panels, marshaling panels, etc.