Career episode for planning and cost control engineer Essay Example
Deacon Engineering Limited is a respected multinational company that offers integrated engineering services and manufacturing in Pakistan and the Middle East. Their services include engineering, procurement, manufacturing, construction, commissioning, and maintenance with a focus on quality, safety, and timely delivery.
Zinnia Barrage is a joint venture between Deacon Engineering Limited and ICC (China national Electric Wire &Cable Imp / Expo) located around 203 kilometers downstream of Travel Dam near Calabash town. The Government of Punjab initiated the project through the Project Management Office for Punjab Barrages Rehabilitation &Modernization projects. The site is accessible by road from Karachi seaport approximately 1159 km away or by railway station at Educated which is about 6 km away.
The project was authorized to start on June 18th, 2012 after receipt of a letter from the Engineer (Consultant), although a formal agreement had
...been signed earlier on May 9th, 2012 between Head PM for Punjab Barrages and the Deacon-ICC joint venture. Zinnia Barrage is currently seeking an experienced planning and cost control engineer with an engineering background to join their team.DEL was tasked with various civil works including the construction of a new Subsidiary Weir, Navigation Lock Wall, Divide walls, Fish Ladders, Abutment wall, Guide banks, Road on left Marginal Bund (LAMB), Spurs, Replenishment of existing stone aprons and Instrumentation. They were also responsible for temporary diversion channel construction for feeding Dhal canal if instructed by the Engineer; handling water including construction and removal of Cofferdams lulls &d/ s of the Barrage and working pads that the Contractor may require; developing parks; rehabilitating & reconstructing existing Calabash Bridge and buildings/offices in Barrage Colony. DEL had to construct new buildings with equipment an
furnishings; develop a road network; establish water supply systems including tube wells & overhead tanks and sewerage systems such as sausage pit; erect a Boundary wall and provide Electrification. The total project scope cost exceeded 11 Billion PEAK which includes mechanical works as part of JP partner's responsibilities. Furthermore, the Engineering Department's main responsibility is to support project management systems at sites by providing assistance for project schedule monitoring, cost monitoring generating project reports screening them for executive review.The department collaborates with the Discipline I/C, Construction Manager, and Planning &FEED Manager to update Level-III plan activities for their discipline. They identify updated requirements for manpower, direct materials, direct consumables, and equipment based on a 3-month look-ahead plan. The department generates daily, weekly, and monthly progress reports while monitoring and analyzing progress and efficiency. Cost-to-complete and cost-at-completion evaluations are prepared monthly using in-house software such as PC'S, GEMS, EDGES, Store to analyze work performed versus cost incurred. Additionally, virtual team members who work as planning/cost engineers on construction projects are part of the organizational structure. During this assignment, notable tasks included presenting detailed presentations to clients showcasing performance of various activities as well as weekly progress demonstrations and manpower analysis for site activities. This project was seen as valuable learning opportunity aiding in developing a genuine comprehension of fundamental principles in project management that earned respect from colleagues and superiors.I exhibited weekly quantities of completed items for each cost center by comparing them against the plan. This evaluation was helpful in assessing construction disciplines and determining actual versus planned progress, which was well-received by both the client and senior management. My assignment prioritized optimizing project activities
with minimal costs, making manpower analysis an essential aspect. The objective was to ensure a balance between Revenue and Cost, identifying areas of inefficiency to initiate corrective action and achieve desired bottom line for the company. To determine the required quantity of manpower for a specific job, we analyzed manpower based on MS established norms developed from prior experience. We calculated man-hours against the required amount and converted them into man-months to complete activities, then compared it with craft wise manpower deputed with each supervisor to undertake planned tasks.We redistributed excess manpower to achieve maximum resource efficiency.An example is attached below depicting such an analysis for concrete with required manpower and its actual comparison.As a junior employee, my primary responsibility was to prepare weekly reports that tracked project progress using the Deacon Progress Monitoring System (DAMS). This involved analyzing man-hours earned for each cost center and comparing them with planned quantities. To determine efficiency, I divided earned man-hours by four. Additionally, I conducted a comprehensive study to ascertain the realistic cost left to complete remaining tasks. Despite my limited experience, I successfully developed a secure method for determining costs by analyzing various factors such as BOX item quantities, unit rates, materials, manpower, equipment with their POOL productivity rates of machines and subcontractor scope of work. This assignment helped me grow professionally and gain important insights into project finances and management - including calculation formulas like PA= Pop*(Pan-1) - which were crucial for report development.Whilst auditing around 1000 scaffolding measurement sheets provided by a sub-contractor for invoice payment, I discovered an error in calculations which resulted in over invoicing of approximately 2,500,000 PEAK. My attention to
detail and thoroughness earned me appreciation from my boss. This experience improved my confidence and established my reputation as a versatile worker capable of handling diverse assignments. It also allowed me to enhance my engineering and management skills, developing attributes such as leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving; valuable lessons that stayed with me throughout all future assignments.
Being a virtual team member whilst located in my home office was a distinctive experience but enabled significant contribution to the advancement of the site. Managing this difficult challenge effectively allowed utilization of engineering expertise to its fullest potential. Throughout the process, invaluable knowledge was gained including budgeting, scheduling, financial analysis project monitoring and managing contracts for a project of this magnitude. Overall it proved to be an exceptional opportunity that undoubtedly had a profound impact on career moving forward.
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