Project Control

What is Project Control ?

There are numerous definitions of Project Controls used across the industries and indeed across companies within industries. For the sake of clarity and simplicity, Project Control is defined as under

Project Control is a set of processes and steps that involve data collection, analysis, and communication to predict and influence the Time and Cost outcomes of a Project or Program.
It encompasses all stages of a Project or Program's lifecycle, from initial estimating to reflective learning and analysis of failure causes.
Project Controllers act as radar for Project Managers, helping them plan, manage, and mitigate cost, schedule, and risk issues.
Project Control is essentially the Project Management Process without its facilitating sub-processes for safety, quality, organizational, behavioral, and communications management.
The main purpose of Project Control is to manage work during each stage of the implementation lifecycle and prepare the project for the next stage.

Why is Project Control so Important?

Understanding the Vital Role of Project Control in Successful Project Management

The success of a project relies on proper planning.
Project Management consists of 9 areas and over 40 processes.
24 of these processes are related to Project Control.
A strong project plan is essential for the execution of a project.
Effective schedule control methodology is necessary for project execution.
Developing a suitable Project Control System is important in Project Management.
Planning and Monitoring are recognized as major causes of project failures.
Many organizations face challenges in meeting targets for large-scale projects.
Over 90% of large-scale projects experience cost or time overruns.
On average, DFR cost increases by over 80% and timelines are delayed by 20 months or more.
Good project controls are the key difference between successful and unsuccessful projects.

Despite advancements in project management, many projects still struggle with cost overruns and missed deadlines. The missing piece? Effective Project Control. Numerous studies highlight its importance in achieving project objectives and boosting performance.

An IBC 2000 Project Control Best Practice Study carried out by IPA identified that good Project Control practices reduce execution schedule slips by 15%.

Project Controls typically account for 0.5% to 3% of the total project cost, including cost accounting. To achieve a break-even point, Project Control should aim to improve cost effectiveness by approximately 2%.
In a study conducted by the IBC Cost Engineering Committee (CEC) in 1999, it was found that the projects analyzed showed cost improvements of over 10%.
It is important to note that schedule improvements also have a positive impact on the Net Project Value (NPV).
The success of Project Control is heavily reliant on implementing good Project Control practices, which ultimately lead to favorable cost and schedule outcomes.

How can we help in Project Control and Material Control functions?

Major activities under one platform shall include:

1. Align the Project

Aligning Project with organizations, their portfolio goals & objectives

2. Define the Scope of Work

Understanding scope of work and execution philosophy

3. Initiate Collaboration

Collaborate on initial project schedule

4. Strategic Planning

Develop work break down structure (WBS) (Qualitative & Quantitative)

5. Network Schedule

Prepare Overall Project Network Schedule upto Level-5

6. Identify Critical Path

Identify Critical Paths of the Project

7. Prepare Functional Schedules

Prepare Functional Schedules

8. Develop Risk Management Plan

Develop Risk Management Plan

9. Prepare Project Costing

Cost estimate, budget & forecast

10. HSE Management

Prepare HSE Plan in line with Project requirements

11. Material Control

MTO analysis, recommend substitution of materials starting from MTO-II, recommendation for preparation of MRs, monitoring each MR upto placement of orders, monitoring Manufacturing & Delivery of items and consumption thereof at construction sites

12. Monitoring, Reporting & Controlling for each function –

This include development of interactive Dashboards which include API Integration with existing systems of the Clients, PMC & Contractors/Vendors

13. Creating Data Bank

Creating Data Bank as per Client’s requirements for use in future projects

14. Closeout Report

Prepare Job Closeout Report with feedback, lessons learnt etc.

15. Facilitating Standardization

Can help in standardization of systems, procedures & formats / templates, with in-house Data Bank developed based on experience

16. Deploy Experienced Project Control Professionals

Provide experience Project Control professionals for on the job training to the Clients, PMC & Contractors/Vendors for successful implementation of Parascadd systems throughout the project lifecycle

Our Products for Portfolio Management

3. FLS5 (Functional Schedule)

Prepare Functional Schedules for each discipline for all phases of project

4. PROCOST (Cost Engineering & Control)

Estimation (for DFR, Tenders & MRs)
Budgeting, Control, Forecast & Cost Status Report

5. PROPLAN (Networking System)

Creation of OBS, EPS, WBS & Activity Codes
Overall Project Network Schedule
Creation of OBS, EPS, WBS & Activity Codes
Import and Export data from P6, MSP & Excel
Resource Loading at Activity Level
Standardization of Activities for similar type of jobs with Predecessors & Successors and its duration
Updation of Network, Monitoring, Reporting & Forecast considering various scenarios
Critical Path Analysis

Dynamic Scheduling & Window Analysis is possible.

8. COCOSYS (Construction & Contractor Schedule)

Prepare Construction Schedule in the beginning of the Project for each Tender
Prepare Contractor Schedules (Quantitative) for each Tender based on SOR quantity.

Calculation of Effective Work Fronts is the basics of Planning & Scheduling.

Dynamic Scheduling & Window Analysis is possible for each Contract.

10. EPCPROMA & LAPMA (Procurement)

MTO Analysis including Substitution of materials for final recommendation for preparation of MRs
Monitoring & Reporting of Manufacturing / Delivery of materials
Look Ahead Planning of Materials (Delivery Forecast) for Construction Planning

12. WHAM (Warehouse Management)

It is used for management of materials starting from dispatch of materials to receipt at sites, storage, issue to various agencies, stock status and handing over to the Clients

14. ISOMEC (Piping Isometric)

Prepare Isometric from existing data and GADs
Generation of Piping MTO, Specs, Calculations etc.

EPCPROMAN (Construction Works)

SPOOLMAN (Autospooling for Piping)
- Generation of Spool drawings from IDF / PCF Files for Fabrication & Erection
- Generation of MTO for each Spool
- Material Front Analysis (MFA) for each Spool
- Spool-wise materials allocation & generation of Indent/MIV for issue of materials to the agencies
- Live display of Stock Status / Reconciliation of materials
- Spool-wise/Loop-wise/Line-wise/System-wise progress monitoring and reporting with history sht.
CIVILMAN, STRUCTMAN, EQUIPMAN, HVAC & ENIMAN
- These tools are used for planning, scheduling, monitoring and reporting of Civil, Structural, Equipment, Electrical, Instrumentation and HVAC works at construction sites

Engineering & Material Front Analysis (EFA & MFA) is the basis for material allocation.

21. PCAM (Pre-Comm.& Commissioning Works)

Loop-wise & System-wise progress monitoring and reporting for readiness of the systems
Monitoring is done of all Units, Utilities & Offsites

Format-I to Format-V are used for Monitoring and Reporting.

PROCONT (Contract Management)

Monitoring & Reporting of Tenders and Contracts

Supporting Software

2. ApexMIS (Dashboards)

It is used for creating data base, making analysis, generation interactive dashboards & reports. Also useful for effective management of manpower using time sheets and other inputs.

6. PROHOLD (Hold Management)

It is used for Hold Management of drawings, documents and materials

7. PROCHAL (Project Risk Management)

It is used for identification of various Risks, preparation of Risk Plan, Mitigation Plan, Risk Register & Reporting

7. PROSAFE (HSE Management)

It is used for HSE Management considering latest practice in the industries

13. ICGP (Item Codification)

It is used for generation of Item Codes based on set norms and as per Clients requirements

22. Track N Tracing (Material Management)

It is used for track & tracing of materials with the help of Bar code, RFID, Mobile App

23. DCAD (Drafting)

It is used for 2D drafting