A Better Approach to Project Design: Front End Loading

by | EPIC Modular Process

If you had a batch-mixing system you needed built in the next year, what steps would you take to make that system a reality? You might start with a drawing or a basic spec sheet. Once you’ve thought through your own system requirements, you would probably contact several companies who build batch processing systems to get some initial bids. Based on the estimates you receive back from those companies you would select one of them to build your system, usually based on the lowest bid. A contract would be signed and a purchase order cut. Work would begin and soon your batch process system would be a reality.

EPIC engineers sit with clients during project front end loadingThe only problem is, you’ve done it all out of order. It seems logical to start with the system requirements. How else does a system get designed? The problem with starting solely with the system requirements is that it leads down a path where all vendors seem equal, except on price. If every single one of your bidders can deliver the system to your specifications, why should anything but price be a concern?

The reality is that all vendors are not equal. Any system design should start with vendor selection. You should start with two specification sheets; one that outlines what you need for your system, and one that outlines what you need out the relationship with your design/build firm. If you care about the longevity of your system, long term-costs, improved system design, and project schedule, you have to start by finding a firm that acts as a vested partner, not just the lowest bidder.

Then system requirements should be examined and further developed with your partner firm. At EPIC, we refer to this stage of the process as project front end loading. We believe this is the most important part of any project and should never be cut short just to move the project forward. If done correctly, front end loading will actually keep your project on schedule and on budget. This is because a reasonable project schedule and budget can be thoroughly developed. Too often rushed planning at the beginning of a project leads to unrealistic project schedules and budgets, leading to delays and unexpected costs later. With front end loading, a schedule and budget are developed as every aspect of the system is designed and debated.

Front end loading is a separate process that comes before the execution of your project. This provides flexibility to you as the client. For example, say your company wants a batch mixing system that mixes a certain amount of product per day. During front end loading it is discovered that the amount will cost an extra $300,000 to achieve, but at a slightly lower rate, the extra $300,000 worth of equipment is not needed. You can decide whether the amount mixed or the extra cost is more important.

In another situation, you discover that a system you initially thought would cost only several hundred thousand dollars is actually going to cost closer to a million dollars, because of certain government-mandated requirements you weren’t aware of before. You can keep the engineering plans but wait to go forward from the front end loading stage for a few years.

A final contract is not signed and a final project execution price is not agreed upon until front end loading is complete. At the completion of front end loading the cost agreed upon is the final cost, even if the project goes over later. A design/build firm should be willing to risk absorbing any unplanned cost because their Front-End Engineering process should dramatically reduce the risk of any problems during project execution and because they value your relationship over the bottom line of a single project.

Think about it this way – if it costs several weeks of an engineer’s time to thoroughly spec out your project, do you think that all firms bidding on your project have really taken the time to do that? Maybe they have, but in a bidding situation, the game is to bid low upfront and worry about the rest later. EPIC charges a nominal fee for front end loading to keep the process fair for everyone. You will get a more honest and complete assessment of your system and our engineers time is not wasted bidding out a project for free. Options are thoroughly and honestly explored. Systems are designed to meet your specifications but benefit from our many years of design and fabrication experience. Changing needs, alterations or special configurations are anticipated. A fixed-bid price and detailed project execution strategy are agreed upon ahead of time.

So what is the correct sequence of events for getting your batch mixing system?

Step 1: Find a vendor that believes in the same things you do.
Step 2: Check their references – never just take someone’s word for it.
Step 3: Work with your vendor to develop system requirements, a detailed execution strategy, an accurate budget and a realistic time-frame. In other words, do your front end loading.
Step 4: Remain in communication with your design/build firm as they execute the project, but rest assured that your project outcome will be much better than if you had followed another method.

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For more information on the benefits of front end loading, click here or contact an engineer today.

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