Industry / General Knowledge
Advanced Work Packaging (AWP), also known as digital work packaging, is a structured approach to managing capital projects that aligns engineering, procurement, and construction processes. By promoting collaboration and workface planning, AWP improves efficiency, reduces costs, and minimizes delays in project delivery. This innovative construction work packaging method is supported by specialized construction integration platform and construction work package software solutions.
WFP (WorkFace Planning) is a subset of AWP, focusing on the efficient execution of construction tasks. It involves breaking down activities into manageable packages that can be accomplished within a specific timeframe by a single crew, ensuring that all necessary resources are available before work starts. Work packaging through WFP is a crucial aspect of advanced work packaging that helps ensure smooth project execution.
A CWP (Construction Work Package) defines a construction scope that can be logically separated from the overall project. It contains all the information needed for planning, executing, and assessing the work, ensuring that the workforce understands what needs to be done. The development and management of CWPs are fundamental components of advanced work packaging (AWP) methodologies.
IWP (Installation Work Package) is a detailed subset of a CWP (Construction Work Package), providing specific instructions for field execution. It outlines precisely what needs to be installed, the order of activities, and the resources required, ensuring efficient and safe execution on-site. This level of detailed planning and execution guidance is a critical component of advanced work packaging practices in the construction industry.
CWA delineates the physical areas where construction activities will take place. It helps in planning and coordinating tasks, ensuring that different crews and equipment don’t overlap or interfere with each other’s operations.
The term VCM stands for “Virtual Construction Model” and it is often confused with a 3D design model. While a 3D design model, coming from engineering, is produced as the project design evolves, a Virtual Construction Model is used to analyze and simulate construction sequences, readiness, and progress. WorkPacks help to take the 3D design model(s) and add layers of data to enhance and optimize the projects teams construction strategy beyond just a representation of components in 3D.
A digital thread is the identification and transfer of information between different systems. A digital thread is identified by three specific items: a template, an owner, and the frequency of data transfer.
Constraint management in work packaging plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth execution of a project by identifying, tracking, and resolving various factors that might impede progress or cause delays. These constraints can include a wide range of elements that need to be in place for work to proceed effectively, such as resource availability, permits and approvals, access, engineering designs and drawings, dependencies, environmental factors, regulations and standards, risk, safety, and other informative instructions.
In WorkPacks, the constraint management module provides tools and features to track, prioritize, and resolve these constraints. This helps project teams stay on top of potential issues, allocate resources effectively, and take proactive measures to prevent delays and disruptions. By managing constraints, projects can maintain their timelines, budgets, and overall success.
Meet workpacks
WorkPacks originates from a deep-seated commitment to innovation and a vision for sustainability. Dr. Ted Blackmon, PhD, a pioneer in the domain of Advanced Work Packaging (AWP), was instrumental in setting the trajectory for this revolutionary platform. His notable achievements with the Mars Pathfinder Mission at NASA and the invention of acclaimed software platforms like ConstructSimTM and OpSimTM speak volumes about his dedication to change-making. These platforms, widely acknowledged for their transformative potential, laid the groundwork for what the industry regards as foundational.
Continuing on his entrepreneurial journey, Dr. Blackmon initiated Jovian Ventures, a platform dedicated to nurturing start-ups that align with his vision of sustainability. The extensive knowledge amassed over the years has been the cornerstone upon which WorkPacks stands tall. His profound contributions to industry bodies like CII and the myriad of insights he has seeded into the sector are the pillars supporting WorkPacks’ growth.
2020 marked a significant collaboration between Dr. Blackmon and Rayan Jreije, a stalwart in construction technology. With Rayan’s impressive track record, spanning two decades in the EPC industry and significant contributions to construction software deployed on mega projects worth billions, the collaboration was poised for greatness. Together, with a team of certified professionals, they sculpted WorkPacks, an embodiment of scalability, affordability, and comprehensive cloud AWP solutions. Whether it’s for colossal construction projects or agile portfolio programs, WorkPacks has proven to be the go-to tool for clients aiming for the pinnacle in AWP implementation.
At its heart, WorkPacks is fueled by a mission to optimize capital project execution digitally. It aims to usher in efficiency, productivity, safety, and reduce waste through seamless AWP automation. Partnering closely with clients, the platform facilitates a transformative journey, integrating world-class technology with AWP methodologies. The result? A collaborative project framework that segments work, harnesses the potential of Work Breakdown Structuring, and Lean/Agile Planning methodologies, regardless of the project’s breadth or the tools at hand.
Summarily, the essence of WorkPacks is pioneering spirit, agility, and continuous advancement. It’s a synthesis of groundbreaking minds, proactive strategies, and a shared vision of efficiency, intelligence, and innovation. In essence, WorkPacks is not just a product but a manifestation of beliefs, values, and the relentless drive of its creators.
WorkPacks is the most affordable and scalable AWP solution on the market, able to be deployed in days, rather than weeks or months. With WorkPacks, you can get rolling into production usage with Path of Construction pre-planning, as well as full package development and execution quickly. As you grow capability and understanding, you can then optionally layer additional data-driven integration as desired. Increasingly leveraged use of AI to process the AP Digital Threads makes this possible.
WorkPacks has configured and bundled its components in a cloud-native platform that is affordable and can be rapidly deployed onto projects of any size. WorkPacks pricing removes cost as a barrier to adoption. Investment in your team resources and processes to succeed becomes the key, with powerful and affordable technology in support along the way.
The results have been impressive to-date:
• WorkPacks was successfully deployed on small projects within an operating facility of the world’s largest Oil & Gas super major.
• WorkPacks has proven to be operational on projects in days not months.
• WorkPacks was successfully scaled on the world’s largest giga projects.
Legacy AWP technologies suffer from the following major limitations:
• Inability to consume and render large 3D models and engineering datasets on industrial mega-projects and giga-projects.
• Inability to be a cost-effective solution on smaller capital projects that are quite common within an operating industrial facility.
• Inability to deploy and start using the system for AWP workflows without requiring significant time and effort from IT resources.
WorkPacks solves it all.
One of the key differentiators of WorkPacks is the ability to use the product across the project lifecycle, including the earliest stages of preliminary planning and design. Far in advance of a 3D model, WorkPacks help to establish work breakdown structure, track initial Bill of Quantity estimate data, preliminary schedules and key milestones, and graphical development of CWAs and CWPs in 1D and 2D on early plot plans, drawings, or even satellite imagery.
WorkPacks goes beyond AWP implementation, serving as a comprehensive construction management application. This versatile tool offers contractors and owner operators significant advantages, including enhanced project visibility, streamlined execution, and notable reductions in project time and costs.
Within WorkPacks, project teams gain the ability to proficiently oversee package constraints through automated assignments utilizing a comprehensive constraint library. Alternatively, constraints can be manually incorporated, assigned, escalated, and resolved for individual packages or across multiple packages simultaneously. These constraints encompass a wide array of factors such as access, permits, manpower, equipment, drawings, and materials.
Furthermore, WorkPacks facilitates the automated clearance of constraints by establishing links with engineering, procurement, and other pertinent data sources that exert an influence on the created packages. This streamlined approach ensures that constraints are not only effectively managed but also swiftly addressed through a seamless integration of relevant project data.
Built with application and value scenarios across a wide spectrum of construction partnerships, WorkPacks has been successfully deployed and has delivered value for Owners, Operators, Engineers and Procurement Contractors, Field Contractors, and Project Controls Specialists alike. Each partner type has distinct use cases that can be realized within the WorkPacks platform. An Owner Operator is likely to focus on oversight and reporting through aggregation of data. A contractor may benefit from automation of building Installation Work Packages and connecting packages to live data sources. An engineer can use WorkPacks to align engineering deliverables to construction needs while maintaining traditional discipline-based engineering execution.
There is no minimum size! WorkPacks has been used to plan and package the replacement of a single exchanger and manifold, the installation of a single pelletizer bag loader, and one Work Packs team member even used it to plan their own home building project!
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