The situation: Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our client’s supply chain, the construction of their new plant had been delayed by approximately 3 months. This was further compounded by continuous wet weather being experienced on site which was resulting in constrained and restricted work fronts across the project as all construction disciplines attempted to execute their work. The client was pushing hard progress all workfronts, but it was clear to DPS that the overall methodology needed to be revised to reflect the situation in order to deliver the project safely and efficiently.
The Task – The experienced DPS team reviewed the SMP scope that was within their responsibility with the principal contractor and identified the opportunity to complete the assembly and pre-commissioning of a radial stacker in an adjacent laydown yard, from where the stacker could then transported on SPMT’s and lifted into final position via a dual crane lift.
Action Taken – The DPS worked with the principal contractor and developed a detailed methodology, including detailed lift studies and structural assessments to support the plan to complete the stacker build on the adjacent laydown area. The team then implemented the plan, with the stacker being successfully constructed, transported and lifted into position in DPS’s Reliable, Safe and Efficient manner.
Result– Through DPS’s support and the modularised approach taken, the project schedule was able to be recovered by 3 weeks and the client’s mill was required to be shutdown for only 2 weeks as the remaining QA was final tie-ins, point to point checks and commissioning activities.
