Topic: Training and Project Management
Consultants fall into two categories: SMEs and Helping Hands. The role of the SME is discussed above. Let’s consider Helping Hands. Helping Hand consultants function as staff augmentation for the project execution. Helping Hand consultants are there to assist with the project workload. These consultants can assist with developing specifications, conducting assessments, developing commissioning test plans, performing commissioning activities, development and execution of qualification protocol, writing SOPs and Work Instructions, and/or assisting with maintenance procedures. Hiring a consultant, look for individuals that are willing and eager to be involved, people that put the project first, people who are willing and able to tackle any task they are assigned. Hiring engineers is preferable, but almost any technical individual, be he or she a chemist, biologist, pharmacist, can be a great addition to the project team. Engineering/Technical Support
Engineering/Technical support can be internal members, consultants or vendor supplied. Maintenance staff can provide great assistance with developing preventative maintenance procedures. These folks are a wealth of knowledge on maintenance aspects of building utilities and process technical systems. Invite them into the project team, when needed. They will welcome a break from their daily tasks and provide great maintenance suggestions. Vendor technical support should be defined during the early RFP stage, and verified in the vendor’s quotation. Minimally, system installation verification and start-up, along with staff training for operation and maintenance, should be specified and included in the vendor’s proposal. Include this support time in the project schedule and ensure that the vendor’s technicians can be available for project support when required. General Contractor Site Manager
A project of any significance will require a construction general contractor (GC) who will oversee all the building construction trades. The GC site manager is an instrumental member of the project team. He or she should be integrated with the project team as soon as your GC is hired. The GC site manager will be your liaison with the subcontractors and vendors and should be part of any daily meeting and the weekly project update meeting. He or she will coordinate technical system installation, start-ups and training and support commissioning activities. Subcontractors/VendorsDepending upon the nature of the project, you may have subcontractors, such as your mechanical contractor, that has responsibility for several systems: HVAC, plumbing, process piping, or your electrical contractor that provides not only power installation but may also handle communications, network wiring, security systems. At the appropriate time, bring in your key subcontractors and vendors into the project meetings so that everyone associated with the project is aware of what is happening and the support that these subcontractors and vendors will require to complete their work.MEDVACON and our team of Quality Experts have conducted several CQV projects, some of which involved multidisciplinary teams and others with just one or a few resources. MEDVACON can scale to handle your CQV project.
