Services: Procurement, Project Management and Project Controls
Wink Companies has developed “Best in Class” project management, project controls and reporting practices, which we employ on a routine basis for our major Clients. Our custom-designed, inhouse system includes:- Define project scope, jointly with Client
- Develop project plan/schedule
- Multi-discipline Project Teams develop “design packages” for subcontracting
- Design packages, coupled with specifications and contract requirements, are used to solicit bids for fabrication and construction
- Support Client as requested in solicitation of bids, bid evaluation, contractor and supplier selection, and contracting process
- Support Client as requested in the procurement of goods and materials
- Field coordination of contractor activity
- State-of-the-art project cost-tracking and reporting procedures
Cost Estimating
Wink’s estimating capabilities are among the strongest in the industry. Our Estimating Department personnel combine hands-on experience in the construction industry with a comprehensive knowledge of estimating software, systems and technology. We routinely provide estimating services on projects ranging in size from $1,500 to $100 Million, for a number of our major Clients.
We have developed and utilized internal processes intended to exceed the accuracy levels defined by the American Association of Cost Engineers (AACE). These processes allow for updates of our estimates quickly and cost-effectively when better data is available, providing the most current and accurate cost information possible at every stage of project development.
We specialize in the use of ICARUS Project Manager (IPM) for project cost estimating, but utilize Client-specific custom estimating packages on a routine basis.
Scheduling & Project Planning
For major projects, our Project Controls Department has utilized “Critical Path Method” (CPM) scheduling. In CPM, the schedule dates are developed by software, based on the duration of each activity and the relationships between project activities. The relationships between activities form a network or precedence diagram. The longest direct path from start to finish is the “critical path.” The critical path is developed with the input of all project team members, and it constitutes a Project Plan, not just a project schedule. The greatest value of this method lies in its dynamic nature. Recognized as a living document, the plan is maintained with the most up-to-date information available, and is adjusted as required to provide the project team and our Clients with the most accurate forecast possible of project costs and timeframe.
Data processed by the Critical Path planning software is used to:- Allow critical path analysis
- Allow earned value analysis
- Track actual vs. budgeted costs
- Illustrate staffing requirements and prevent under-allocation of resources
- Indicate actual vs. planned progress
- Predict project over/underruns in terms of cost and schedule
Reporting / Earned Progress Tracking
The key to ensuring that the project is completed within the approved budget is successful project cost management and reporting. Our Project Management and Project Controls Departments use “Best in Class” software and procedures to plan resources, estimate and budget costs, track earned progress, control and report costs. We use Primavera Project Planner (“P-3”), a state-of-the-art scheduling software, to create and resource-load individual project work activities, track performance measurement criteria and to prepare both standardized and customer-specific reports.
The cost control system begins with the development of the overall project schedule and work plan. At the time the CPM schedule is developed, each work task is given a unique Activity ID, which is used in accumulating actual man-hours and costs spent on that activity. Furthermore, each work task includes estimated man-hours, costs, and duration to complete the activity, as well as its relationship to other work activities in the project schedule.
Three critical values are needed to accurately determine actual progress on a project using an Earned Value Analysis, namely: Budgeted Cost of Work Scheduled (BCWS), Budgeted Cost of Work Performed (BCWP) and Actual Cost of Work Performed (ACWP). BCWS and ACWP are outputs from the Critical Path Planning Software. BCWP, also generated by the software, and perhaps the most important value in earned progress tracking, is dependent on establishing an accurate, subjective percent complete for each work activity. Our discipline engineers and designers have been trained and are actively reporting percent complete against a published Evaluation Criteria. After the three values, BCWS, BCWP and ACWP, are calculated, standard reports indicating schedule and cost variances and cost estimates at project completion are prepared.
Reporting requirements will vary, depending on the size and complexity of individual project assignments. Our Project Controls Department will develop a reporting process custom-designed to meet our Client’s needs.
Contracting
Wink Companies has more than 20 years experience in contracting and subcontracting services.
We routinely prepare and/or review construction and fabrication contracts for our Clients’ projects. The degree of our participation in the contracting process varies, depending on the Client’s in-house resources and corporate policies. We may provide any or all of the following:- Equipment quotation requests
- Equipment request for quotation packages
- Bid receipt and evaluation (equipment)
- Equipment selection recommendation
- Contractor quotation requests
- Contractor request for quotation packages
- Bid receipt and evaluation (contractor)
- Contractor selection recommendation
Procurement
Our professional inhouse Procurement department has the knowledge and experience to procure goods and services in the most timely, cost-effective manner, while meeting our Client’s purchasing and contracting requirements. Our staff has a depth of purchasing experience, including many years in industry for owner companies. We have incorporated web-based purchasing into our work practices, resulting in a more rapid response time to customer needs. Vendor-supplied approval and review drawings are expedited, received, logged, catalogued, updated, filed and maintained within the Project Controls Department, resulting in a more secure document trail throughout the project lifecycle and ensuring the completeness of project documentation at closeout.
A number of our personnel are proficient in the use of the SAP (Systems Applications Products) software used by many clients to manage the procurement and contracting function. We provide purchasing and procurement services to our clients through remote or on-site access to the client SAP system.
Commissioning / Startup Services
Wink has the skills and experience necessary in all critical disciplines to lead a successful project startup. Our project management, process, facilities, instrument/controls, electrical and structural engineering resources are capable of planning, implementing, and tracking startup from its inception during the engineering design phase of a project, through to turnover of the operations, with all necessary documentation, to the operations team. We are PEC (Petroleum Education Council) certified for working offshore, and are also familiar with the oil and gas onshore environment, travel and transportation resources.
Our staff has the experience and capability to act decisively and pro-actively to address startup issues as they occur in the field. We are prepared to mobilize a startup team to assist our Clients with initial startup activities, and we will be responsible for startup / commissioning of our modification and debottleneck projects as they occur.
Management of Change Process
We have assisted numerous Clients in the development and implementation of Management of Change programs/processes. Our Process & Environmental Engineering Department has prepared Process Safety Management (PSM) and Safety & Environmental Management Program (SEMP) manuals, including Management of Change requirements. Our inhouse design process includes specific procedures for ensuring that changes to core drawings (P&IDs, PFDs, plot plans) are documented in accordance with the Client’s MOC requirements.
As-Built Drawings
Wink Companies has extensive experience in the documentation of as-built conditions of onshore and offshore production facilities. We provide varying degrees of service in the area of as-built drawings, depending on the Client/Owner’s requirements. In general, we focus on the Piping & Instrumentation Drawings (P&IDs). We also prepare as-builts of piping and structural drawings. We provide experienced personnel for field walkdown, or rely on contractor markups, depending on Client’s request.