Understanding and implementing a Path of Construction (PoC) within the Advanced Work Packaging framework improves project planning, resource management, visibility, and risk reduction, and it provides quality assurance and stakeholder collaboration.
The PoC is, if not, the most critical component in managing a construction project efficiently.
The PoC is, if not, the most critical component in managing a construction project efficiently. It helps plan and sequence activities while allocating the right resources at the right time. This ensures smooth progress through each phase of construction.
The Path of Construction also includes safety measures to protect workers and promotes coordination between each discipline.
Implementing a PoC reduces delays, controls costs, and maintains high standards of quality while ensuring projects are completed on time and on budget.
Level 3 AWP Schedule:
CWP Erection Schedule
EWP Release Plan
Procurement Strategy
Modularization Plan
Heavy Lift Plan
Project Controls Plan
Risk Management
Resources Requirements
Contracting Strategy
Definition of the Path of Construction
The “Path of Construction” (PoC) refers to the optimal sequencing and organization of construction activities for a project. It outlines the logical order in which the physical components of a project should be built, ensuring efficient use of resources, minimizing delays, and maintaining safety and quality standards. The PoC is typically detailed in the Project Execution Plan and evolves as the project progresses.
PoC’s Role in the AWP framework
The “Path of Construction” (PoC) refers to the optimal sequencing and organization of construction activities for a project. It outlines the logical order in which the physical components of a project should be built, ensuring efficient use of resources, minimizing delays, and maintaining safety and quality standards. The PoC is typically detailed in the Project Execution Plan and evolves as the project progresses.
Creating a Path of Construction (PoC) is crucial to executing a construction project that will be delivered on time and on budget for the following reasons:
The key components of a Path of Construction (PoC) include:
The “Path of Construction” (PoC) refers to the optimal sequencing and organization of construction activities for a project. It outlines the logical order in which the physical components of a project should be built, ensuring efficient use of resources, minimizing delays, and maintaining safety and quality standards. The PoC is typically detailed in the Project Execution Plan and evolves as the project progresses.
The Path of Construction is the articulation of the optimal building sequence through the arrangement of Construction Work Packages (CWPs) by the construction team into an ideal sequence. (Construction in Heaven). The sequence is then put through a backward pass where procurement cycles are applied to identify the dates that EWPs need to be released. The Engineering and Procurement teams then challenge the dates and sequence based on their own constraints during the Inter-Active Planning (IAP) workshop.
The Path of Construction (PoC) is a strategic framework that organizes construction activities into an optimal sequence through Construction Work Packages (CWPs), aligned with Engineering and Procurement constraints.
The PoC ensures alignment across teams, optimizes resource allocation, and provides a structured roadmap for construction, enabling efficient execution and continuous improvement.
The PoC ensures alignment across teams, optimizes resource allocation, and provides a structured roadmap for construction, enabling efficient execution and continuous improvement.
Why do we create a Path of Construction?
Construction Work Packages (CWPs)
The organisation and sequential delivery of Engineering, Procurement, and Construction work packages supports the Fast Track and Advanced Work Packaging methodologies that allow construction work fronts to be executed in parallel, after Engineering and Procurement work packages have been delivered in series. This creates an optimal construction environment where projects can be completed efficiently and predictably in the smallest window of time.
The final PoC will be a negotiation of construction priorities, equipment set dates, procurement cycles, and engineering constraints.
Key Components of the Path of Construction
Construction Work Packages (CWPs)
Integration with engineering, procurement, and field execution
Early involvement of construction management
Steps in developing a PoC
The project phase to start the PoC
First pass during front-end engineering design (FEED)
Optimizing occurs during detailed engineering
Importance of aligning with project milestones and schedules
Process
The development of the optimal path of construction will be conducted in two sessions. First, the development of the Path of Construction will take place with only the Construction team and then the IAP workshop will scrutinize the CWP start dates against Procurement and Engineering constraints.
The sessions will be facilitated by the AWP Manager.
The Workshops will be conducted during the early FEED stage of the project, prior to the initiation of Detailed Design.
Teams from Operations, Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Project Services will participate and contribute in the development and documentation of the optimal Path of Construction.
The primary deliverable will be a list of CWPs organised into the optimal sequence of construction that has been reviewed and agreed upon by Engineering, Procurement, and Operations.
Other deliverables will be a sequence of EWPs and PWPs that will be required to meet the CWP release plan (which will be the foundation of a level 3 schedule) and a Scope and Strategy Statement.
Engineering, Procurement, Construction
The insight of AWP Facilitators and Data Engineers
Client Management, Key Stakeholders
Plot plan
Construction Work Areas (CWAs)
Major Equipment List
Heavy list strategy
3D Models
Project Schedule (Primavera P6 Schedule)
Construction Narrative
The AWP team will introduce the concepts of AWP and lay out the rules and workshop agenda.
The Construction team will identify Construction Work Areas (CWAs) on the plot plan that are a logical association of work and then develop a sequence of CWAs that represents the optimal path of construction.
The CWAs will then be decomposed
The PoC ensures alignment across teams, optimizes resource allocation, and provides a structured roadmap for construction, enabling efficient execution and continuous improvement.
During the Path of Construction, we have the FEED Stage
The Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) stage is a crucial phase in the Path of Construction (POC) process. During this stage, the foundation for the entire project is laid out, and several key activities take place to ensure a smooth transition into the detailed engineering and construction phases.
In the FEED stage, the POC is developed with active participation from construction expertise. This stage involves defining and sequencing Construction Work Areas (CWAs), which serve as the starting point for the Interactive Planning (IAP) sessions. These sessions are essential for aligning engineering, procurement, and construction activities to the optimal construction schedule.
The FEED stage also includes the development of a preliminary construction narrative, which outlines the key construction sequences and milestones. This narrative helps in creating a logical sequence for construction activities and ensures that all necessary engineering deliverables and materials are available when needed.
Additionally, the FEED stage involves the creation of a Level 3 EPC schedule, which includes detailed information on durations, quantities, dependencies, and resources for each work package. This schedule is developed through a backward pass, where procurement and engineering activities are tested to set realistic construction start dates.
Overall, the FEED stage is essential for establishing a robust construction roadmap and ensuring that all parties are aligned with the project objectives. It sets the stage for a successful execution of the POC and helps in creating an optimal construction environment.
Interactive Planning Sessions
The Path of construction is a negotiation of priorities, equipment set dates, procurement cycles, and engineering constraints.
These negotiations are known as Interactive Planning Sessions (IAP) and they will be organized by discipline to provide greater clarity on project timelines. The Information defined will be used to create EWPs. Participating in these meetings will be Engineering, Procurement, Operations, Construction, and Project Services teams.
Engineering Work Packages
Engineering Work Packages (EWPs) play a crucial role in the Path of Construction (POC) process. They are essentially collections of engineering deliverables required to execute a Construction Work Package (CWP).
The PoC ensures alignment across teams, optimizes resource allocation, and provides a structured roadmap for construction, enabling efficient execution and continuous improvement.
The Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) stage is a crucial phase in the Path of Construction (POC) process. During this stage, the foundation for the entire project is laid out, and several key activities take place to ensure a smooth transition into the detailed engineering and construction phases.
In the FEED stage, the POC is developed with active participation from construction expertise. This stage involves defining and sequencing Construction Work Areas (CWAs), which serve as the starting point for the Interactive Planning (IAP) sessions. These sessions are essential for aligning engineering, procurement, and construction activities to the optimal construction schedule.
The FEED stage also includes the development of a preliminary construction narrative, which outlines the key construction sequences and milestones. This narrative helps in creating a logical sequence for construction activities and ensures that all necessary engineering deliverables and materials are available when needed.
Additionally, the FEED stage involves the creation of a Level 3 EPC schedule, which includes detailed information on durations, quantities, dependencies, and resources for each work package. This schedule is developed through a backward pass, where procurement and engineering activities are tested to set realistic construction start dates.
Overall, the FEED stage is essential for establishing a robust construction roadmap and ensuring that all parties are aligned with the project objectives. It sets the stage for a successful execution of the POC and helps in creating an optimal construction environment.
Learn the benefits of implementing Advanced Workface Packaging during a projects Engineering phase
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EWPs, PWPs, and MTOs are all part of the Feed stage of projects. Want to learn more about Feed? See below for more learning resources!
The Path of construction is a negotiation of priorities, equipment set dates, procurement cycles, and engineering constraints.
These negotiations are known as Interactive Planning Sessions (IAP) and they will be organized by discipline to provide greater clarity on project timelines. The Information defined will be used to create EWPs. Participating in these meetings will be Engineering, Procurement, Operations, Construction, and Project Services teams.
Engineering Work Packages (EWPs) play a crucial role in the Path of Construction (POC) process. They are essentially collections of engineering deliverables required to execute a Construction Work Package (CWP).
Sequential Release
EWP Release Plan
Monitoring and Reporting
Construction Work Packages (CWPs) are a fundamental component of the Path of Construction (POC) process. They represent a logical division of construction work and are essential for organizing and executing construction activities efficiently.
Sequencing and Scheduling
Integration with EWPs and PWPs
Workface Planning
