Project Planning, Scheduling and Cost Control

Overview

Energy projects, from plant shutdowns and pipeline construction to new processing facilities, regularly finish late and over budget. The causes are often the same: unrealistic schedules, weak scope definition, cost estimates that are not linked to the plan, and progress measurement that hides problems until it is too late to act. This course gives participants a practical and integrated approach to planning, scheduling and controlling cost on oil, gas and energy projects. Participants learn how to build a work breakdown structure, estimate durations and resources, develop a critical path schedule, and set a cost baseline linked to the schedule. The course then covers progress measurement, earned value management, forecasting cost and completion dates, change control, schedule risk analysis and reporting to management. The methods apply equally to capital projects, turnarounds and engineering contracts, whatever the planning software used.

Objectives

• Define project scope and build a work breakdown structure
• Estimate durations, resources and costs
• Develop and analyse a critical path schedule
• Set integrated schedule and cost baselines
• Measure progress and apply earned value management
• Forecast cost and completion and manage change
• Analyse schedule risk and report performance to management

Who should attend

Training methodology

The course follows a sample facility project from scope to completion. Participants build the WBS, calculate the critical path by hand and in a spreadsheet, load resources and costs, and set the baseline. Monthly progress data are then introduced, and teams calculate earned value, forecast final cost and completion, and assess change requests. Real project overrun case studies are discussed, and each team presents a monthly project report. Participants are encouraged to bring examples from their own projects.

Programme outline

Dates and fees

Certificate

Frequently asked questions