Engineering Managers, too many cooks are wrecking your kitchen…
There's no master chef!
Thought Leader:
Pedro Da Silva
With a master’s degree (MSC) in Electrical Industrial & Computer Engineering and a degree in Project Management, as well as 15 years of experience in EPCM, Pedro is the ideal person to deliver results within a very wide array of disciplines.
Thought Leader:
Machiel Engelbrecht Pr. Eng.
Machiel is a professional electronic engineer who focuses on the design, implementation and integration of Manufacturing Execution systems. He has 13 years of industry experience and has won numerous local and global awards. His focus is always on what is best for the client.
Do you find yourself working on projects with multiple contracting entities? If so, this can soon become a recipe for disaster when trying to manage and coordinate all deliverables. We have the solution for you.
It doesn’t matter if you’re an engineering manager or an operations manager working in the mining, oil and gas or food and beverage industry, the same “chaos” occurs when there are too many ‘cooks’ trying to take charge in the “kitchen”.
It’s almost impossible to manage anything if there is no coordination, and equally when one entity isn’t leading that coordination. The analogy of the cooks in a kitchen is a great example. Imagine a kitchen in which everyone is the chef but there is no head chef. All the other people in the kitchen would have no clue who they should be listening to or what they should be doing.
Without a lead coordinator, there would be total chaos in the “Kitchen“ that would make an episode of MasterChef look boring. Picture missing ingredients (supplies), oil spilt all over the working area (safety hazard), the deep fryer getting dangerously overheated, the forgotten health and safety audit (health inspector knocking at the door) whilst insects and rodents are walking around freely, and multiple cooks are trying to work over the same small stove …. A recipe for disaster.
We’ve seen many of these “chaotic kitchens” over the last 20 years, whether it is EPC or EPCM, and as a result we have witnessed many entities come and go, trying their best, however, you need a professional and an experienced tried and tested end-to-end turnkey solution provider. One that would make any ‘kitchen’ run like clockwork.
THE STARTER
Kitchen is overcrowded - A multiple entities mess
Too many people working in the same space with different deliverables is counterproductive. There’s no thought process and no clear plan or goal that everyone should be working towards.
It’s like chefs that are not working well together. Whatever they end up serving their clients is probably going to be different from what was on the menu. Multiple entities lead to finger-pointing, delays with delivery, resulting in potential delays (time and cost). Fewer people are accountable and there’s no single point of contact.
There can be only one. A single entity with the authority to manage and align all aspects from implementation and execution to handover.
2nd COURSE
In the oven too long - Risk of delays and going over budget
A common aspect within the industry is for entities to start producing their deliverables as per when they were requested, however they encounter obstacles presented to them from predecessors or successors resulting in potential time and cost implications. Coordination of the various layers/elements of the recipe is fundamental to assure that the client's “meal” arrives on time as per his order.
There’s a real risk of going over budget when there are delays. Time and Cost need to be coordinated and controlled during all phases of the execution in order to avoid unwanted financial surprises.
The bread needs to be baked but the cooks are still waiting for the flour that hasn’t been delivered. Measuring the bread ingredients as well as its baking period needs to be coordinated and managed correctly.
3rd COURSE
Changing the recipe - There's no change management
The only thing that is constant about life is change. Any project will involve some sort of change at one time or another, however, this is only a problem if there is no real change management system in place. It's instrumental to manage change accordingly, as this could result in financial implications with consequential cause and effect.
A chef starts to bake a cherry pie as per the order, then receives instructions 30 min into his baking period that the customer has changed his mind and now wants an apple pie.
4th COURSE.
There can only be one head chef - Lead engineer
In a Michelin star kitchen, there’s always a head chef that coordinates the team to perfection. Similar to a finely tuned orchestra, this chef acts like the conductor ensuring that everyone plays beautifully together in harmony. This type of coordination is also key in engineering. Everyone must listen to the lead engineer’s instructions to maintain the smooth running of the operation.
Effective engineering requires one entity that can take everything into consideration. The person where the “buck stops”. We have a recipe for success and it’s not a secret recipe. Contact us and we’d be happy to share it.
DESSERT
The dish is a disaster and there's egg on your face - Project over budget, delayed and your reputation is ruined
It’s recipe for disaster if the following factors are at play: There is no accountable leadership and aligned systems and process in place, delivery is being delayed and costs are escalating; there is no effective change management in place, and, worst of all, when these factors all combine they ruin your reputation and do serious damage to your brand.
We have a recipe for success and it’s not a secret recipe. Contact us and we’d be happy to share it.
